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COURTNEY FRANCIS (LEFT) AND KATIE McMELLEN of the Saint Francis University Red Flash leave the field with big grins after defeating Youngstown State in the first game of a Division I doubleheader Thursday at McCune Park in Canfield. Francis and McMellen starred locally at Jefferson and Edgewood, respectively. BILL WEST
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Area stars feel at home in front of family, friends
CANFIELD — It isn’t often the hometown friends and families of Division I collegiate athletes get to see them perform close to home.
On Thursday at McCune Park, a contingent from Conneaut, Jefferson, Kingsville and Madison took in a doubleheader between the St. Francis (Pa.) and Youngstown State softball teams.
Ashtabula County products Katie McMellen, Courtney Francis and Sabrina Lane were back “home.”
“This is like a dream,” Barb McMellen, Katie’s mom, said upon arrival. “This is a home game.”
McMellen, an Edgewood grad, and Francis, a Jefferson alum, are sophomores for the Red Flash. Lane, a Conneaut graduate, is their coach.
“This feels like a home game compared to where they usually play,” Scott Francis, Courtney’s dad, said.
“I think it’s wonderful (they’re playing so close to home),” Barb McMellen said.
For the Francises, it was the first time they’ve been able to see Courtney play this season.
“This is a lot of fun,” Melinda Francis, Courtney’s mom said. “But even if we have to travel, it’s nothing to complain about. This is about being able to see our daughter compete at this level. We’re grateful.”
“It’s the first chance I’ve had to go see her,” Scott Francis said. “I’m excited it’s over here.”
For Jay McMellen, Katie’s dad, and Katie Lane, Sabrina’s mom, getting to see their daughters on the diamond was nothing new. But it was a little bit of thrill to see them so close to home.
“I got to see more than half of her games last year,” Jay McMellen said. “I travel for work and I try to work my schedule around her games. But it’s fun to be here.”
“Luckily, I have a job that lets me leave early,” Katie Lane said. “When (Sabrina) was in college, I tried to see every single game. It’s harder now, because they’re on the East Coast a lot. They go to New York City, Connecticut and other parts (of the Northeast). It’s hard to get off (of work) and go to the East Coast.
“It’s nice to be here. (St. Francis) is only about three and a half or four hours away. I try to go to all of the home games and I go to Robert Morris near Pittsburgh. I eat with the team afterwards. (The players) all know me. They all thought my name was Katie Lane (instead of just Katie) because there’s another Katie that’s on the team. They all ask me to be their friends on Facebook.”
Both Courtney Francis and Katie McMellen made a point of stopping to chat with their folks for a few minutes between games.
“She’s thrilled to see us,” Melinda Francis said. “She’d be delighted if we would be at every game, every single time they played.”
“They do that a lot more this year than they did last year. As freshmen, they stuck close to the dugout because they were a little timid. They’ve done a good job of (coming to talk with us) this year.”
Though sometimes it might be more for their parents’ sakes.
“I guarantee (she does it more for me than for herself),” Barb McMellen said. “She likes us to think we’re still important.”
Courtney Francis even had a special guest on hand. Jefferson classmate and Columbia University wrestler Kyle Gilchrist, home on spring break, made the trip down for the games.
“I like to watch Courtney play,” Gilchrist said. “She’s my best friend. I like to come and watch her whenever I can. They play in Long Island on May 1, I think, and I’ll go out and watch her play then, too.”
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