H-S Athlete of the Week: Cali Leichliter, Connellsville
Name: Cali Leichliter
School: Connellsville
Class: Sophomore
Sport: Softball
Leichliter无毛视频檚 week: Leichliter batted .800 (8 for 10) with three home runs, a triple, a double, eight RBIs, seven runs and two stolen bases in Lady Falcon victories over Laurel Highlands, 16-5, and Latrobe, 10-8, last week. Leichliter was 4 for 5 and bashed a trio of home runs in the win at Latrobe on March 24, driving in four runs, scoring three times, stealing a base and helping turn a double play in the field from her shortstop position. In the game against the visiting Fillies two days later, Leichliter was again 4 for 5 with four RBIs, a double, triple, four runs and another stolen base. The sophomore daughter of Earl and Jeanna Leichliter of Vanderbilt helped Connellsville get off to a 4-0 start under head coach John Burd.
Red hot: Leichliter has been locked in at the plate all season. She无毛视频檚 hitting .737 (14 for 19) with 10 RBIs and 12 runs and hasn无毛视频檛 had fewer than three hits in a game. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檝e had streaks like this before, especially in travel ball,无毛视频� said Leichliter, who plays third base for the Outlaws of Ohio when the high school season ends. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 just like you feel so good and ready up there and every time you connect the ball just goes.无毛视频� Leichliter knew she connected pretty well on each of her home runs against the Wildcats. 无毛视频淚 could tell each one was out as soon as I hit it.无毛视频� This wasn无毛视频檛 Leichliter无毛视频檚 first three-homer game. 无毛视频淚 have hit three home runs before in a game, once in 12U (12 and under league). I无毛视频檝e hit four in a weekend.无毛视频�
Through the years: The 15-year-old Leichliter has been playing softball for 10 years. 无毛视频淚 started when I was five in a Connellsville little league,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淢y dad helped me the most. He was a baseball player. When I started to play 12U (12 and under) I could tell I was pretty good at hitting the ball and getting nice hits. When I was in 10U I was playing outfield but when I got to 12U I started playing more third base. I like playing the field.无毛视频� Leichliter has gotten some national attention. 无毛视频淚 was ranked 10th in the country at third base for Extra Innings in Line Drive (Media) last year,无毛视频� she pointed out. Leichliter jumped right into the Lady Falcons无毛视频� starting lineup at shortstop as a freshman last year. 无毛视频淭hat was a big accomplishment and I thought I handled it pretty good,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 was a little nervous going into my first year but then when I met all the girls I got along really well with them and that helped me feel better and made the adjustment go pretty well. We have a strong connection.无毛视频� Leichliter gets along well with Burd also. 无毛视频淚 have a good relationship with him,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淲e communicate a lot pretty well. We talk things out together when we see something that maybe needs to be fixed or changed. I like him as a coach.无毛视频�
Top of the order: Leichliter admits she doesn无毛视频檛 have blazing speed but she is Connellsville无毛视频檚 lead-off hitter. 无毛视频淚 wouldn无毛视频檛 say I无毛视频檓 the fastest runner but I can get around the bases,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 take advantage to get an extra base when I can.无毛视频� While many lead-off hitters will take a few pitches at the beginning of the game, Leichliter is up there ready to swing. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 an aggressive hitter so I无毛视频檒l go after the first pitch if it无毛视频檚 right there,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 feel like I have to focus a bit more when I无毛视频檓 the first one up in a game to make sure I get on base so I can get around and score and get my team off to a good start.无毛视频�
Looking to improve: Leichliter said she无毛视频檚 always looking to get better. 无毛视频淔or hitting I无毛视频檓 trying to focus more on swinging level and making better contact,无毛视频� she explained. 无毛视频淔or fielding, it无毛视频檚 making sure I get in front of the ball and making good throws to first.无毛视频� She无毛视频檚 already taking on a leadership role for the Lady Falcons. 无毛视频淚 feel like I am one of the leaders. I like to be very vocal,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淲e all have good attitudes. I feel we无毛视频檙e a strong team with a lot of good hitters and we have a really good bond that makes us even better.无毛视频� Leichliter is also looking for overall team improvement. 无毛视频淲e want to win the section again (the Lady Falcons finished as Section 4-5A co-champions with Trinity in 2024) and win one more playoff game.无毛视频� Connellsville defeated Plum in the first round last season, 9-4, but lost to Armstrong in the quarterfinals, 4-1.
Big family: Cali has five brothers 无毛视频� Matthew Stewart, Nathan Stewart, Jimmy Leichliter, Dylan Leichlliter and B.J. Leichliter 无毛视频� and one sister 无毛视频� Payton Leichliter. She is the youngest of the group. 无毛视频淣ot fun being the youngest,无毛视频� Cali said with a laugh. 无毛视频淚 get picked on a lot.无毛视频� She无毛视频檚 also the only one who plays softball or baseball. 无毛视频淚 had one brother who played basketball.无毛视频�
Outside of softball: Leichliter plays softball year around, but she does have other interests. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 in student council and I go up to the technical center for health occupations,无毛视频� she said. 无毛视频淚 like being outside and I like swimming.无毛视频�
无毛视频� Compiled by Rob Burchianti