Softball: Elgin’s Jennah Perryman chooses Ball State

Updated: March 31, 2012 8:16PM

Elgin sophomore softball player Jennah Perryman went to watch Ball State fall to Northern Illinois in a softball game Saturday at DeKalb. It won’t be the last time she sees a Ball State softball game.

Perryman committed to play at Ball State Saturday, making it 2-for-2 for Mark and Debbie Perryman when it comes to their daughters getting Division I softball scholarships.

“I’m really excited,” Jennah Perryman said. “I loved the campus. I’ve been going there since I was 9 years old to softball camps and love their program and everything about the school.”

Perryman’s senior sister, Hannah, committed early in her high school career to play at Division I Missouri-St. Louis. She also considered Ball State before making her decision.

“I think it’s never too early to make a decision if it’s one you’re making on your own,” Jennah Perryman said.

Coach Craig Nicholson’s Ball State team is coming off a 34-24 season.

“Coach Nicholson wants me to play third base and shortstop, and not pitch as much, just mainly infield,” Perryman said. “They were interested in me for my hitting too.”

Currently Perryman is the Maroons’ second pitcher behind her sister. She was 9-8 last season as a pitcher with 73 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA in 97 innings. She hit five home runs.

Two Division I scholarship athletes isn’t the easiest thing in the world to accomplish.

“It’s all my husband’s work,” Debbie Perryman said. “He’s been working hard with them since when they were little.

“He coached their teams at different times and works on the side with them in their pitching and hitting. He’s always been involved with them developing them as players. It’s kind of a connection for them as daughter and dad and it turned into something special.”

Added Jennah: “Dad helped me through everything as far as softball — how to hit, pitch and field. I have to thank him for it because he’s the main reason why I was able to go to this college. He helps in every way with the game, even mentally. He helped me to learn that at every position you play when you make a mistake, it has to be like water off a duck’s back and you move on to the next play.”

The Perrymans will be playing for the Maroons for the rest of this season. Ball State doesn’t currently have games scheduled with Missouri-St. Louis, so they won’t run into each other on a college diamond unless it’s in the NCAA tournament.

“It’s going to be tough without my sister there,” Jennah said.

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