Edison High School’s Tracey Balinskas is the premier shortstop in the Greater Middlesex Conference. She’s a big reason the Eagles won a state sectional title last spring. The truth is if Edison High School’s Tracey Balinskas played softball for most other teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC), she would likely be their best player.
However, Balinskas wasn’t the Eagles only star who helped them capture the North Jersey II Group IV title this spring. Balinskas’ teammate and friend since the fourth grade, pitcher Valerie Cassell, played an equally significant role in helping Edison (23-5) complete what became a magical season.
Balinskas and Cassell hope to repeat that magic as both return as seniors.
“If it wasn’t for Valerie (who was voted the pitching-rich GMC’s top hurler),” says Edison coach, Jennifer Teffenhart. “Tracey would be on the mound. She could start for almost every other team in the conference, she’s that good. But these girls are so team-oriented they turned a friendly competition into a wonderful environment by the way they push each other to become better. The rest of the team fed off that energy.”
Balinskas, who earned All-GMC honors as a shortstop, was nothing short of spectacular. She led the Eagles in nearly every offensive category, including average (.578) and slugging percentage (.759). Most significant was her team-leading 30 runs batted in. As a shortstop, the key infield position in softball, Tracey was without peer demonstrating excellent range and rarely committing an error.
“Tracey is without doubt, the best shortstop I’ve watched in my years with the program,” says Teffenhart, a 1996 Edison graduate. “She can do it all.”
Balinskas tried to do it all on and off the field for many years, including being a member of the high school competitive band where she played alto sax. However, Balinskas realized she could only participate in so many extra curricular activities and reluctantly gave up competitive band, opting to focus her energy on school and softball.
Balinskas puts a high value on academic achievement, evidenced by a 3.74 grade point average (weighted to 5.04 when AP and Honors courses are factored in) and service as vice president of the Student Council.
Her parents are from New York but before Tracey was born, they moved to Edison where they have raised their daughter, her older sister, Lyndsey, and older brother, Jason.
“Yeah, I’m the youngest,” Tracey laughs, “and that can sometimes be interesting but we’re getting closer and closer as we grow older. I have to say Lyndsey, who is seven years older than me, is my biggest role model. Honestly, it feels like we are twins. She always achieved the highest grades in school and was amazing at sports and that inspired me to accomplish those same things. I have a grandmother, aunt and uncle who live on our street and they’ve supported me by attending games and supporting our fund raisers and other things.”
Outside of school, Balinskas is actively involved with her church, St. Francis Cathedral, where she has been a member of the choir since kindergarten but admits this will be her last year before heading off to college.
That is why Balinskas’ current thoughts are focused on choosing the right school. “I would love to play softball in college,” she admits. “And I’m looking at lot of schools. What will factor into my decision is the curriculum. I want to major in education with an emphasis on science which I hope to teach at the elementary or middle school level.”
Teffenhart is excited that Balinskas, in addition to Cassell and a group of other talented players, return next season.
“Tracey’s a wonderful leader and role model,” Teffenhart says. “She is always looking to help the team, no matter the situation. As an example, the other day we were scheduled to play a summer league game and but she had to sit out with a sore shoulder. Tracey begged me, ‘coach, I’d like to be at the game and help out any way I can’. How can you not love a person with that attitude?”