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Dan popio Boardman hitter
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Baseball
Dan Popio doesn’t have to take much thought when asked about his future. The recent Boardman High grad wants to be around baseball — for the rest of his life.
“I have knowledge of the game and I have it in my blood,” he said. “You’d like to think you’re born to do something and I’m born to be with baseball in some capacity.”
For the next four years, that will be playing for Youngstown State. Popio had looks from other colleges — the likes of Kent State, Xavier and Ohio State. Still, Popio’s pride will be on display at Eastwood Field every time he straps on the red and white.
“Youngstown, Ohio — people complain about it all the time — but I like it here,” he said. “My family’s here; it’s home. I look forward to turning things around and I’m excited to be a Penguin.”
He leaves Boardman as one of the most decorated Spartans of all time. As a junior, he set a new batting average record (.537) and was second in career batting (.450). Popio collected 125 career hits, was a three-time All-Federal League selection and capped off his senior year as the league’s player of the year, to go along with his first top baseball hitter honor from The Vindicator. He also led Boardman to back-to-back Federal League titles.
Popio will major in education and he’d like to be a high school coach like his father, Mike, who has more thsn 20 years under his belt at Chaney, Ursuline and Boardman. Of course, there is a greater goal.
“Any kid that has watched baseball and has a passion for it has wanted to go on and play in the major leagues,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 goal.”