Jessica Dion - Weymouth High School
04.14.08 - 04.20.08

STATISTICS/HONORS: Playing in one game, Jess went 2 for 4 with 3 RBI's, 1 triple and 1 run scored.

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Jessica is entering her senior year as the unanimous team-elected captain. Since her fresman year, she has started every game as the varsity catcher. Jessica came into the season having just got off mononucleosis. Even though Jess did not have the strength at the beginning of the season to compete completely in practices, she was attended them everyday, cheered her teammates on, helped the younger players on the team as part of her fulfilling her duties as team-elected captain."

--Coach Kate Daley, Weymouth High School Varsity Softball

Jill Connolly - Medfield Senior High School
04.14.08 - 04.20.08

STATISTICS/HONORS: She won her first career pitching game on 4/9/07.

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Jill has been a part of the softball program for 4 years. She was a junior varsity player for 2 years and was a support playr on varsity last year. She has never started nor for that matter, had significant playing time. Towards the end of the last season, she took on a challenge that most people would say, 'forget it.' She accepted the task of becoming a fast pitch pitcher and started a training program with a private coach. Jill was all about filling the void that she knew her team needed. When I think of a leader, I think of someone who is willing to take a risk, someone who is not afraid of failing and someone that is willing to stand out above the rest. Jill Connolly is not someone that is blessed with all the physcial attributes that we think go hand-in hand with being an athlete, but instead, she's blessed with the wisdom and courage to try and make a difference. On April 9, 2007, Jill stepped on the mound for the first time and pitched 5.5 innings and helped lead her team to its' first win of the season."

--Coach Kathy Brophy, Medfield High School Varsity Softball

Simone Schiess - Dover-Sherborn Reg High School
04.21.08 - 04.27.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Simone is returning for her third year as a member of the Dover-Sherborn Varsity Softball team. She is the veteran of the outfield and is already making stellar plays this season. A solid contact hitter with good speed, Simone is an integral part of the offense as well. Above all, Simone brings an attitude and a personality to the field that serves as a model for others."

-Coach Greg Tucker, Dover-Sherborn Varsity Softball

Samantha Stoller - Walpole High School
04.21.08 - 04.27.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Samantha is a true leader and a member of the National Honor Society.  She's a four-year starter for Walpole High Softball.  Samantha has made the new girls on the team this year feel welcome and has always made positive statements towards these girls. We have a new second baseman on the team who is a sophomore and Samantha has been a great influence on her. As the days go by you can see the new girls getting more comfortable up at varsity and Samantha's actions and words play a large part."

-Coach Jim Duffy, Walpole Varsity Softball

Jill Zeller - Newton North High School
04.28.08 - 05.04.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "For the second consecutive year, Jill was voted unanimously as the only captain for the Newton North softball team this year. She's a leader in every sense of the word. She's admired by her teammates and her coaches. Jill's the type of player that makes coaching so enjoyable. I wish I could have 15 kids like Jill Zeller on my team."

-Coach Lauren Baugher, Newton-North High School Varsity Softball

Kellie Bogardus - Ashland High School
04.28.08 - 05.04.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Last season Kellie got hurt in the sixth game of the year and missed the rest of the season because of her injury. Kellie has been an inspiration to our team. The other girls know how hard Kellie worked rehabbing her injured knee. She keeps us loose, yet focused and leads by example."

-Coach Steve O'Neill, Ashland High School Varsity Softball

Kelli McIntyre - Hopkinton High School
05.05.08 - 05.11.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES:  "Kelli's one of the only two seniors on the Hopkinton softball team and the unquestioned leader of the team. She leads by example and by words.  She's as respected by her peers as any athlete I've been associated with in 20 years. Her passion and compassion for her teammates is remarkable to see. She is an invaluable asset to our program and highly deserving. As a top notch pitcher in the TVL, Kelli has literally been a second coach in mentoring the younger pitchers with whom she's competing. I cannot speak more highly about the quality of this young woman."

-Coach Steve Simoes, Hopkinton High School Varsity Softball

Amanda Whitehouse - Braintree High School
05.05.08 - 05.11.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES:  "Amanda always tries to do more to help out the team. She's always asking for extra help to improve her softball skills, cheering on her teammates and helping the score keepers. Amanda has a great attitdue that's contagious. She's a young leader who's an unselfish player and a joy to have on the team."

