Pancake lifts bar higher

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — Jennifer Pancake of Boardman is leaving behind a record-breaking legacy with the Westminster College softball team, thus lifting the bar higher for future players who also will strive to actualize their potential.

A four-year starting pitcher and first baseman for the Titans, Pancake probably has set 10 school records — six career and four single-season marks. The exact number won’t be determined until Westminster updates its softball records.

Only one of her six career records — home runs (18) — is for sure at this point, while the other five — batting average (.346), hits (164) RBIs (125), pitching ERA (0.90) and pitching wins (69) — are just probable until researched and confirmed.

Pancake’s four single-season marks — home runs (9) and RBIs (42), both this year; and pitching wins (22) in 2005 and pitching appearances (32) in 2006 — are definite.

“Only season records were kept over the years,” explained Westminster sports information director Justin Zackal. “I'm having an intern compile career records by next year.

“I can only confirm that [Pancake’s] 18 HR are a school record since the previous season HR record was 4 before she had 9 in 2007. I would say that her career BA, hits, RBI, ERA, and wins are believed to be school records.”

Pancake, a Boardman High graduate and former Spartans’ pitching ace, led the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in earned run average this year with a 0.88, and batted a team-second-best .402 (45-for-111) behind leader Jennifer Emery (New Castle Laurel).

Emery, a freshman pitcher-first baseman, batted a school-record .455 (55-for-121).

Pancake was named
PAC Player of Year

As a result of Pancake’s outstanding overall performance, she was named to the All-PAC first team and PAC Player of the Year.

And she helped Westminster to a 24-15 record, including 11-1 in the PAC that was the best regular-season mark in the league under 11th-year coach Jan Reddinger, who was named PAC Coach of the Year.

Although Pancake has used all four years of her playing eligibility, she still will return to Westminster next school year to finish her academic work toward her new major and degree.

“I switched my major from elementary education to sociology and I plan to graduate next May,” said Pancake, who also compiled a 15-9 mound record with 96 strikeouts and 16 walks.

She said she plans to help the team in some way during her final year.

“Most likely I will help out with pitching and hitting, whatever is needed, but I definitely will be there to support them. I might be a volunteer coach,” said Pancake, who is looking into a coaching career. “Hopefully, my goal is to start coaching sometimes probably in high school and maybe college, too.”

She also plans to go for a master’s degree and may apply for a two-year NCAA graduate scholarship that will give her an opportunity to coach.

Credits family interest,
support for success

Pancake credits her family’s interest in softball for giving her an early start in her career.

“I started when I was 6 years old. My brothers and sisters were playing,” said Pancake, noting her parents (Marvin and Michelle) encouraged her to join a softball team.

“Amanda, Justin and Matthew all were older and then playing. When my sister started playing at a young age, she helped me out. My pitching coaches were mostly Jerry Prow and my dad.”

She also has a younger brother, Garrett, 15, who is playing youth baseball.

When Pancake advanced to Boardman High to play for coach Bill Amero, she said her main pitching coach was her father “because he was able to tell me what I was doing wrong. He helped me to develop different pitches.”

Then at Westminster, she was influenced by pitching coach John Pickerington.

“He was just there to help. He didn’t really change us. He learned how we pitched and learned our style, and then fit his instructions to our style,” said Pancake about Pickerington.

Pancake has had strong support from her teammates.

Emery also set a school record for hits (55) and led the team in doubles (15) to join Pancake on the All-PAC first team

Senior outfielder Kristin Zyskowski, the Titans’ third-leading hitter (.344) and No. 2 in runs scored (27), also made the All-PAC first team.

Senior catcher Stephanie Cornicelli (Howland) led the team in sacrifice hits (11) and made the All-PAC second team.

She also batted .207 with 24 hits and five steals.

And freshman outfielder Addie Parker led the Titans in stolen bases with eight while batting .336 with 42 hits and seven sacrifice hits.

XJohn Kovach covers college athletics for The Vindicator. Write to him at kovach@vindy.com.