Megan Pillus is a junior infielder on the Plattsburgh State softball team. The Spackenkill, New York native started in 33 games last season, tallying 17 hits and smashing her first career home run against Fredonia.
This year, Pillus has started in all 13 games for the Cards so far, posting a .341 batting average with a season-high three hits against SUNY Brockport over spring break. Pillus also had a season high three runs batted in when Plattsburgh battled Potsdam in a SUNYAC showdown April 4.
This question and answer was conducted with Megan over email April 4.
Question: I heard you have a lot of superstitions. What are some of your biggest game-day superstitions?
Answer: Oh boy, we could be here all day if I told you them all. It has become a full-time job.
The longest standings ones are I don’t play with nail polish on and my hair has to be the same every game two small braids into bubbles. I have to do my hair until it is perfect with no bumps. Sometimes it can take three minutes, sometimes it takes thirty, but I won’t play until it’s perfect.
Once I’m on the field, though, they really kick in. I have to wear my pink ribbon in my hair when I am in the field, but I have to take it out when I hit and Morgan Ormerod has to hold it during my at bat. Before every at-bat, I have to do a certain hitting drill five times before the start of the game and then three times before every other at-bat. Then I have to use Morgan Ormerod’s bat to hit, unless I strikeout with it, and then I have to use a different one.
Q: If you could change any rule of softball, what would it be?
A: I think I would steal the banana ball league rules that if a fan catches a fly ball, it counts as an out. We get a fair amount of foul balls at Cardinal Park, and our fans up here in the North Country could really helps us out on the field and get us a few extra outs. I think people would be really into here since we have some very athletic fans even if they don’t realize it.
Q: Softball is big on dugout chants, what’s your favorite one?
A: Our chants are pretty amazing and unique! In terms of a classic, you can never go wrong with our first cheer of every game, our specific Plattsburgh cheer. It gets us all going from the first pitch. But I do have to say I think I have some of the most iconic cheers for when I hit. I really love the cheer “Who’s gonna hit, who’s gonna hit… Meggy Meggy,” and then “Who got a hit, who got a hit…. Meggy Meggy.” It always puts a smile on my face, and I get really excited to hear it when I am at the plate.
Q: You’re an education major. What is something from the softball field that translates into the classroom?
A: I think in both the classroom as a teacher, and on the softball field, it is important to be able to roll with the punches and adapt.
In the classroom, you walk into something new everyday and plans often go differently than you might expect. On the softball field, we are constantly adapting and trying new things because every game brings something different. I’ve learned how to work with others, how to be a leader, and how to put in the work to make adapting simpler and make it easier to roll with any punches!
Q: What’s your best story from substitute teaching in the Plattsburgh school district?
A: Subbing in the schools makes me laugh everyday because these kids truly do say some of the craziest things.
I was teaching a math lesson, and a second grader looked at me and said, “Bruh, I don’t want to do work,” So, I responded, “Bruh, you have to,” and she looked at me shocked and said, “You said bruh to me, that makes you the coolest teacher. Now you are Queen Bruh.”
I really don’t know what that means, and if I should be flattered or offended, but it made me laugh either way!