-Coach Tom Grandy, Braintree High School Varsity Softball

Alicia Parlon - Norton High School
05.12.08 - 05.18.08

STATS:  Alicia has pitched in four games as of 4/27 and the last three of those games were shut-outs, allowing no runs to score!

SPECIAL QUALITIES: "Alicia has been very focused, determined and intense without losing her ability to support, encourage and respond to the needs of her teammates."

-Coach Pete Peloquin, Norton High School Varsity Softball

Steph Horn - Wellesley High School
05.12.08 - 05.18.08

STATS: Steph is currently batting just below 400.

SPECIAL QUALITIES: “Steph’s a great kid with outstanding softball skills. She’s fun to be around and has really earned the respect of her teammates. Steph’s a two-time first team all star and a two-time team MVP. She has a wonderful sense of humor and is a fierce competitor.”

- Coach Jeff LaCure
Wellesley High School Varsity Softball

Molly Ferraro - Millis High School
05.19.08 - 05.25.08

STATS:  Molly demonstrated strong pitching performances against Bellingham with 10 strike-outs and Holliston with 11 strike-outs. 

SPECIAL QUALITIES:  “Molly’s a hard-working kid who never gives up and is always striving to get better.  She’s an enthusiastic athlete who loves softball and comes ready to play everyday.  Molly can play any position defensively and would do anything to help her team.  Molly’s a returning all star and a rock solid performer game in and game out.  She’s an all around athlete who also excels in basketball.”

- Coach Kristen Hedrick
Millis High School Varsity Softball

Melissa Craven - Milton High School
05.19.08 - 05.25.08

STATS:  Melissa has GREAT heads up running on the bases.  She had two clutch hits and two assists from centerfield that stopped early rallies by two very good teams last week that helped lead our team to victories in those two particular games.

SPECIAL QUALITIES:  “Melissa plays centerfield for us and has been a four-year varsity starter. I believe that she’s probably one of the top outfielders in the state. However, Melissa is often over-shadowed by some of the other players on our team. Her intensity and lead by example qualities over the last week has helped get us through a very tough week of games and injuries. She’s the unsung hero type of player that as a coach, I just think the world of her and believe she’s worthy to be recognized by YWLT as a ‘Leader of the Week.’”

-Coach Ralph Maturo
Milton High School Varsity Softball

Cara Hart - Holliston High School
05.26.08 - 06.01.08

SPECIAL QUALITIES:  "As a Varsity softball Coach for the last 26 years, Holliston has never lost 3 games in a row. Well, sure enough that fate happened to us. It’s times like these that a leader must step forward and keep the team focused, upbeat, cohesive, and confident. Sure enough, Cara Hart was that outstanding leader. She would not let anyone hang their heads and kept them fighting with every ounce of energy she could muster. She aggressively went to the plate and set a tone for the girls. And in the field at shortstop, she was playing a 'phenomenal' shortstop, with passion and execution. She told the team, 'Keep working hard, stay spirited and support your teammates. We can do it!' Sure enough, the team has now won a couple in a row. And she is still leading the parade! While her skills are outstanding as an athlete, it’s the person that amazes me so much.  She did not have to take one swing of the bat nor field one ground ball. Her leadership qualities, her words of encouragement and the rapport she has with her teammates speak volumes about the type of leader we want in our young athletes now and in the future. I encourage your mutual attraction to this remarkable young woman. She’s the real deal!

- Coach Debra Guenther
Holliston High School Varsity Softball

Jamie Verner - Natick High School
05.26.08 - 06.01.08

STATS: At Bats 59  Hits 32  Ave .542  On Base % .649  Runs 14  RBI's 24  Doubles 12  Triples 3 Home-Runs 1  Stolen Bases 4  Put-Outs (Picking Runners Off Base) 54 with a Fielding % of .915 average.

SPECIAL QUALITIES: “Although she is a junior at present, Class of 2008, Jamie has shown strong leadership skills both on and off the field.  Very competitive, colleges are already looking at her as a possible candidate for their college softball team as a catcher.  If ever an athlete could 'rule' by sheer domination in her ability to perform and be a threat while on the playing field, Jamie is the athlete that you would want in your corner as she too has earned the respect of her opponents, their coaches, her teammates and her coaches.” 

- Coach David Tullgren
Natick High School Varsity Softball

Nikki Nothin - King Philip Reg High School
05.26.08 - 06.01.08