Austintown Sports

Local talent helps Northeast softball squad tie for first

By Nik Zirounis

POSTED: July 1, 2010

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Three girls from the local area took part in the recently completed Northeast Ohio District Underclassmen All Star tournament in Pickerington.

Amanda Callahan and Carly Ortz of Austintown Fitch and Brooke Meenachan of Boardman were all members of the Northeast squad that finished the tourney tied for first with a 4-1 record. The Northeast outfit defeated East, 2-0; Southeast, 3-0; Southwest, 10-4; and Northwest, 4-1. The group’s only blemish was an 8-2 setback at the hands of the Central squad. While the team was accomplishing a lot, the local ladies were accomplishing so much more.

Meenachan played shortstop and looked like an old Omar Vizquel video package doing it. The soon-to-be Spartan senior made spectacular play after spectacular play to finish with a .1000 fielding percentage. Not only was her fielding fantastic, but Brooke also proved to be a beast at the plate with two homeruns and five RBIs. She finished the tournament with a .333 batting average.

Callahan usually wows the crowd with heroics in the pitching circle. During the Pickerington tournament, however, Amanda was amazing as a right fielder. Like her friend from Boardman, Callahan also finished with a .1000 fielding number. She went four-for-eight at the plate with a double, four runs scored, an RBI and three stolen bases.

Ortz was just as outstanding as her usual battery mate on the Falcons. Carly crushed the ball at a .500 clip with a double and four ribbies. She also proved to be a standout at catcher when she shot down both runners who attempted to steal on her.

Fitch assistant head coach Steve Ward was extremely proud of the efforts of his two representatives.

“Amanda and Carly both did great,” said Ward via email. “Some of the fans called it the 'Fitch show' during one of the games. We are generating excitement in our program and our school thanks to these two girls’ leadership. These two will continue to promote fastpitch softball in Austintown. We are so proud of them.”

Coach Ward was also proud of the lone Spartan all star and took some time to promote her play.

“Brooke Meenachan had some wonderful games with the two homeruns and five RBIs,” he said respectfully. “These Federal League players dominated the tournament. The area girls showed why we consistently have teams go deep in the state tournament. We play some of the best softball in the state and it showed (in Pickerington).”

News of that super softball play must have traveled fast around the state because at least 20 college coaches were in attendance at the tournament. Ward predicted that any of the girls he mentioned would have successful college careers at one of the many Division II and Division III universities that were represented last week. Fitch’s coach acknowledged that the stats put up by Meenachan, Callahan and Ortz were extraordinary, but those college coaches were all interested in the girls because they had something special inside them as well.

“These girls are a great example of what hard work, determination and a will to win can do for a program,” said Ward.