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Roepke revisits dugout days
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Neighbors | Amanda TonoliJoan Roepke (front) came to Youngstown State University’s softball field on Set. 18 with her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry (right) and Ruth Roepke (left) to celebrate her surprise from Shepherd of the Valley — to walk the field with the YSU softball team before a game.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Resident of Shepherd of the Valley Joan Roepke stood on the field with Youngstown State University’s softball team on Sept. 18.
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Neighbors | Amanda TonoliOn Sept. 18 Kent State University’s softball team played Youngstown State University. Special guest Joan Roepke — Shepherd of the Valley resident, former softball player and coach — made an appearance with both teams before the game.
By AMANDA TONOLI
Youngstown State University’s softball team walked onto the field with guest teammate Joan Roepke on Sept. 18 for their game against Kent State University.
Shepherd of the Valley brought a surprised resident Joan Roepke to the field, an old dream she had during her countless years of both playing and coaching girls softball.
Jerry Roepke, Joan’s son, said he was happy to see something so great happen to his mother.
“It’s one of the better things that’s ever happened in my mom’s life,” Jerry said.
Ruth Ellen Roepke, Jerry Roepke’s wife and Joan’s daughter-in-law, said she didn’t even know Joan played or coached softball until recently. Joan has the reputation of being quite modest, as those who weren’t around during the time of her softball career don’t know much about it.
“She never gets her picture taken, never talks about herself,” Ruth Ellen Roepke said.
YSU softball player Cali Mikovich found this experience to not only be great for Joan, but also for herself.
“This is so cool, it makes me happy that somebody like this has their dream it still lives on – and this was our dream,” Mikovich said.