Vaida Valincius, mother of baseball players Tomas and Vytas, has driven 60,000 miles annually to support her sons. Now, living with them at Mississippi State, she enjoys her best season yet.
Key points
Vaida Valincius drove 60,000 miles annually for her sons' games
The family is from Lockport, Illinois
Tomas and Vytas Valincius rarely played on the same team
Vaida enjoys her best season living with her sons at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE — Vaida Valincius estimates she used to drive about 60,000 miles per year to watch her two sons, Tomas and Vytas, play baseball.
The Valinicius family is from Lockport, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, but the brothers have played all over the United States.
Vytas and Tomas are three years apart, so they very rarely played on the same team. Vaida did her best to be there, whether it was in California, Arizona, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia or greater Illinois.
“I put down like three cars I think,” Vaida told The Clarion Ledger.
But finally, after years of countless hours in the car to watch her sons play baseball, it all came full circle at Mississippi State.
Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Ole Miss fan Michael Fondren checks his grill as he cooks before the game against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Mississippi State's Noah Sullivan (18) is caught stealing by Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Q&A
How many miles did Vaida Valincius drive to watch her sons play baseball?
Vaida Valincius drove about 60,000 miles per year to watch her sons play baseball.
Where are the Valincius brothers from?
The Valincius brothers are from Lockport, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
What is significant about the Valincius family's time at Mississippi State?
The Valincius family has finally come full circle as Vaida enjoys living with her sons at Mississippi State after years of traveling to see them play.
How often did Tomas and Vytas Valincius play on the same team?
Tomas and Vytas Valincius rarely played on the same team due to their three-year age difference.
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Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco (5) looks out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Mississippi State's Tomas Valincius (4) pitches against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Ole Miss' Judd Utermark (27) throws to first for an out against Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Mississippi State's Kevin Milewski (21) is congratulated by Mississippi State's Bryce Chance (38) following a home run against Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Ole Miss' Hudson Calhoun (23) pitches against \Mississippi State in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Vytas, an outfielder and the older brother, and Tomas, a starting pitcher, both transferred to Mississippi State for the 2026 season but from different schools. It was a perfect reunion for Vytas’ final year of eligibility.
The brothers live together in a house and got a dog named Sergei. They get along well but, like typical competitive brothers, still banter over small things. Like who wins in a wrestling battle, or if Vytas batted closer to .500 or .100 against Tomas in fall scrimmages.
And making it even more special is that Vaida has been living with her sons in Starkville this season. She said there was "no question" she would be doing it, and the boys were welcoming.
The No. 12 Bulldogs (38-14, 15-12 SEC) begin a three-game series at No. 10 Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10) starting May 14 (6 p.m., SEC Network+) to conclude the regular season.
Vaida’s drive for home games at Dudy Noble Field has been just a few miles.
“It’s been great,” Vytas said in a joint interview with Tomas. “She cooks, cleans and does stuff for us. It makes our life easier.”
Mississippi State outfielder Vytas Valincius (14) shakes hands with teammates before a college baseball game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss in the Governor’s Cup 7-3.
Mississippi State outfielder Vytas Valincius (14) shakes hands with teammates before a college baseball game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss., on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss in the Governor’s Cup 7-3.
Valincius brothers had unusual path to baseball through immigrant parents
Vaida grew up in Lithuania, which at the time was controlled by the Soviet Union. At 7 years old, she was taken from her parents to train to be an Olympic cyclist until the Soviet Union fell in 1991.
In 1999, she immigrated to the United States.
“I had no English, no money and no friends,” Vaida said.
Vaida eventually settled in Chicago where she met her husband, Jozef Wolyniec, also a Lithuanian immigrant who was a speed skater growing up.
So, they each had athletic backgrounds, but knew nothing about baseball. They mostly spoke Lithuanian at home and learned baseball through the kids. Their introduction to baseball came in strange ways.
One day, 5-year-old Vytas was playing Wiffle ball with the neighbors. Vytas hit a home run, and the neighbor told him to go home.
Vytas didn’t understand what that meant. So instead of running the bases, Vytas ran to his house.
“I’m watching through the window, and my English was not good at the time,” Vaida said. “I go to the neighbor like, ‘What’s the problem? Why are you saying that?’”
