AT HOME IN THE ‘BURGH

May 4, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Modic comfortable playing for Pitt after transfer from Miami, Ohio

This story has a happy ending in Pittsburgh, which is ironic because the protagonist, Poland’s Jenna Modic, is a lifelong fan of the Cleveland Indians, Browns and Cavaliers.

“We’re going to have a good spring,” said Modic of the Cavaliers’ chase for a NBA championship.

One could argue that the 2012 Poland High graduate is already enjoying one in the City of Champions. After playing two seasons for Miami University in Oxford, Modic now is playing third base and contributing a little relief pitching for the University of Pittsburgh softball team.

“I love it,” Modic said. “I feel more than blessed to come here.”

It was a tough decision to accomplish the switch. After playing two seasons at Miami, Modic asked for and was granted her release. Her search for a new school began.

It wasn’t supposed to be this way for one of the Mahoning Valley’s best softball players of the past decade.

At Poland, Modic’s teams qualified for the Division II state tournament three times in her four-year varsity career, finishing state runners-up her sophomore year and state champions her junior season.

She and Erin Gabriel (University of Tennessee), the Bulldogs’ three-and-four hitters during most of their varsity careers, went on to Division I college competition. That spring, Modic was The Vindicator’s softball position player of the year, with Gabriel as female athlete of the year.

But a few weeks after graduating, Modic’s college adventure hit a detour when Miami head softball coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly departed to become Ohio State’s head coach.

Modic played two seasons for Schoenly’s replacement, Clarissa Crowell, but never felt she was in her comfort zone.

“It was a combination of things,” Modic said in a recent telephone interview. “I just wanted a change. I was sick of the little-town atmosphere.

“Living in a city is so much different.”

As a freshman, Modic led the Redhawks by batting .341, starting 49 games in a 20-34 season. She hit seven doubles and one homer, drove in 16 runs and was first-team all-Mid-American Conference. On the mound, she compiled a 5-8 record with a 5.45 earned-run average.

Parents Brett and Linda Modic encouraged her to give Miami a second chance. In her second season, she batted .294 with nine doubles, six homers and 23 RBIs as the Redhawks went 22-28.

But, Modic felt it was time for a switch.

The danger in obtaining a release is that a player cannot pursue a new school until parting ways with any scholarship.

“It was a leap of faith,” Modic said. “I wanted to be closer to home.”

After her release, Modic turned to her travel ball coach, John Abbruzzese (Ohio Nightmare) for help contacting college coaches. Pitt’s Holly Aprile was one of the interested.

“We were very, very lucky to get her to come to Pitt,” Aprile said. “Jenna has been a tremendously positive addition to our team with both her on-field performance and her presence in the locker room.”

At Pitt, Modic’s role primarily is third base.

“I did more pitching at Miami,” Modic said.

She started the season batting cleanup but has been moved up to the No. 3 position.

A few weeks back, she was named the ACC’s Softball Player of the Week after a 2-1 series win over Virginia in which she batted .636.

Sunday, the Panthers finished the regular season at 33-19 and qualified for the ACC Tournament that begins Thursday in Blacksburg, Va. Pitt’s first-round opponent is Notre Dame.

Modic was fourth on the team in hitting, batting .318 with five doubles, six homers and 35 RBIs. She pitched in 14 games, posting a 2-0 record with four starts.

“She has contributed much-needed power and RBI production to our lineup on the offensive side and also has given us solid depth defensively on the mound and at third,” Aprile said. “She is always striving to get better and her positive, upbeat personality has really boosted our team chemistry and overall team dynamic.”

The biggest difference between the MAC and ACC? — travel.

Modic said she flew once in two seasons with Miami but already has been on eight flights with the Panthers. She’s learned to how to keep up with classwork on planes and during airport layovers. She is majoring in media and professional communication, hoping to someday be a sports reporter.

Modic’s parents have been to most of her games. She said her dad is willing to wear Pitt softball shirts.

But black and gold still are not her family’s favorite colors.