STANDISH, ME - SJC Softball sophomore outfielder Emily Leverone (Hampton, NH) has been featured in her hometown newspaper, the Union Leader.
By Kris Russell, Union Leader/Sunday News:
Just hand over the St. Joseph's softball record book to Hampton's Emily Leverone, already. Then give Leverone a pen and let her fill in her name were applicable.
The outfielder owns 11 school records through two seasons at the Standish, Maine school.
Leverone set six seasonal standards this year — batting average (.547), hits (75), doubles (17), RBI (60), slugging pct. (.920), and on-base pct. (.581). Many of those marks broke records Leverone set as a freshman.
The Winnacunnet of Hampton High School graduate is also taking her place among the Monks' career best. Leverone's the standard bearer in home runs (16) and batting average (.500).
"She's arguably the best hitter I've coached since I've been here," longtime St. Joseph's coach Jamie Smyth said. "People that hit the ball the way she does don't come around often."
One wonders if Leverone can maintain her blistering pace. Smyth answered that muse emphatically.
"I don't see why not," Smyth said. "All the single season records she broke as a freshman ... we didn't think she could break those this year. We figured she'd drop down a little. She didn't."
Smyth isn't the only coach impressed by Leverone. She was a Great Northeast Athletic first team pick, despite many of them often choosing to pitch around her. Leverone was also an All New England second team choice.
"A lot of the respect comes out in the voting," Smyth said. "That speaks a lot about her."
HERE AND THERE: Leverone was joined on the All GNAC first team by Haverhill's Clara Conklin. The Suffolk junior was named the conference's best utility player.
Conklin led the Rams in hitting (.366), home runs (6) and RBI (24). The Northfield Mount Hermon graduate split her playing time between catcher and outfield.
Spofford's Darrik Marstaller is the first Daniel Webster member of the All New England baseball.
Marstaller's recognition was deserved. The Keene High School graduate hit .377 overall, and had team high totals in doubles (12) and RBI (32).
Marstaller and the rest of DWC's sports community were celebrating an impressive overall award last week. The Eagles won the New England Collegiate Conference's Champions Cup for season long excellence.
DWC's men's teams were the NECC's overall best, winning two titles (soccer, baseball). The Eagle women were second to Lesley, thanks to one championship (volleyball), and several top five efforts.
Portsmouth's Laura Tabor put forth a save-your-best-for-last performance in last weekend's ECAC Division I Track Championships. The Dartmouth senior set a school record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Tabor zipped home in 10:38.81 at Princeton, N.J.
Tabor's teammate Christina Supino (Windham) set a personal best in the same meet. The Big Green sophomore ran the 800 meters in 2:09.33.
Three of the four UNH track and field team members named to the America East All Academic Team are Granite Staters. Hanover's Rita Ciambra (3.66 grade point average / AE women's pole vault champion), Durham's Paul DeTurk (3.66 / AE hammer throw champion), and Stratham's Megan Donohue (3.93 / AE third place in 400 hurdles) did New Hampshire proud. They were joined on the squad by Kaitlyn Dugan (Hatfield, Pa. / 3.98 / AE heptathlon runner-up).
Manchester's Catherine Teague won her 100th career match last week, but saw her Wheaton women's tennis season end soon after.
Teague reached the milestone in the Lyons' 5-2 NCAA Division III tournament triumph over Ithaca. Teague and the rest of her teammates were then shut out by two time defending champion Williams, 5-0.
Through three seasons Teague owns a 49-20 singles mark. The Manchester Central High School graduate is 51-17 in doubles.
Windham's Afton Marshall recently completed an award winning women's lacrosse season at Troy, N.Y.'s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A junior midfielder and Salem High School graduate, Marshall was an All Liberty League pick after leading the Engineers in goals (31), assists (17) and points (48).
Candia's Ali Gibbons wrapped up a fine women's lacrosse career earlier this month at Pittsburgh, Pa. school Robert Morris.
The Manchester Central graduate had her finest season as a senior. She scored 27 goals, notched 41 points, and earned All Northeast Conference honors. Gibbons didn't miss a game in four years, finishing with 51 goals, and 76 points.
Kris Russell's College Notebook appears weekly during the intercollegiate sports season in the New Hampshire Sunday News.