Tomas is a left-handed pitcher, and one time Vaida bought him the wrong glove.
“Tomas was like, ‘Mom, I don’t feel right. I don’t feel right throwing the ball,’” Vaida said. “I was like ‘I don’t care. Throw the ball.’ I had no clue that they had gloves for the lefties too.”
Valincius brothers transfer to Mississippi State included missed flight
Tomas and Vytas both played high school baseball at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but not at the same time.
Vytas is on his fourth college team, playing at South Carolina in 2022, John A. Logan Community College in 2023, then Illinois in 2024 and 2025. He was an All-Big Ten second-team selection last season, leading the Illini with a .348 batting average.
Tomas played at Virginia as a freshman in 2025, posting a 4.59 ERA and 6-1 record in 13 appearances and 12 starts to make the All-ACC Freshman Team.
MSU Bulldogs pitcher Tomas Valincius (4) started on the mound for the Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, MS on Friday April 3rd, 2026.
MSU Bulldogs pitcher Tomas Valincius (4) started on the mound for the Bulldogs at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, MS on Friday April 3rd, 2026.
The first domino to get the brothers to Mississippi State fell when MSU coach Chris Lemonis was fired on April 28, 2025.
The Bulldogs hired Virginia’s Brian O’Connor as the new coach on June 1, about one hour after the season ended in the Tallahassee Regional final.
“I think it was quick,” Tomas said. “I didn’t even know it was a possibility that this could happen just because of our age gap and I didn’t really know any of the rules or anything. It kind of all just worked out as it did with Coach O’Connor coming here.”
The transfer portal opened June 2. O’Connor had his public introduction on June 5 at Dudy Noble Field. The brothers and their mom were in attendance but arrived just minutes before it started. They missed a connecting flight in Atlanta because they didn't realize they were sitting at the wrong gate.
The brothers, their mom, three other players and a parent rented a car and frantically drove from Atlanta to Starkville.
“We rented a car and were like who’s driving?” Vaida said. “Then Tomas goes, ‘Well, if we want to make it, let my mom drive.’ I’m like, ‘OK, boys, we’re not stopping.’”
Tomas and Vytas committed to MSU on June 6, with Vytas receiving an extra year of eligibility.
How Valincius brothers are impacting Mississippi State with their mom
Vaida moved in with the boys in February, not long before opening day.
She helps them around the house and takes care of the dog. She makes sure dinner is ready for them at home after every game. The dog even accompanies her in the car for road games.
“It’s fun to watch them going through this,” Vaida said. “It would be a different story if I was at home and just came for the games. That would be, not an outsider, but I wouldn’t be used to it because I’m always with them. It’s a blessing for sure.”
Tomas has been one of the top starting pitchers in the SEC. He has an 8-2 record and ranks third in the SEC with a 2.52 ERA and second with 105 strikeouts. Tomas didn’t allow an earned run in his first 19 innings of conference play.
“For me, it’s nerve-wracking,” Vytas said about watching Tomas pitch. “I enjoy when he does good, but when there’s like runners on (base) I really stress out a lot for him. I don’t know. It’s my little brother.”
Vytas is batting .371 with two home runs, 16 RBIs and 15 runs in 28 games and 19 starts.
He hit his first home run of the season against Georgia on April 4. Tomas was one of the first players out of the dugout waiting to celebrate with Vytas after he rounded the bases.
“That was the first home run I think I’ve seen him hit since, I don’t know, him playing in high school, which was like sophomore year,” Tomas said. “So that was fun. I was hyped up. I was screaming and yelling.”
Vaida said her favorite moments of the season are whenever Vytas and Tomas are in the lineup together. That’s only happened three times this season.
The most recent one, May 7 against Auburn, was the best though. Tomas pitched 6⅔ innings with three runs allowed on 13 strikeouts and 112 pitches. Vytas hit three singles and drove in a run in a 10-3 MSU win.
Tomas has one more season until he’s eligible for the 2027 MLB Draft, where Baseball America recently ranked him as the No. 3 college prospect.
Vaida said she hasn’t made any decisions yet if she’ll live with Tomas next season.
“As a mom, it’s just been a pleasure to be around them and watch how they grow in every way,” Vaida said.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
