J-M's Velk excels past 50

The Bluejays ace has topped 50 victories in her four seasons on the mound.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;By BRIAN RICHESSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NORTH JACKSON -- The odds were against Corey Velk.
Her age worked against her. She was a freshman asked to handle varsity responsibilities for the Jackson-Milton High softball team.
Her position (pitcher) worked against her. She was playing at one of the most influential spots on the field.
The timing of her entrance into the program worked against her. She was trying to fill the shoes of one of the program's best.
When you're Corey Velk, none of that matters because you have an arm that protects you against any kind of adversity.
Velk's arm has carried her through four years of varsity and summer softball. It has carried her past 50 career wins and to the edge of the program's season wins record (19).
Senior standout
"Corey's awesome," said Jayne Fenton, a senior outfielder for the Bluejays and one of Velk's best friends. "None of the other pitchers compare to her. We don't even want to hit against her in practice."
Velk baffles batters with an assortment of pitches. She has a dropball, curveball, riseball, changeup and fastball, and she knows when to use them.
"Her confidence level between her freshman year and now has increased dramatically," Jackson-Milton coach Kelly Snowden said. "When we need an out, she can bear down and get us a strikeout or groundball."
If Velk (18-6) wins today in the completion of a suspended tournament game against Lordstown, she will tie Jackson-Milton graduate Heather Loomis for the school record for wins in a season.
The Bluejays, who are seeking a sixth straight sectional title, already lead 3-0 in the second inning.
"That's Heather's record," said Velk of the former Bluejays standout who pitched at Gannon University.
It also could be Velk's.
Pressure-filled situation
"People had pretty high expectations after she [Loomis] graduated," said Velk, who took over for Loomis. "That was a lot of pressure on me because I was so young."
But using her talent and the skills she learned from her father, Randy, and various camps, Velk began an ascent up the high school softball ladder.
"The girls know we're going to be in every game because Corey keeps us in every game," Snowden said. "They have a lot of confidence in her."
Velk, who led the Bluejays to the district final as a freshman and sophomore, also shows confidence in herself.
"We predominantly don't score until the latter part of the game," Snowden said. "Corey might be down 1-0 or 2-0, but she's still throwing her game. She doesn't press or stress about it."
She's simply focused.
"I really don't listen to people talking when I'm out there," Velk said. "I can hear my teammates; that's about it."
Quiet leader
An honorable mention All-Ohio selection last season, Velk goes about her business without fanfare. To an outsider, she is quiet. Only within the protective webbing of her team is the truth revealed.
"She talks real softly, but if she says something, usually it's pretty funny," said Fenton, whose team's chant of "chowda!" within the huddle was devised by Velk.
Velk, an honor student with a 3.6 grade-point average, is exploring her college options. Walsh University and Barry University in Miami Shores, Fla., are high on her list.
She hopes to continue her softball career and major in nursing.
"She's always poised and she never complains. She does everything she's asked to do," Snowden said. "She's the kind of kid everybody wants to coach."
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;richesson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;