Callista Jo Balko (born April 4, 1986)[1] is an American, former collegiate right-handed hitting pro softballcatcher and second baseman. She played for the Arizona Wildcats softball team from 2005 to 2008 and won back-to-back National Championships for the Wildcats. She is the Pac-12 Conference career leader in putouts. She is currently a college athletics administrator.
At the University of Arizona, Balko played at catcher for the Arizona Wildcats softball team from 2005 to 2008. Balko debuted on February 4, 2005, against the Tulsa Hurricanes, collecting a hit and walk in her first game.[2] As part of the team that won the 2006 Women's College World Series, Balko helped the Wildcats into the finals by helping drive in a run off National Player of The Year Cat Osterman on June 2; her hit was the first and only in 10 at bats against the southpaw, 9 of which had ended in strikeouts. In the championship finale on June 6, Balko had two hits including a double and drove in 2 RBIs for the school's sixth title.[3] For the 2007 Women's College World Series finale, Balko tallied a hit against 2007 National Player of the Year Monica Abbott as the Wildcats defeated Tennessee 5–0 on June 6.[4][5] Balko singled in her last appearance on May 31, 2008, in a loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide at that year's World Series.[6][7][8][9]
In January 2008, Balko was named to the watchlist for USA Softball National Player of the Year.[10]
Balko is also a World University Games member and an Olympic Camp Tryout Invitee. Balko was signed as an undrafted free agent by the National Pro Fastpitch team Washington Glory, and had her debut for the team in June 2008.[11] After a few months on the term, she returned to Tucson.[12]
In January 2012, Balko became Alumni Letterwinners Development Assistant with the University of Arizona athletics department. She later became Director of Regional Development.[13]
Personal life
In 2015, Balko married Ricky Elmore, an NFL defensive end who played college football at Arizona.[14]
^"Taryne Mowatt, Callista Balko & Cambria Miranda Make Their Glory Debut". Our Sports Central. June 19, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2010.("University of Arizona stand-outs Pitcher Taryne Mowatt and Catcher Callista Balko, and utility stand-out player Cambria Miranda, formerly of Oregon State University, don their Washington Glory uniforms for the very first time at home tonight, as the Glory face the Venezuelan Olympic Team")
