University of Minnesota Athletics
A True Softball Family: The Mackens
8/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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Many of our players, if not all, would not be where they are today without the sacrifices, love and support of their families. We are starting a new feature series to look at those relationships and tell the stories of our Gopher softball families. To start off we talked to senior Sam Macken and her parents Mike and Becky.
When Mike and Becky Macken road trip across the country to watch their daughter Sam play they can be found quizzing each other on the rules of the game to pass away the time.
"Yep, that is true. We play the game "You Make the Call"," Becky said. "I still learn something every time I watch a game."
"No matter how much softball I have coached, played or watched it seems like something new happens all the time," Mike said. "We have always talked about rules and plays during the game so Sam could get a better understanding of what had occurred."
Who normally wins the game? Well that depends on who you ask.
"I'm usually right because I have a steel trap for a mind," Becky said.
Mike has a different opinion on the situation. "Even if Becky is wrong, by the end of the conversation she thinks she is right."
Anybody who knows the Mackens would not be surprised to hear that they play this game. They are full of passion for softball.
"I first got into softball because of my parents," Sam said remembering watching her parents play in softball tournaments all over the country growing up. "Between innings and after games I would play catch with my parents and could not seem to get enough of it."
Mike and Becky both played on a coed softball team for years in Rochester and were each on a men's and women's team. They loved playing together and were dominant winning 15 state titles and two national titles with their coed team. Once Sam started to get older and start a softball career of her own they got involved in a different way.
"Once I started playing on traveling teams, both of my parents retired from their game so they could coach and be at mine," Sam said. "They gave me so many opportunities such as going to hitting and pitching camps to make me a better player. They did whatever it took to help me get to where I am at today."
Sam played every sport growing up including volleyball, hockey and softball in high school but as she got older she said she knew softball was the sport for her.
"Playing the Tapp sisters (gopher volleyball) in high school made me realize that maybe I should just stick with softball," Sam joked.
As Sam grew in the game becoming an elite player during her time at Rochester she saw her parents pouring their lives into improving the game for the whole community.
Becky has been an officer with RSA (adult softball) since 1992 when the association was formed. They have provided more than four million dollars of economic impact to the community through capital field and building improvements and hosting events. She is also actively involved with the fastpitch association (RYFSA) in many aspects. In 2014 she was inducted into the Minnesota Softball Hall of Fame under the Player/Manager/Meritorious Service category.
Mike helped build the softball facilities in Rochester including an adult complex and was instrumental in getting the new girls fastpitch complex started. He was also a sponsor for many youth and adult teams giving opportunities for people to play at a high level. They both also continue to coach.
After a milestone high school career that saw Sam break eight season and 13 career records while earning all-conference, all-section and all-state four straight years she stayed close to home to play for the U. The Gophers travel all over the country for the majority of their games and the Mackens- Mike, Becky and Sam's grandparents Carole and Bob- can be found making the trek right along with them.
"I absolutely love having them at my games and being able to spend time with them in the hotels or out to team dinners," Sam said.
That feeling no doubt goes both ways.
"We all realize that this experience is coming to an end and none of us want to miss any part of it," Mike said.
While wearing the Maroon and Gold Sam has seen her numbers improve each season helping lead the team to great heights. It is a bittersweet feeling for the Mackens as she gears up for one more season.
"It is going to be sad when it is over. It is something we have all been around for so long but our memories will last forever," Mike said. "Sam and I are already planning a softball venture as soon as her career is over."
Long after Sam's Gopher career the Mackens will still be bonding over softball. Last year Sam crossed over to the other side of the lines and helped her parents coach. It was just another great experience created by softball for the family.
"For more than 30 years, we have been in the car or in the air for softball," Becky said. "The impact softball has had on our family has been profound."
