Worth The Wait
By Craig Lawson
Megan Lake grew up in Arizona and describes herself as “outgoing” and a “perfectionist.”
Brooklynn Pettis is a California native who says she is “laid back” and “goes where the wind blows.”
While the seniors may have different personalities, they have traveled similar roads in their softball careers.
Both were inspired to participate in softball by an older family member who played in NCAA Division I. Each was recruited to Boise State by a previous coaching staff. Both saw limited playing time for two years before becoming part-time starters in 2024.
This season, both are entrenched in the middle of Boise State’s lineup that scores 8.30 runs per game to rank fifth nationally.
Getting to Boise State
Lake began playing softball as an 8-year-old. Prior to that, she was a soccer player. She made the switch partly because she was inspired by her cousin Marissa Lake, who played three seasons at Austin Peay (2013-15).
“I made great friends through softball and it kept me playing the sport,” Lake said.
In spring 2021, Lake was a senior at Mountain Ridge High School and did not have any offers. She blindly emailed some schools, including Boise State. The Broncos began recruiting her, as did Oregon. At the time, current Boise State head coach Justin Shults was an assistant with the Ducks.
Lake eventually chose to wear Blue and Orange because Eugene was “too rainy.” When Boise State decided to make a coaching change after the 2021 season, Lake was in limbo. When Shults was named the head coach, “it was in the cards.”
Pettis began her softball career as a 7-year-old. Her older sister Kobie Pettis was a U.S. Women’s Junior National Team member in 2015 and played four years at California (2015-18) where she was a Pac-12 All-Freshman and All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection.
She attended an OnDeck Softball camp in Stockton, California and the Boise State coaches saw her there.
“I did not have any other offers at the time,” Pettis said. “During my visit, I fell in love with Boise. Mainly, I really liked what Boise State stood for, a blue-collar mentality and working for everything that you are.”
Role Players
Through two seasons at Boise State, neither Lake or Pettis saw much playing time as they sat behind four-year starters Jordyn Hutchins (left field) and Serena Huchingson (catcher).
Lake had six at bats as a freshman and Pettis played in four games on a team that matched the school record with 40 wins in Shults’s first year.
In 2023, the duo combined for 49 at bats as the Broncos captured the regular season title in the Mountain West.
Lake had a difficult time dealing with her unfamiliar role.
“I was trying to be a perfectionist my sophomore year,” Lake said. “I was coming to practice an hour and half early to hit. I had to learn less is more. I went to therapy and it helped me with my mental toughness.”
While the fire burned for Pettis as well, true to her character, she did not let others see it.
“My dad taught us (her and five siblings) how to work hard for what we wanted,” Pettis said. “He said it was important to be humble about it and not to let your emotions show through.”
When Huchingson graduated in 2023, the door was cracked open for Pettis. Last year, she split time with then-freshman Leah McAnally behind the plate and saw time as the designated player, starting 31 of Boise State’s 59 games.
At the plate, she contributed seven home runs and 24 RBI in 103 at bats, but was behind McAnally when it came to defense, throwing out 12% of potential base stealers while the newcomer’s rate was 27%.
For Lake, she was still primarily in a backup role behind Hutchins, who finished her career in 2024. She made 14 starts, but was limited to 54 at bats and was used as a pinch runner, a role she embraced.
“Every time I was put in to run, I would think I have to score,” Lake said. “If baserunning was how I was going to help the team, then I had to give it all I have. Every opportunity is an opportunity.”
Senior Success
As seniors, Lake and Pettis have been making the most of their opportunity. The duo has combined for 53 starts through 30 games.
Lake is batting .398 with 11 extra-base hits and 29 RBI, surpassing the career totals through three years. She drove in a career-high five runs in a win over Pacific during the second game of a doubleheader, March 18. Pettis is batting .370 with career highs for home runs (eight) and RBI (28). Earlier this year, she was 3-for-3 with two home runs and seven RBI at Utah Tech.
