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Boardman standout commits to YSU softball
Photo
Boardman's Brooke Meenachan, successfully makes the catch but not in time to keep Madison's Ashley Palmer from safely arriving at second base during the first inning of the 2010 Div. 1 Regional Semifinal game at the University of Akron's Lee R. Jackson Softball field.
Photo
Boardman's Brooke Meenachan, reaches up and successfully makes the catch but not in time to keep Madison's Ashley Palmer from safely arriving at second base during the first inning of the 2010 Div. 1 Regional Semifinal game at the University of Akron's Lee R. Jackson Softball field.
By JOE SCALZO
Boardman senior Brooke Meenachan started playing softball when she was 5 and, over the years, she’s also played volleyball, swam and still plays varsity basketball.
Her older brother played baseball at Mount Union and her father — legendary official Brian Meenachan — played baseball at YSU and still plays the game in local sandlot leagues.
“My life has always revolved around sports,” she said.
So, it’s no surprise that her college life will also revolve around sports — Brooke recently verbally committed to Youngstown State for softball — as will her professional life, since she wants to study broadcasting in order to become a sportscaster.
“You can’t go pro in softball,” she said, “and I still want to be around sports.”
Meenachan also considered Shepherd University, a Division II school in West Virginia, as well as Ashland and Bowling Green. She’ll join a Penguin team that went 14-36 last spring.
“I’ve always want to go away to school, but on the other hand I wanted to stay at home,” she said, chuckling. “I wanted to play Division I softball, so to stay home and play Division I, you can’t ask for more than that.”
Meenachan was a first team all-Federal League selection at shortstop last spring, batting almost .450 to help the Spartans reach the Division I regional final, where they lost to eventual state champion Massillon Perry 3-2. It was the second straight year they lost in regional competition.
“Hopefully the third time is the charm,” said Meenachan, who also earned honorable mention all-conference in basketball. “I’ve been playing with these girls for so long and if we end up making it to state, it’d just be the icing on the cake.”