Athlete of the Week: Michaela LeBlanc

Michaela LeBlanc is excited to start up her sophomore year in a few weeks and get back on defense for the Junior Varsity soccer team - but if you were to ask her, she'd tell you her mind is really focused on the 2012 softball season.

As a freshman, Leblanc backed up star pitcher Sarah Hastings on the mound, picking up several saves and a few wins for coach Johnny Gold’s 2011 club.

“We had a good season,” LeBlanc said. “We won two games in the playoffs and lost a tough one to Tewksbury.”

The softball team entered the MIAA playoffs as the 17^th seed and had to beat Triton for the right to square off against number one seed Amesbury.

After knocking off Triton 6-1 with LeBlanc pitching in, the Marblehead girls upset Amesbury 7-3, again with Leblanc on the mound. The thrill ride in the tournament ended with a 5-2 loss in Tewksbury.

“I’m going to try out for the varsity soccer team, but I’ll probably be on the JV team again,” Leblanc said. “I’ll be working out all winter to get ready for softball, pitching, batting, throwing, catching and working with Carly (Marblehead catcher Carly Score).”

“I’ve got two pitches, my fastball and a pretty good change-up,” Leblanc said. “I’ve been clocked at 49 miles an hour, and I hope to add another five miles on my fastball by the time next season comes around.”

LeBlanc lives with her mom and dad, older sister and younger brother on Peach Highlands, and has lived in town her entire life.

“I played tee-ball when I was younger,” Leblanc said. “Then I started playing softball, I don’t remember the first time I pitched, but I always wanted to be a pitcher and have worked very hard to do a good job out there.”

Leblanc’s favorite athlete is Jenny Finch, who just retired from the women’s professional softball league.

“I’m looking forward to soccer season, but my mind is always on playing softball,” Leblanc said.

Last year’s junior varsity soccer team was very young and should benefit from an added year of experience for most of the team when they hit the field next month, she said.

With Hastings graduating, the sophomore-to-be will be counted on to deliver as the team’s top pitcher next season.

“I’ll miss Sarah,” LeBlanc said. “She was incredibly helpful to me when we were teammates.”

LeBlanc is playing with a softball All-Star team in tournaments this summer, and enjoys hanging out with her friends and family when she’s not on the mound.

The Michaela LeBlanc File:

Age - 15

Grade - Heading into her sophomore year at MHS

Favorite food - Coffee Heath Bar ice cream

Favorite TV show - One Tree Hill

Favorite movie - Step Up

Favorite artist - Rascal Flatts

Most embarrassing song on my iPod - “There’s a lot of them.”

Dream - To play softball in college

Favorite athlete - Jenny Finch

Up next - Soccer, and preparing for the 2012 softball season

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