First came the weights.
Then came the power for Kentridge High shortstop Kyle Leady.
Leady, a senior, entered last season among the unknowns in the South Puget Sound League North Division. An infielder who bounced in and out of the starting lineup, between shortstop and third base and most often hitting toward the bottom of the order, big numbers weren’t quite expected. Yet, in a span of two weeks, Leady went from a blip on the SPSL North radar to one of the most feared hitters in the league.
“I started getting in the weight room a little bit, hitting outside of school more after practice and my confidence started going up,” Leady explained, pointing out that much of that additional practice took place at Diamond Sports Training Center in Sumner, a good 30-minute drive from Kentridge High after practice.
Confidence was hardly the only thing rising for Leady.
In fact, his numbers skyrocketed.
Between April 8 and April 22, a mere two-week span, Leady went offensively crazy last season, launching four home runs, including two in a 13-4 victory over Thomas Jefferson.
Not bad for a kid who essentially didn’t have a position to call his own before April.
“He was in a platoon, not an everyday starter,” said Kentridge coach John Flanigan. “He’d play some (designated hitter), shortstop, third base … we finally put him at shortstop in the second half of the season and he blossomed.”
Now a year later, the situation has changed for Leady, a 6-foot, 185-pound 18 year old. No longer is he in a platoon situation nor is he hitting near the bottom of the order. In fact, Leady will be taking center stage for the Chargers, hitting in the middle of the lineup, taking over full time at third base and leaned heavily upon to produce.
“He’s stronger than last year,” Flanigan said. “The big difference this year is that he won’t be hitting 7 or 8 in the lineup. There’s going to be an adjustment for him.”
That could be said for much of the Kentridge team, which graduated 13 seniors from last year’s roster. Turnover aside, there’s reason for the Chargers to be optimistic of grabbing one of the five playoff berths from the North. Along with the return of Leady, Kentridge also brings back ace Ian Buckles (4-2 last year), slugging outfielder Axl Snure (.341) and pitcher Andrew Mead. Flanigan also expects to get decent contributions from youngsters like sophomore Austin Olson, a pitcher who is the younger brother of former Kentridge standout Stetson Olson, Joe Wainhouse (catcher/pitcher) and outfielder Devin Riley among others.
“We’re going to be young, but definitely competitive,” Flanigan said.
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