Bottom 2
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) March 8, 2025
Brooklynn Pettis joins the HR party with a 3-R line drive to left.#WhatsNext | #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/v1WRugA7nJ
Praise from Their Head Coach
"Megan’s journey is unique. She came to Boise State wanting to make an immediate impact, but with our outfield having so much depth early in her career, she saw limited action. Through this adversity, she has learned and grown more as a person off the field, finding joys outside of softball. In return, she is a better softball player for it. She is having a huge senior season and has earned her spot as our everyday left fielder.”
-Justin Shults
“I’m really proud of who Brooklynn has become as a student-athlete and as a person. She has matured on and off the field, has been a great teammate, and her role has grown each year. I’m so happy she getting an opportunity to be a huge part of this team's success in her senior year. She is a pure hitter, and she has been a staple in the middle of our lineup.”
-Justin Shults
Personal Development
“I know I wouldn’t be at Boise State if it wasn’t for a purpose,” Lake said. I am pretty loyal. I developed characteristics I don’t think I would have if I wasn’t here. You have to have resiliency, consistency and the mental toughness to stay present every day.”
Pettis added, “It’s about pushing through and I’m glad I did. If I did not stay here, I don’t think I would be the person I am today. I’m not emotional when I play. I’m the same person on and off the field, someone who puts her head down and tries to get the job done.”
Defensive Improvement
Top 6
— Boise State Softball (@BroncoSportsSB) March 8, 2025
Megan Lake makes a splash with her glove to turn away Utah!#WhatsNext | #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/ItPbFblEhM
Defensively, Lake said she has become more comfortable in left field because he has changed her approach.
“Early in the season I was too focused on what everyone else was doing,” Lake said. “When I think too much, it doesn’t go well. I just need to react.”
She made stellar defensive plays in back-to-back games against Utah to help the Broncos sweep a pair of games at home against a Big 12 opponent.
The Broncos are utilizing a five-pitcher staff this season, including three freshmen.
“It is a challenge (to work with five pitchers),” Pettis said. “I had to learn what each wanted out of me. Did they want to be hyped up or for me to just be encouraging? Learning what type of feedback they wanted early really helped.”
Pettis has improved her metrics, thwarting 44% of stolen base attempts, something she credits to first-year assistant coach Terra McGowan, who was the 2023 National Catcher of the Year at Oregon.
“We didn’t have someone like her on staff my first-three years,” Pettis said. “It is so nice to have someone who played my position. She has been a big help.”
Leaving a Mark
As a team, the Broncos have lofty goals, a Mountain West championship and an NCAA berth among them.
Pettis and Lake both say they are having the most fun they’ve had playing softball and the accomplishments on the field are important. But, they also pointed to something outside the lines.
Pettis commented, “I knew I was going to have to lead at some point. I am more of a silent leader, lead by example. I care most about giving my all and leaving it all out on the field and how I can possibly help the team. Accolades are cool, but leaving an impact on this community and this program is more important to me. The culture and the standard of Boise State softball means more.”
“I had to learn how to be a role model and a consistent starter,” Lake said. “I think this senior class has been very inclusive. We need to leave this place better than we found it and put the underclassmen in leadership positions so they run this team as a family after we’re gone. We are a sisterhood and we are not always going to get along with each other. But, the family atmosphere with no judgment needs to continue in the future.”
What's Next
Once softball season is over, the next road traveled looks to be different for Lake and Pettis, but still contains a common theme.
Lake plans to go to Southern California where her parents now live and take a gap year as she prepares to be a physician’s assistant.
“I need to get hours working, shadowing, volunteering and then apply to PA school on the East Coast,” Lake said. “My family is from New Jersey and I want a different experience than the West Coast to see where I want to raise a family. You have to be true to yourself to live your best life. I like to have deep connections with people. One day I will get to go to work and help people live a better life.”
Pettis graduates in summer 2025 and plans to walk in December.
“Career-path wise I have no idea yet,” Pettis said. “I love helping people. Over summer, I will be giving hitting lessons and helping run clinics. Maybe I will go into coaching or teaching. I love Boise so much. I don’t want to go anywhere else.”