P.O. Female Athlete of the Week: Leah Hunt
Entering the season, new coach Chris Skultety said it was time for people "to fear the Chambersburg softball team again."
And with a player like Leah Hunt hitting cleanup, opposing teams should be nervous when she walks up to the plate.
Hunt, a junior shortstop, is also an experienced power hitter who has already wowed pitchers in just three games this season. Whether it is a two-RBI double, a solo home run, or a grand slam, Hunt is making contact with the ball in a big way, and has led the Trojans to a 3-0 start.
"She's a machine," Skultety said. "She's locked in and always has been. I've never seen a kid lock and load like she does - it's actually kind of scary being on the third-base line."
Skultety said he'd been impressed with Hunt's power even before he knew she would be one of his top hitters, from days spent at the Greenvillage softball complex, a place Hunt describes as her home away from home. She credits going to the field with her family to work on her swing as one of the reasons she has so much power.
"She comes up to bat and we tell her to just do her thing. There is not a whole lot to tell her," Skultety said. "She would do anything the coaches wanted, and it's all about the team and winning games. She doesn't care about personal stats and that's a great asset to have."
But her performance at the plate is not the only place the Trojans have benefited from Hunt's talents.
Working in her new position at shortstop and coming into the circle in relief has already helped the team just three games in. Hunt has come in to to close twice this season, and has allowed just one hit. And after a few seasons of playing shortstop on and off, Hunt gladly stepped in to help the team in the position full-time.
"I'll go wherever the team needs me and wherever the coach needs me to be," Hunt said. "It has been a few years since I have consistently been (at shortstop), but I'm glad to be out there helping the team on defense. It took me a little while to readjust to the infield, but our infield in general works really well together."
That chemistry on the field has aided the Trojans to a 3-0 start, but with a long season to go, Skultety and Hunt are confident in the team's abilities to go far, stating that the three games they've played are just the tip of the iceberg of what this team can do.
"I'm really excited to see how this season goes," Hunt said. "I look around and I see an already really strong team and one that can improve miles as the season goes along. We are going to get better and better as we know each other better. We can go so many more places and I seriously think the way we start this season can set the tone for the rest of the year."
Leah Hunt, Chambersburg
Sport: Softball
Grade: Junior
Position: Shortstop, pitcher
Height: 5-foot-4
Parents: Ben and Lisa Hunt
Other Interests: She is the junior treasurer of the National Honor Society, in student government, Physics Club, academic competition and Spanish Honors Society. Hunt hopes to attend Princeton University and major in math. She also plays on the softball travel team Tri-State Thunder Gold, for whom she is a pitcher and plays third base.
Favorite team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Surprising fact: "The team and I love to sing bus karaoke. We really like to sing songs from Pitch Perfect, and even though we might all not sing them well, it's the effort that counts."
Statistics: Hunt has hit thee home runs in three games this season, and leads the team in RBIs, knocking in 12 runs for the Lady Trojans ... She hit a grand slam in the second inning against Waynesboro, and added a solo homer in the sixth ... Hunt also hit a three-run home run against Mifflin County ... Hunt has also entered the circle in relief twice.