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3 Federal players set for softball tourney
By TOM WILLIAMS
AUSTINTOWN
Four Mahoning Valley softball players have qualified to play in the 2010 Ohio Underclass Fastpitch Tournament that will be on Monday and Tuesday at Pickerington High School near Columbus.
Fitch pitcher/outfielder Amanda Callahan and catcher Carly Ortz are members of the Northeast District squad that will be coached by Akron Ellet’s Jim Noell. One of his assistants will be Mathews coach Gene Cheredar.
Also on the 20-player team are Boardman shortstop Brooke Meenachan and Lisbon shortstop Katie Snoddy.
“In Austintown, we have never had any players represent our team so what a great honor it is for our team to have two players make the cut,” Fitch coach Steven Ward.
Ward said approximately 200 high school players attended the three tryout sessions. Twenty were picked.
The tournament has four other teams — Northwest, Central, East and Southeast. Each team plays three games on Monday and at least two on Tuesday.
Ward said his Falcons are hoping to play college ball at the Division II or Division III level.
A three-year letter winner, Callahan (14-13) was voted the Falcons’ Most Valuable Player. She set a record for striking out 20 players in a 4-3 loss to Canton GlenOak.
“I wasn’t expecting the invitation to play,” said Callahan who attended two of the tryout sessions at Barberton Sports Complex.
Callahan said she received a clue that she was doing well when one of the coaches asked her for her name. At that point, the players were being identified by the numbers they were wearing.
“When Coach actually asked for my name, that was a bonus,” Callahan said.
Callahan and Ortz play travel ball with the Valley Extreme. They will play in Cincinnati this weekend then stop in Columbus on their way home.
Callahan splits her time on the mound and in the outfield.
She said Federal League rival Massillon Perry, the Division I state champion, “deserved it because they have really strong hitters. [A league rival] winning state shows just how tough our league is.”
Ortz, also a three-year letter winner, batted .375 this season and was selected first team All-Federal League.
“I’m glad that [Perry] won,” Ortz said. “They are one of the nicest teams ever.”
Also a junior, Meenachan batted .457 with a .755 slugging percentage for the Spartans who lost to Perry, 3-2, in the regional final in Akron.
Her 43 hits included 16 for extra bases and drove in 24 runs.
Meenachan said the Federal League “is one of the best leagues in Ohio. If we couldn’t bring back the title, I’m glad it’s someone from our league.”
Also a basketball player, Meenachan wants to play softball in college.
“Hopefully, a lot of college scouts will be at the tournament,” she said.
Meenachan, who plays travel ball for the Ohio Magic, said she will share shortstop duties with Snoddy.