Leader and a player
Angie Boardman was ready to hang up her cleats.
The two-time All-Greater Spokane League shortstop from University High School first started playing fastpitch softball as a 6-year-old in Southern California. After three years as a starter for the Titans, she was ready to let her playing career come to an end with her graduation.
“Up until about two weeks ago,” the senior laughed.
After attending a game at North Idaho College, Boardman decided to give college softball a try and accepted a scholarship to play for the Cardinals.
“They were so loose and were having so much fun that I just wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “Last summer was the first summer I’ve spent not playing softball in as long as I can remember. It felt good.
“But I figure I only have so long to be able to play, so I’d better take advantage of it.”
University coach Jon Schuh, for one, is pleased.
“I think it’s a great fit for her,” he said.
Boardman stepped in as a sophomore to play second base and help the Titans win the State 4A championship with her solid glove and potent bat. Last year she moved to shortstop to anchor the infield.
“I keep saying that Angie was robbed as a sophomore,” Schuh said. “I thought she should have been an All-GSL first-teamer that year, too. I told everyone that if they stuck her in the middle of anyone’s lineup that year she would hit. But we had the state championship team, and we had so many outstanding players that it was tough to honor them all.
“I knew she was going to be a player the first time I saw her, when she was an eighth-grader. She’s been a terrific player for us and a great kid to work with. She’s tough. And she’s a little hard-headed, but I think a player needs a little of that, too.”
The Southern California softball scene is different from anything in the Pacific Northwest. For starters, the game is played all year round in that warmer climate. Once the family moved north, Boardman began playing up – playing on teams made up of older players.
“I’d played a lot of softball before I ever got to U-Hi, and I was used to being the young kid on the team,” Boardman said. “The thing is, though, I was always a third baseman on those teams. When I got to University, coach had me in the outfield for a while until a spot opened up at second base, so he moved me there.”
The shift wasn’t difficult for a player with so many innings under her belt. Same with the shift to shortstop last year.
Boardman’s hard-headed approach to the game caused her to butt heads with Schuh when it came to her style of hitting.
“I’ve been after her for three years to fix the hole in her swing,” the coach laughed. “Finally, this year, she’s working on it.”
In essence, Boardman said, her swing has become more controlled and compact – and more effective.
“I’ve gotten to the point where I can tell when I’m doing something wrong and can correct it swing to swing,” she said. “I like how I’m hitting the ball right now.”
Boardman also likes her role as a team leader.
“I’ve always been kind of a cut-up,” she said. “I like to keep things loose, but at the same time I have always tried to lead by example. I’ve tried to take on more of a leadership role with this team.
“We’ve got a couple freshmen on this team, and I’ve tried to be a role model for them. Rikki (Schiermeister) played on the basketball team, and she really understands what it takes to be part of a winning team. The other freshman (Alexis Obenchain) hasn’t played quite as much softball, and I’ve really enjoyed mothering her and helping her along.”
Playing on a state championship team your first varsity season can be a heady experience, something Boardman realized last season.
“It wasn’t something you stop and think about during the season, but it was a great experience to play on that team,” she said. “It hit me last year how different it was when we started to have some complaints crop up here and there about playing time. That was so different, and that was why I wanted to take a summer off.”
This year’s team has a different feel.
“This year’s team has come together so fast,” she said. “Everything has just fallen into place and we’re playing so well right now. It feels like we’ve got something special happening.”