VIDEO: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s ‘Mick’ Graham Starred On Diamond and in Classroom

Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

ABOVE VIDEO:  Lindsay “Mick” Graham (now Hein) was named the 2004 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year in Florida as a senior and as a junior, the Orlando Sentinel named her Central Florida Player of the Year.

2016 PREP INDUCTEE

• Gatorade Player of the Year
• Two Time CCC Player of the Year
• Central Florida Player of the Year

EAU GALLIE HIGH GRAD

It wasn’t easy for the Eau Gallie High School’s girls’ softball team to adjust after Lindsay “Mick” Graham (now Hein) graduated because she was such a tough act to follow.

The girl with the boy’s nickname wasn’t just a great pitcher who guided the Commodores to three district championships and one state semifinal appearance, but she was also a scholar who graduated in the top 10 of her class.

“She was the quintessential student-athlete,” said her coach, Bill Sinclair.

In high school, Hein maintained an almost 4.0 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society while still being a star around the diamond.

As for athletic kudos, Hein was named the 2004 Gatorade Softball Player of the Year in Florida as a senior. She also garnered her second consecutive Cape Coast Conference Player of the Year award and earned the Amateur Softball Association Award for the State of Florida.

As a junior, the Orlando Sentinel considered her Central Florida Player of the Year. As a sophomore, she earned All-SCC second-team honors. In her freshman year, she was selected as the second-team all-state and earned first-team SCC and CCC all-conference accolades.

Hein owes her nickname to her father, who soon after she was born began calling her Mick, in honor of his Irish grandparents. The name stuck.

“My family and friends know me as Mick,” said Hein.

Growing up in Palm Bay, she was the only girl in the neighborhood, but that was no problem for Hein.

“I just played sports with the boys,” she said.

Her softball career almost didn’t happen. At age eight, her parents were getting ready to enroll her in baseball when, during the registration process, someone suggested that softball might be a better fit.

“We really didn’t know anything about softball up to that point,” said Hein.

She learned fast, joining travel softball around age nine. At the same time, she began focusing on pitching, shortstop, and third base positions. She is a seven-year veteran with Dot’s Diamonds Class A travel ball.

FLORIDA TECH PANTHER

After high school, she headed to George Washington University on a full athletic/academic scholarship to play third base.

“I got homesick my freshman year, so I came back home,” she said.

Florida Tech welcomed her with open arms, presenting Hein with an athletic scholarship. In addition to softball, Hein ran cross-country for the Panthers while studying software engineering.

Hein unofficially retired from softball in her junior year at Florida Tech, turning to varsity cross-country. In her senior year, a friend introduced her to future husband Charlie Hein, and the rest, as they say, is history.

After a stint as a software engineer for a Cocoa company, Hein took on the role of stay-at-home mom with three children under the age of four.

She suspects that, in a couple of years, her oldest, Tucker, may get her seriously reunited with softball.

“It’s still early to tell, but he’s very athletic,” she said.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com

CLICK HERE to see all the members of the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

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