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Stretching For Success Mead’s Carnahan Excels On Field While Preparing For Life After Softball

By Chris Derrick chrisd@spokesman.com(509) 459-5515

Whether it’s fielding choppers or fixing them, Andrea Carnahan of Mead High School has an adept touch.

Carnahan, a senior, has been a first-team all-Greater Spokane League softball first baseman the past two years.

Although her hitting stroke is solid enough to hold down the No. 5 spot in Mead’s batting order, Carnahan turns heads with her fielding prowess.

“She makes plays at first base that are all-league plays,” said Mead coach Bridget Monahan. “She does it game in and game out. It does a lot to inspire a team when you have a first baseman doing that.”

Most days, before donning a Mead uniform Carnahan ponders a different field - that of dental lab technician.

During her senior year, Carnahan has spent afternoons at a vocational skills center near Rogers High.

A friend’s recommendation pointed Carnahan toward being down in the mouth.

“(Lab techs) build bridges and dentures,” Carnahan said. “I started taking (classes) during first semester and I just love it.”

Attending school, laying the foundation for a career and playing varsity sports would be enough for most people, but Carnahan also works part time at Safeway. That leaves late nights and weekends for homework.

Adding to Carnahan’s juggling act is the 15- to 20-minute commute home to Colbert. The Carnahans almost live in the Riverside School District.

Carnahan’s sister, Mindy Olsen, will be in the first graduating class at Mount Spokane-Mead, which opens its doors in September. Olsen, a junior-to-be, will follow Andrea’s lead and play volleyball.

Carnahan’s three-year varsity stint with the Panthers volleyball team ended last November with a third-place trophy at the State AAA tournament in Spokane.

“It was pretty exciting because we hadn’t done that well for the past couple of years,” Carnahan said. “It felt like we came close to accomplishing our goal.”

Carnahan, a setter, said her volleyball days are done. If she plays anything in college - and she plans to begin classes at Spokane Falls Community College - it will be softball.

Her love for the game began in first grade at Colbert Elementary. She was groomed as a catcher, but Monahan had a different plan.

“She put me at first base and I’ve been there since,” Carnahan said. “I was just glad to be part of the team, so it didn’t really matter.”

“Andrea is, and has been, a terrific leader for our team,” Monahan said. “She’s very tenacious and a real leader among her peers.”

If Carnahan has a problem at first base, it’s stretching her 5-foot-4 frame for off-line throws. Her catching background allows her to knock down potential base hits that others might miss.

Carnahan dismisses last year’s .350 batting average as just that - average. Yet Monahan said Carnahan has a strong bat and aggressive base-running style.

Mead enters the GSL season as the favorite, having added all-league pitchers Shanelle Test and Jenessa Karstens - both transfers from North Central - to a strong-hitting lineup.

Carnahan said one big goal is to avoid the problems that have befallen Mead at the last two regional tournaments. Mead won last year’s district tourney, but didn’t earn one of three state berths at region.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL SOFTBALL Greater Spokane League softball season begins today at four sites. Openers: Lewis and Clark at Central Valley; North Central at Mead; Rogers at Shadle Park; Gonzaga Prep at University. Ferris opens Friday, at home against U-Hi. Postseason berths: District at Franklin Park - six. Region at Moses Lake - four. State (with Big Nine Conference) at Yakima - three. Defending champions: League and region - U-Hi. District - Mead. State results: U-Hi 1-2, CV 0-2. New coach: Laurie Henry replaces Dave Jackson at Ferris. All-league returners: First team - Theresa Palmer, Gonzaga Prep, sr., shortstop; Holly Turner, Mead, sr., SS; Andrea Carnahan, Mead, sr., first base; Katrina Morton, Mead, sr., outfielder; Jenessa Karstens, Mead (formerly NC), junior, pitcher; Jaime Christensen, Rogers, sr., SS/ second base. Second team - Jessica Sackmann, CV, sr., SS; Tori Mills, CV, sr., P; Kylee Curry, Ferris, jr., P/designated hitter; Shanelle Test, Mead (formerly NC), sophomore, P; Jenny Lytle, Ferris, jr., 1B/catcher. Predicted finish: Mead, Ferris, U-Hi, Rogers, G-Prep, CV, Shadle, LC, NC.

This sidebar appeared with the story: GSL SOFTBALL Greater Spokane League softball season begins today at four sites. Openers: Lewis and Clark at Central Valley; North Central at Mead; Rogers at Shadle Park; Gonzaga Prep at University. Ferris opens Friday, at home against U-Hi. Postseason berths: District at Franklin Park - six. Region at Moses Lake - four. State (with Big Nine Conference) at Yakima - three. Defending champions: League and region - U-Hi. District - Mead. State results: U-Hi 1-2, CV 0-2. New coach: Laurie Henry replaces Dave Jackson at Ferris. All-league returners: First team - Theresa Palmer, Gonzaga Prep, sr., shortstop; Holly Turner, Mead, sr., SS; Andrea Carnahan, Mead, sr., first base; Katrina Morton, Mead, sr., outfielder; Jenessa Karstens, Mead (formerly NC), junior, pitcher; Jaime Christensen, Rogers, sr., SS/ second base. Second team - Jessica Sackmann, CV, sr., SS; Tori Mills, CV, sr., P; Kylee Curry, Ferris, jr., P/designated hitter; Shanelle Test, Mead (formerly NC), sophomore, P; Jenny Lytle, Ferris, jr., 1B/catcher. Predicted finish: Mead, Ferris, U-Hi, Rogers, G-Prep, CV, Shadle, LC, NC.