N I A G A R A
G A Z E T T E March
12, 2008
SOFTBALL: GI’s Thompson making a name for herself
By Nate Beutel
GRAND ISLAND — Most folks in this area see the name
Emily Thompson and automatically think of the former three-sport standout at
Niagara Falls High School. The tall blonde that ruled the tennis courts, was
Destiny Harrison’s main sidekick on the hardwood and could hit the ball a
country mile on the diamond. The 2006 NFHS graduate who currently plays
softball, and very well at that, at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
But there’s another young lady with the same namesake carving her own athletic
niche, especially on the diamond, across the river at Grand Island High School.
The Vikings’ Emily Thompson has developed into one of the best softball
players in the entire Niagara Frontier League. And the junior has done so
playing a position she was never really fond of — pitcher. In fact, she’d
rather being roaming around in the outfield.
“I’ve always loved outfield,” she said. “I love running and diving for
balls. I could do that all day, plus there’s a lot less pressure.”
But for GI to be successful, second-year coach Pat Lester needed Thompson in the
circle, even though he too knew that she would be perfect in center field.
“She’s just a phenomenal player and she could play anywhere in the field,
but she’s our go-to in tough games,” he said of the 2007 first team all-NFL
performer.
That kind of role often times lends itself to added pressure and increased
chances for failures, things that Thompson notices and perhaps unfairly places
upon herself. But for Lester, Thompson’s best quality is her ability to
quickly overcome those pressures.
“She has the perfect athlete’s memory — a short one,” the coach said.
“She is able to bounce back when something goes wrong.”
A perfect example was just last week when Thompson struggled in the circle
against Niagara Falls and declared afterwards that she was “getting worse.”
The very next day, she came right back with a stellar performance against
two-time defending champion Kenmore West.
That kind of performance in a huge game shows the biggest development in
Thompson’s game from the previous two years — leadership.
“I think this year she has really stepped into that leadership role, whether
it’s pitching us out of a bases-loaded jam, making a great catch in the
outfield, laying down a bunt to move a runner or sparking us with a scorching
line drive up the middle,” Lester said.
And even though she’s one of the most intense players out on the field,
don’t underestimate her ability to toss a joke or two in the mix as well.
“She’s got a great sense of humor and for as intense as she is on the field,
she is just as fun off,” Lester said.
That kind of attitude, of course mixed in with some serious softball, will be
key if GI is to continue its strong season throughout the rest of the NFL
schedule and into the Class A playoffs.
“We just need Emily to keep being Emily,” Lester said.
Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.
EMILY THOMPSON
• SCHOOL: Grand Island
• SPORT: Softball
• GRADE: Junior
• POSITION: Pitcher/Outfield
• COACH’S QUOTE: “She’s our go-to in tough games.”
— Pat Lester