May 15, 2016 5 min read

The toughness possessed by Shelby Minardi cannot be questioned.

In spite of a series of health issue, including a serious knee injury suffered about 13 months ago, she is not going down without a fight.

Minardi showed how determined she was to overcome the setback by turning to rigorous boxing training to help her prepare for the current high school softball season at Monessen.

The 17-year-old senior is one of the centerpieces of the Greyhounds’ charge to a second consecutive appearance in the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

They enter the postseason as the Section 2 runner-up with an 8-2 record and an overall mark of 13-5. Monessen will open the playoffs today in the quarterfinals against Jefferson-Morgan (4 p.m.) at Canon-McMillan’s North Strabane Intermediate School field.

With all the work and boxing training behind her, Minardi’s focus now is to help Monessen make an extended postseason run.

Because of her strong desire to return to the team after missing most of last year’s groundbreaking season – the Greyhounds qualified for the playoffs for the first time in school history and won their first postseason game – Minardi has made an amazing return to the game she loves.

“I feel I excelled early on as a hitter,” Minardi said. “I was doing well, and the team was doing well. I was nervous and afraid I wouldn’t get back for this season.

“I wanted to get back for my last season and play with these girls. It was my dream to be part of this group and for us to be successful. It’s my dream come true. It’s great to be a captain and to be around these girls who have so much talent.”

In the regular season, Minardi hit .484 (31-for-64), with nine doubles, three home runs, 34 RBI, scoring 22 runs and owning a .507 on-base percentage.

Minardi, who is an outstanding student at the top of her class, suffered a knee injury in late April 2015, in a game against Frazier, making a tag at third base.

She tore her anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and the meniscus.

It effectively removed her from the Greyhounds’ breakout season and limited her time with her Renegades travel team.

After rehabilitating the knee, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Justin Zenner operated on her in mid-September.

Many didn’t give her even a puncher’s chance of getting back for the high school season.

Enter the boxing training.

“I am surprised she got back so quickly,” said Aaron Koontz, co-owner of Mon Valley Boxing of Donora. “After I saw her motivation, skill and will to get back, I knew she was driven.

“I pushed her more and more. She communicated very well and she just kept progressing – long lunges, tire jumps, footwork and movement. She was trained like a boxer.

“I just had to get it into her mind to do this one step at a time. Take it slow. She kept pushing. Boxing training is hard. You have to mentally want to do it. Shelby worked so hard. She’s deserving of everything she gets.”

Her softball career might be over after this summer. The knee injury and a previous shoulder injury likely cost her a scholarship. Several Division III schools wanted her to play for them, but Minardi will attend the University of Pittsburgh and study chemistry instead. While she won’t completely shut the door on softball, she’s comfortable with her decision.

Minardi is enjoying this season. It’s a joyous time for her, friends, family and teammates.

“She’s happy now,” said Shelby’s mother, Beth. “She’s sharing it with her friends. It’s been good.”

The suffering was excruciating, though.

“The one thing that sticks in my mind on the day she got hurt was hearing her scream,” Beth Minardi said. “They called me (to come) out on the field and you know Shelby was down, taken off by ambulance and still had the ball in her glove. She did (record) the out. That’s my girl.

“Honestly, it was heartbreaking. Softball is Shelby’s love. She played travel forever. After the injury, she couldn’t get around. She couldn’t go to the games. She’s tough. Her dad (Ed) and I talked about the boxing training. We supported her. We didn’t want her going in the ring. But it helped her. We’re so proud of her.”

And she is helping Monessen. Her hitting was a key in early-season, non-section wins over Jefferson-Morgan, defending WPIAL champions, and Chartiers-Houston, one of the premier programs in the state.

She’s pitched, sharing some mound time with ace Dana Vitakis, played first base, and hit and hit and hit.

“My mindset is we can make it as far in the playoffs as we want,” Shelby Minardi said. “We have to be together, play smart and reduce errors. We’ve been strong offensively. I feel we can beat any team.”

With Minardi present and leading the charge, the Greyhounds are viewed as a tough out in the playoffs.

Coach Bo Teets thinks Monessen can be more than a tough out.

“We feel we have the talent to make a deep run,” Teets said. “I don’t think we’ll be intimidated by anybody.

“Shelby is confident and the team is confident. She’s the senior leader you hope for. Shelby sets the tone. She’s not afraid to speak up when something needs to be said. She also leads by example.

“Her work ethic and drive are obvious. She’s mentally prepared. She’s adapted and overcome challenges and obstacles. Shelby will go a long way in her life.”