Pitcher Perfect Painting

by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Pitching is an art form. Just listen to the way people talk about it.

The great ones paint the corners or paint the black. They pick up nicknames like Greg Maddux's "Rembrandt." They make use of different techniques. And they all seek perfection.

Perfection. It's elusive on the diamond, but to Mississippi State's Grace Fagan it's much more achievable on her canvas.

"I'm a perfectionist, and I like to be in control of things," she said. "I think that's why I'm a pitcher. I like the art because I can keep going until its perfect."

The sophomore left-hander began her artistic endeavors in elementary school. She quickly showed promise and decided to pursue art electives once she got into middle school. She refined her techniques in advanced art classes once she reached high school.

It was in those high school classes that she was challenged to create the work she is still most proud of today. Over the course of eight weeks, she painstakingly crafted her first self-portrait using colored pencils.

"I really like using the colored pencils, but they take so long," she said. "It's hard to get into a project because you have to layer over something 500 times. I like the color pencils. It's just that it takes forever. It takes a ton of time."

Fagan has put countless hours into her canvases and her work in the circle for the Bulldogs. Like her artwork, softball stretches back to the early days of her childhood.

"I really like using the colored pencils, but they take so long. It's hard to get into a project because you have to layer over something 500 times, but I like the color pencils. It's just that it takes forever. It takes a ton of time."

"I really like using the colored pencils, but they take so long. It's hard to get into a project because you have to layer over something 500 times, but I like the color pencils. It's just that it takes forever. It takes a ton of time."

As a lefty, her coaches never let her play any other positions except first base. She was tall, so it made sense, but Fagan wasn't thrilled with that position. She wanted to dictate the plays. Start everything on her terms.

After graduating from tee-ball to kid-pitch, she found herself at home in the circle. It was exactly what she wanted from the game.

"Once I like something, I stick to it," she said. "If I start something, at a young age, I have to learn how to be really, really good at it."

So she did.

Fagan learned how to control softballs until it translated into a scholarship at MSU. Once she got to Starkville, she kept at it. She was hyper-focused on the details. Fagan worked on her spin to the point that it was second nature. She still catches herself spinning things she picks up as she walks around throughout her day.

But her freshman season wasn't quite as smooth as she'd hoped. That desire to be "really, really good" translated to an average debut on the field. She went 7-7 with a 3.40 ERA and allowed 14 home runs.

Ask her now why things were rocky, and she'll explain that she was putting too much pressure on herself to be perfect on every pitch. Her control dipped as evidenced by her mere 1.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. It was frustrating.

Fagan's artwork has provided lessons she can transfer to mistakes in the circle. Her favorite artist is Claude Monet because she's been fascinated with French culture since she began learning the language in seventh grade. Paints are her favorite medium, and the flowers on campus are her favorite subjects.

She has found painting to be more relaxing. She can step back and enjoy the full scene instead of straining over one minor detail or tediously layering her shading with pencils.

"If you make a mistake, it comes off really easily," Fagan said. "The acrylic paint allows you to not get caught up in 'I don't like this part.' You can just cover it up."

The ability to quickly move on from a mistake or a less desirable outcome has gone a long way on the softball field as well. Under new pitching coach Josh Johnson, Fagan's approach in the circle has been altered.

"It's a less minute approach, which honestly helped me a lot mentally to not be such a perfectionist on the mound," she said. "It can not be a good thing as a pitcher. This year, I've been trying to get out of that 'I have to be perfect' thing. It's more of a generalized goal this year. It's really helped a lot."

The numbers prove it. Her command of the strike zone is back to the tune of a 3.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio, more than a two-strikeout improvement over last season. Meanwhile the frustration has shifted from her to the hitters she's held to a .182 batting average.

With classes wrapped up for the semester, Fagan packed up her supplies and took them back home to New Jersey.

"I have colored pencils that are worth like $250," she said. "I have hundreds of paint brushes. I have an extreme amount of stuff. I have charcoal, all kinds of paint, a watercolor wheel. I have everything."

She looks forward to having more free time to spend drawing and painting. It's hard to paint during the season because of the hassle involved in bringing all of the materials along with her on road trips. She also tends to be busy with classwork. The biology major wants to go to medical school and knows the importance of keeping her grades up.

But the summer offers a chance to get back to the details and perfect her artistry – on the field and off.

"It's a less minute approach, which honestly helped me a lot mentally to not be such a perfectionist on the mound. It can not be a good thing as a pitcher. This year, I've been trying to get out of that 'I have to be perfect' thing. It's more of a generalized goal this year. It's really helped a lot."

"It's a less minute approach, which honestly helped me a lot mentally to not be such a perfectionist on the mound. It can not be a good thing as a pitcher. This year, I've been trying to get out of that 'I have to be perfect' thing. It's more of a generalized goal this year. It's really helped a lot."

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