Greenville’s Jazzlyn Petry joins Sinclair softball program

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GREENVILLE – Greenville senior Jazzlyn Petry signed her letter of intent Friday afternoon to play college softball at Sinclair Community College, becoming the second Lady Wave softball player to join the Tartans this year.

Petry, the daughter of Jeff and Cynnema Petry, said it’s really exciting to get to play college softball. And getting to play with high school classmate Allison Minnich makes it even better.

“It will be fun to actually know someone and be there,” Petry said. “We’ll get through it together so it’s exciting.”

Petry was attracted to Sinclair because of its physical therapist assistant program.

“They have a really good program, and I also get another scholarship on top of that being in the med-tech program,” she said.

Petry currently plans to enter the workforce after her two years at Sinclair, but she kept open the possibility of continuing her academic and athletic careers at a four-year university after leaving Sinclair.

“Just a great student athlete; 3.9 GPA and she’s a sharp cookie,” Greenville softball coach Jerrod Newland said. “She’s a sharp kid.”

In addition to being a great student, Petry has excelled on the softball field for Greenville and earned all-Greater Western Ohio Conference honors throughout her high school career. As a freshman she was named special mention all-GWOC North and as a sophomore and junior she earned first team all-division honors.

“She’ll come right in and she’ll be an impact player right away right behind the plate,” Sinclair coach Steve Beachler said.

Adding a pitcher, Minnich, and catcher, Petry – both of whom also can play first base – from the same high school will be a big benefit for Sinclair.

“I think it’s great having both battery positions in a pitcher and a catcher and obviously going to be working a lot together this year and then just jump right into our program without missing a beat,” Beachler said. “Both of them are going to contribute right away.”

While Petry is a good catcher, both Beachler and Newland spoke very highly of her hitting abilities.

“She’s a very solid hitter,” Beachler said. “She hits the ball hard whenever she gets up to the plate and always puts the ball into play. And just her hustle and her attitude in the dugout and on the field. I can’t say enough good things about her.”

Petry is a .359 career hitter for Greenville and already has 100 hits in her high school career. As a junior she hit .394 with 12 doubles, three triples and a GWOC North-leading 33 RBI.

“What is amazing about JP is that 40 percent of her hits are for extra bases. That’s hard to believe,” Newland said. “JP will go down as one of the best offensive players ever here at GHS. I always joke with her that she never strikes out or walks. JP has never seen a pitch she doesn’t like to pound.”

At Sinclair, Petry’s goal is to be a strong leader for the Tartans.

“I want to be able to be a good leader and bring what I brought to here at the high school team and hit well and be just a good leader for everyone,” she said.

Her leadership is one of the best things about her, Beachler said.

“She’s a quality student, quality player,” he said. “She’s definitely going to be a leader out on the field for us. That’s one of the things that really brought my interest in her is because of her leadership ability on the field.”

Sinclair is a National Junior College Athletic Association member that plays in the Ohio Community College Athletic Association. Last year Sinclair finished with a 36-12 record and qualified for the Region XII District I softball tournament.

“Steve, he’s pulling some good kids,” Newland said. “Last year they won 75 percent of their games and real close to going to the next level. The kids he has coming in from our school and a few others, I look for them to break through the map here in the next couple years.”

Prior to leaving for college Petry will look to have another strong season for Greenville, which has won at least 25 games per season the past 12 years. In her first three years of high school, Petry has helped Greenville compile a 78-15 record.

Greenville senior Jazzlyn Petry signed her letter of intent Friday afternoon to play college softball at Sinclair Community College.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_Jazzlyn-Petry-WEB.jpgGreenville senior Jazzlyn Petry signed her letter of intent Friday afternoon to play college softball at Sinclair Community College. Kyle Shaner|The Daily Advocate

By Kyle Shaner

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Kyle Shaner may be reached at 937-569-4316. Follow me on Twitter @KShanerAdvocate or get updates on Facebook by searching Darke County Sports or Advocate 360. For more features online go to dailyadvocate.com.

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