VINDICATOR SOFTBALL ALL-STARS Pancake blossoms into area's best

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- An early start paid huge dividends down the road for Boardman High softball pitcher Jennifer Pancake.
Although she didn't begin playing fast-pitch softball for Boardman Community Baseball until she was 9 years old, Pancake began taking pitching lessons when she was 7.
Those early lessons helped her career take off as she became the Spartans' ace during her junior and senior seasons.
This spring, Pancake led Boardman, the team ranked by opposing coaches as the best in Ohio, to a 27-2 record, with a pitching mark of 21-2 and an earned-run average of 0.386.
At the plate, Pancake was equally impressive, compiling a batting average of .383 with an on-base percentage of .438.
Annual honor
A four-year varsity letter-winner who saw her team advance to state three times, and an outfielder on Boardman's Division I state championship team in 2001, Pancake has been selected as The Vindicator's softball performer of the year.
A two-year team captain, Pancake also was selected first team all-state and all-district by the high school softball coaches association.
"She has been a true leader on our team," Spartans coach Bill Amero said.
For Pancake, it began 11 years ago when she would tag along with her older sister, Amanda, to a pitching clinic and lessons.
"It took a little time," said Pancake of her success. "Nobody starts out perfect -- it takes a lot of practice and hard work."
By the time she was 12, Pancake was playing with older girls in the Tri-T Pony League and with the Boardman Magic traveling team.
When she reached high school, she was named to Boardman's varsity team, splitting time at first base and in the outfield.
"I played shortstop and third base before high school, but [Boardman] had [shortstop] Mary McCabe so they didn't need me at short," Pancake said.
As a sophomore, she took over in left field and was the team's No. 2 pitcher behind senior Marissa Bartholomew.
Stepping up
After Bartholomew graduated, Pancake became the team's ace. Boardman again returned to state, but lost its semifinal game in extra innings to Cincinnati Sycamore. Pancake said she feels it might have been her best game on the mound.
"It was tough filling in her for her," said Pancake of the responsibility of replacing Bartholomew. "But I knew if I worked hard during the winter, I could help our team out."
This year, Boardman won 27 times in 28 games before losing at home to Howland, 2-0, in the district semifinal.
"It was a great season," Pancake said. "It was a bit of a surprise that we only had one loss for so long -- I figured there might be a couple more.
"We were doing so well that there was a feeling that something bad could happen," Pancake said. "Maybe if we had lost a couple more early games, things might have worked out [better]."
Pancake credited Howland for the win that ended the Spartans' district domination.
"They played great," Pancake said. "We had a few errors that took us out of the game. They were basic plays that we screwed up. Errors happen, but we should have done a lot better."
As a junior, Pancake usually batted in the fifth or sixth spot. She moved up to the third slot when McCabe was injured and Amero had to shuffle his lineup.
This year, she remained in the third spot, hitting behind Jaclyn Corroto and Audrey Martinko and ahead of Meagan Cunningham, Jenna Brandenstein and Jen Feret as the Spartans again won the Steel Valley Conference with an 8-0 record.
YSU or Malone
As for next year, Pancake said she's deciding on whether to attend Youngstown State and walk-on to the Penguins' team or play for Malone College, an NAIA school.
"YSU already has four or five pitchers and Malone really needs pitching," Pancake said. "We're waiting to see how much scholarship money is available."
For now, Pancake is honing her craft pitching for the Valley Sting 18-and-under team.
"We play two weeknight doubleheaders each week, so I get to pitch two of those games," Pancake said. "The weekend schedule depends on how many games we play by staying alive in the tournaments."
The daughter of Martin and Michelle Pancake, she has four siblings: Amanda, Justin, Matthew and Garrett.
"My family has always played baseball and softball and that got me started," she said.
Pancake credited pitching coaches Jerry Prow and Mike Derringer for her success.
"I owe a lot to them and also my dad who has always been there for me," Pancake said. "He could always tell me what I was doing wrong if pitches weren't going where they were supposed to. It's nice knowing I can go to him and ask, 'what's wrong?' or 'why won't this drop?' "
williams@vindy.com