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SOFTBALL: Female Athlete of the Week, Leah Hunt provides big bat for Chambersburg


Let Chambersburg softball player Leah Hunt break down her swing, and she'll describe it as well as anyone.

"My swing is a swing that attacks the ball," Hunt said. "That's the best way to put it. I attack the ball, and whether it's a fly ball or a ground ball, it's coming off the bat hard."

Hunt had that attacking swing on full display last week. She finished 5-for-10 in three games with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBIs. She is this week's Public Opinion Female Athlete of the Week.

Trojan coach Ted Bittinger said, "She swings with power, with everything she's got, but I wouldn't call it an uncontrolled swing. That's just her swing. She's that type of hitter."

Chambersburg opened the week with an 8-1 win over Red Land, and Hunt contributed with a two-run homer. Then, in an 8-5 loss to Central Dauphin, she finished 2-for-3 with a home run. It was her third straight game with a long ball and her fifth homer of the season. She also scored twice. The Trojans capped off the week with an 11-5 win over Shippensburg, and even though she didn't go yard, she still finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

"Personally, I started the season pretty slow, but I'm always working on my swing and trying to get better," Hunt said. "The game against Shippensburg was especially good, because we had people hitting up and down our lineup."

Just a sophomore, Hunt and the Trojan coaching staff both expected her to contribute to the varsity team. And midway through the season, those expectations are being met in a big way.

"I try to hit off the tee every day," Hunt said. "It started when I was 11. I had a competition with a teammate and we pushed each other to get as many hits as possible. Ever since then, I've just continued to work on my swing. I'm always hitting, so I think a lot of my success comes from repetition."

Bittinger said, "You can tell that some coaches just don't like to see her come to the plate. She has short-term nerves, she doesn't get rattled and we've noticed since tryouts that she gives 110 percent no matter what she's doing."

Hunt also showed off some skills on the mound last week. In Chambersburg's loss to Central Dauphin, she threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and gave up just one hit with four strikeouts and no walks.

"I would certainly like to pitch some more this season, but I'm content where I am as the designated player," Hunt said. "I think we have a lot of talent, and I think we have the ability, if we come together, to make a strong run in playoffs."

If Hunt continues to hit the way she has this season, the Trojans' offense will continue to be a force to be reckoned with.

Sport: Softball

Position: Designated player, pitcher

Grade: Sophomore

Parents: Ben and Lisa Hunt

Other interests: She is part of the student government and also enjoys math.

Favorite team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Pro athlete most admired: Andrew McCutchen

Three people she'd like to have dinner with: Her family, because they have awesome conversations, and she loves to be around them.

Statistics: Hunt was an offensive force for the Trojans last week ... In three games, she went a combined 5-for-10 with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBIs.