2008 Woodie Awards
Senior offers experience, leadership, makes lasting impression on teammates
Frank Billanti
Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Sports
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She was called into action as a pitch runner and ended up having a huge impact on the game.
"I actually scored the winning run," Merks said. "I was put in to run for the pitcher and ended up scoring."
Merks, 22, now a senior on Point Park University women's softball team, plans to start this season at first base. She has high hopes for the team this year and considers herself a team leader for the Pioneers.
Sports have always been in Merks' life. She originally started out as a cheerleader, but her oldest brother Raymond introduced her to softball.
"It was just to try it out," Merks said.
From that day on, Merks' love affair with softball began. She joined the slow pitch program and played until she was 15 years old.
After slow pitch, Merks started her busy sports career at Sto-Rox High School. At Sto-Rox, Merks played softball and basketball for four years, played on the women's volleyball team during her freshman and sophomore years and also danced as a vikette during football games.
"Oh yeah, sports were always a part of my life," Merks said.
Softball was the big sport, though, in high school for Merks. She did not start her freshman year, but she was a fixture at third base during her sophomore, junior and senior years. During those years, Merks and the Sto-Rox squad were accustomed to excellence.
"We won the WPIAL [championship] all four years that I was there," Merks said.
Her high school team was able to reach the state finals in her sophomore year, but the team lost in the championship game. The best year for Merks came when she was a senior at Sto-Rox, when she was voted one of the best players in Western Pennsylvania.
"It was great; I had my face in the paper," Merks said.
Merks was a standout both offensively and defensively as a senior.
"I didn't have any errors, and I hit two home runs. It was a great year," Merks said.
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