By: Matthew Florjancic, Correspondent
BEREA, OHIO —Coming into this season, the Baldwin-Wallace College softball team was inexperienced on the pitcher’s mound.
The Yellow Jacket staff returned just one pitcher from a season ago. That pitcher is senior Ellen Wolke who had tossed just two-thirds of an inning as a junior and was the No.3 starter behind 2005 graduates Jeanette Brezina and K.C. Young.
This spring, Wolke again is the No.3 starter, behind freshmen standouts Jessica Shaffer (Brookfield) and Katey Munshower (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands). But pitching is not all that Wolke has done well this spring.
In addition to being the No.3 starter and a spot reliever for the Yellow Jackets, 17-18 overall entering the season-ending doubleheader today against nonleague foe Allegheny (Pa.) College at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field in Berea, Wolke has played solidly in left field and is having her best season as a collegian both at the plate and on the mound.
In 35 starts for the Brown & Gold, Wolke is batting .278 with a team-high 12 doubles, two home runs, 11 runs batted-in and 18 runs scored. On the mound, Wolke has fashioned a deceiving 1-3 record with a 4.53 earned run average in eight appearances, including five starts and three complete games. She has struck out 20 batters in 34 innings pitched.
"Ellen has made an outstanding contribution to our team this season," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Joe Yocabet, a member of the Greater Cleveland Fast-Pitch Softball Hall of Fame as a pitcher. "She has been a bonus for us whether it is at the plate, in leftfield or on the mound. She has done it all.
"She started the year pitching but then she began hitting, so we had to find a place for her to play in the field," continued Yocabet, who is in second place in wins as the B-W softball coach. "She has continued to hit all season and her pitching has gotten better and better as the season has progressed. She has improved as much as any other player in our program and has had just a marvelous senior year. We are so happy for her."
Wolke just wants to help.
"My personal goal for the season was just to do everything that I can to help the team succeed," Wolke said. "I want to continue to hit well and improve both offensively and defensively.
"I wanted to see the team make it to and win the OAC Tournament," she added. "The B-W softball program has a wonderful tradition of success and now we are focused on making the end of the season a good learning experience for our younger players."
Wolke is having her best season as a Yellow Jacket in 2006. As a freshman, she played primarily on the junior varsity squad. Then, as a sophomore and junior, Wolke saw limited action on varsity. However, she has made the most her opportunities this year. In addition to her impressive batting average, Wolke has a .444 slugging percentage and a .339 on-base average.
During the first three years of her career, Wolke had more than her fair share of bad luck on and off the softball field.
"The biggest obstacles I have had to overcome during my career were having mononucleosis during tryouts my freshman year," she said. "Then, [I had] a broken collarbone my sophomore year while my mother was going through chemotherapy during our fall season."
"Ellen is a fighter in every sense of the word," said Yocabet. "She battles on the field and in the classroom. She has had plenty of adversity to deal with and has bounced back well because she battles, works hard and knows how to overcome obstacles. She also has been a great team leader for our younger players."
One of the top highlights of Wolke’s collegiate career came earlier this season when she helped B-W beat then sixth-ranked Muskingum College.
"I have many favorite memories from the past four years," said Wolke, who continues to play for her love of softball and competition. "The two that stick out the most are going to the OAC Tournament my sophomore year and then beating Muskingum this year.
"They [Muskingum] have been so dominant in the past years and it meant a lot to the seniors to win a game against such a good program," she added.
Through hard work and dedication to the team, Wolke has made a positive impact on the rest of her teammates.
"Ellen is one of the hardest working people I have ever met," said Yellow Jacket two-time All-American Nicole Loudin. "She is definitely going to go out there everyday and try to make herself better.
"Not only does Ellen work hard to make herself better, but she also wants to make everyone on the team better both on the field and in the classroom," Loudin added. "Ellen is an outstanding role model and example of a Division III student and athlete. It has been a privilege to play with her for four years."
Even though Wolke works hard to improve her game on the field, she works equally as hard in the classroom. Her ultimate goal is to become optometrist.
"My major is chemistry and I am getting a minor in biology," said Wolke who carries a 3.603 grade point average and is currently a candidate for both Academic All-OAC and CoSIDA/ ESPN THE MAGAZINE Academic All-District IV accolades. "I chose chemistry as a major because I have always been very interested in the sciences and really enjoyed chemistry in high school.
"I am attending The Ohio State University School of Optometry in the fall," continued Wolke. "Optometry interests me because I have always worn glasses and been fascinated with the eye. I want to be able to help those who have vision problems because I know what it is like to not be able to see and how important sight is to people."
In addition to her outstanding grades in the classroom, Wolke is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the sports honor society. She is a Dean’s List student who received the Jacket Scholar Award. Wolke also earned the National Fastball Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete Award during the 2003-2004 season.
The spring sports season can be very hectic at times. The weather in Northeast Ohio can look good in the morning before a game, but as the first pitch is thrown, the temperature may drop rapidly. This erratic schedule does not affect Wolke too much. She spends a lot of time preparing and getting herself organized.
"I am always working on something and keep myself on a schedule so that I make sure to get everything done on time and done well," Wolke stated. "I work hard and stay organized. I am a planner.
"I am very motivated and have always been very active, so I learned time management at a young age," she added. "I played three sports in high school and also competed in gymnastics year round."
At Bishop Fenwick High School, Wolke earned nine letters in volleyball, basketball and softball. She earned two team Most Valuable Player Awards in softball and was an All Mid-Miami League selection four times. Her favorite high school memory came when she helped the Falcons to a District title as a junior.
"Our team was so fun and then to play and win the district title with that group of girls meant a lot," said Wolke. "It also meant a lot to me and my family because my dad and grandfather were our coaches."
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