Not only a force in the circle, Baluja excelled at the plate as well, hitting .357 with seven home runs and 28 RBIs (runs batted in). Her contributions helped the Lady Bulldogs achieve a No. 8 national ranking and secure their second MACJC South Division title in three years.

Baluja’s standout year culminated in her being named a 2013 NJCAA Second-Team All-American. She finished the season with 156 strikeouts and a 2.51 ERA, ranking in the top 25 nationally in strikeouts. Her offensive abilities continued to shine, as she recorded a .353 batting average with seven home runs and 35 RBIs by season’s end.

A native of Tampa, Florida, and a transfer from Florida International University, Baluja brought her strong high school track record to MGCCC. At Jefferson High School, she earned All-Hillsborough County honors and recorded a stellar 1.02 ERA her senior year. Off the field, Baluja was a National Honor Society member, graduating with a 4.0 GPA.