Canfield’s West still waiting for big finish

By Joe Scalzo

Her Cardinal teams in softball and basketball have come close, but she still wants to win a state title.

CANFIELD — Over her four-year career, Canfield High senior Melissa West has won four Metro Athletic Conference basketball titles and has a good chance of ending this year with three outright MAC softball titles in three years.

She’s won two district softball titles (so far) and advanced to the regional final in basketball this season.

In short, she’s won a lot.

But ... there’s a but.

She’s never won it all.

“We want to make it to state and we want to win state,” she said. “We have really high expectations for ourselves.”

A Bowling Green State recruit, West has developed into one of the most respected third basemen in the state as well as one of the most feared hitters. She’s helped the Cardinals to a 10-1 record in the league and a 15-5 record overall.

“She’s probably our most consistent and powerful hitter,” said Canfield coach Ronie Haurin. “She has the most desire of any player I’ve coached. She just wants to do her best all the time.”

Her reputation was evident last spring, when the Cardinals matched up with Hudson in a Division I regional semifinal. Trailing 4-2, West, batting in the third spot, came to the plate in the seventh inning with runners on first and second base and two outs.

She was intentionally walked and the Cardinals ended up losing to the eventual state champs for the second straight year.

“She has natural athleticism in everything she does,” said Haurin. “You start with that and build on that with her skills, it’s amazing. She’s exceptional.”

West committed to Bowling Green last September after helping her travel team finish ninth at the ASA “A” Nationals in College Station, Texas. She’s also one of just two area players (Poland’s Allie Patton is the other) selected for the Ohio-West Virginia All-Star game next month. When the Ohio coach told Haurin of West’s selection, he made sure to mention her prowess in the field as well as at the plate.

“He was just amazed at her abilities,” said Haurin. “Melissa’s reaction at third base is probably the best I’ve ever seen at the high school level.”

West, the daughter of Craig and Vera West, is batting .406 with six doubles and five homers. She has yet to commit an error in MAC play this season and is batting .571 in the league this season.

“A huge factor in Melissa’s success story is her father, Craig,” said Haurin. “He has been her support throughout her softball career and has worked seriously with her to make her the successful hitter that she is today.”

West is one of eight seniors from arguably the best senior class in Canfield history. West is just one piece of the bigger puzzle.

“The eight of us get along so well and we’ve been friends forever,” said West. “There’s so much trust in each other. When a ball’s hit, I don’t even have to look — I know they’re going to make a play.”

The Cardinals dropped down a division since last season but that doesn’t change their approach, West said.

“There’s still a lot of good Division II teams,” she said. “We’re not playing some of the powerhouse teams like Hoover [which won a state title in 2006] and Hudson, but we still have Hoban, Kenmore and Poland, of course, so we still have to work just as hard.”

The Cardinals have the talent to win a state title, Haurin said, but they must maintain focus to make it through the tournament, starting with a terrific sectional that includes Poland, Mooney, Struthers and Hubbard.

“The key is keeping them focused on where they want to go and making sure they perform every night,” said Haurin, whose team suffered its lone league loss last week to Poland. “We were humbled by Poland the other day, which I think might have been a good thing.

“They have the potential to [win a championship]. If we play our game, we should be one of the best in Division II.”

scalzo@vindy.com