Written by Courtney Soreo '16
BEREA, Ohio -- Baldwin Wallace University senior utility infielder and outfielder Melissa Vermes wants to work in the field of sport management, and she really wants to be a softball coach. The 21-year-old from Middelburg Heights is utilizing her experienvce on the Yellow Jacket softball team to soak up all of the knowledge she can get so that she can add it to her previous experiences.
"I really enjoy coaching," said Vermes, a sport management major who has played in nine games this season for the 17-18 overall Yellow Jackets. "It gives me a chance to use the skills I have developed in order to help others."
Vermes graduated from local Midpark High School and played basketball, volleyball, tennis and softball. Academically, she was a member of the National Honor Society and won the Presidential Scholarship Award. That experience was a foundation-builder for her.
"Melissa is very serious about achieving excellence, whether it is in the classroom or on the softball diamond," said veteran Yellow Jacket Head Coach Tom Spencer with a big smile. "She definitely gives it her all every day in practice and when she gets the opportunity to play in games. Melissa is a team player who is going to be a good coach."
After spending her first two years of college playing softball at Cuyahoga Community College in nearby Parma, Vermes transferred to BW and is in her second season of wearing the Brown & Gold. A year ago, as a junior, she played her first season of softball and earned her first varsity letter. She appeared in 14 games as a utility player and batted .333 with one base hit in three at-bats with six runs scored. BW finished 20-18 overall that season.
"We head into our final two doubleheaders with a chance to have a winning season and make the four-team Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament," said Spencer. "Melissa is one of six outstanding seniors on our team. We are hoping to end the season with our best efforts yet, and that way Melissa and the other five seniors can go out on a very positive note."
Vermes' teammate, sophomore infielder Nikki Gannon (North Ridgeville) enjoys playing alongside her and is impressed with her dedication and commitment to excellence.
"Melissa is a great teammate," said Gannon prior to this Friday's doubleheader versus Geneva (Pa.) College at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field at 3:30 p.m. "She cares about the team, and looks out for everyone. Even if Melissa doesn't play every game, she still is dedicated and gives her all during practice.
Vermes makes sure that she continues to work hard so that she continues to improve
"Even if I am not playing in every game, it is important for me to workout and practice hitting," said Vermes. "I want to make sure that I remain dedicated and show my coach how much playing means to me. I also want to make sure that I continue to practice in order to become the best athlete that I can be."
In addition, Vermes is an outstanding student-athlete who works hard to maintain good grades while playing softball. In the classroom, she is a Dean's List student who maintains a 3.877 grade point average and will earn Academic All-OAC honors this spring.
"It is important for me to be able to balance school and softball," said Vermes, who will be honored along with the other five senior softball student-athletes prior to their regular season-ending Seniors' & Parents' Day twinbill versus Muskingum University at the Fairgrounds Field at 1 p.m. "Softball is important to me, but school comes first.
"I do not want my grades to slip as a result of me playing softball," continued Vermes. "I work hard so that I am able to be dedicated to both. If it comes down to it, I will take my homework with me on the bus on road trips to make sure that I get it finished."
Vermes' mother, Carla Vermes, views her daughter as a dedicated student-athlete as well.
"Melissa does get frustrated at times, but what college student doesn't,?" said Carla Vermes. "She is very well-balanced and makes sure that she can handle everything she has on her plate. She makes sure she gets her schoolwork done before practices or games. In my opinion, she is a phenomenal student-athlete."
Vermes is hoping that her experiences in the classroom as well as the experience from playing softball will aid her in becoming a softball coach. In addition to playing at BW, she currently works along side her high school coach as an assistant and works as an assistant softball coach during the summer to gain hands-on experience working with athletes. Melissa is able to use what she has been taught throughout her softball career to help these young athletes excel. She works along side her high school coach to help the girls develop skills they will need if they are looking to continue playing softball in college.
"I love the girls that I work with," said Vermes, with a smile from ear-to-ear." I like being able to work hands-on with the girls. For me it is really about helping the girls become better, and being able to see their skills develop. The opportunity to be an assistant coach is going to help me to reach my future career goals."
Not only does Vermes want to become a softball coach when she graduates from BW, but she also aspires to own her own recreation facility in the future. She is currently looking to acquire an internship through the Baldwin Wallace University Recreation Department or the Middleburg Heights Recreation Center. She is looking to use that internship in order to gain experience for her other future goals. She is also looking to use facilities in order to promote softball.
"I am looking to tie in softball with working in the field of recreation," said Vermes. "It could be a natural connection.
"Currently, the Middleburg Heights Rec Department does not promote fast-pitch, and I hope to change that philosophy," continued Vermes. "I want to be able to combine playing softball with my future profession of running a facility. It will allow me to give young women and girls the opportunity to play softball through recreation programs, which are currently hard to find."
But before Vermes walks across the stage at BW to receive her diploma, she has some unfinished business.
This weekend's doubleheader against Muskingum is a big one. At 9-7 in the OAC, the Yellow Jackets currently stand in fourth place and are one game ahead of three other teams that all sit at 8-8 in league play. Muskingum enters the twinbill at 11-5 in the OAC and tied for first place with Marietta College, which BW swept earlier this spring. BW must beat Muskingum once on Saturday to have chance for a spot in the postseason tournament.
"It's coming right down to the end," said Vermes. "It's so exciting to be part of it. BW has been a good experience for me in many ways and to be able to end it with an OAC title would be icing on the cake."
The 2014 OAC Tournament Final Four takes place next Friday and Saturday, May 2-3.
FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
