Coupeville Sports

Madeline Roberts

Madeline Roberts was deceptive.

A lead-off hitter who liked to spray slap hits to every field for the Coupeville High School softball field, she could also pull the bat back and let pop with surprising power.

I still remember the look of horror on a rival player’s face after the girl had inched in closer and closer, waiting to spring on the bunt she was dead-sure was coming, only to have Mad Dog take off her head with a wicked shot that ripped down the line like a laser.

The consummate softball junkie, Roberts, who celebrates her birthday today, just weeks after graduating from CHS, will take her game to the college level next.

It’s not a surprise.

She has great family genes, with dad Jay Roberts and aunt and uncle Sherry (Bonacci) and Jon Roberts all superb former Wolf athletes.

Lil’ sis Ally is no slouch herself, whether it be volleyball, cheer or horse riding.

Toss in a strong work ethic — if you needed to find Madeline after a game, she was generally at home plate, taking extra batting practice — and it has paid off.

She was quick on the base paths, terrorizing catchers with her zippy moves.

She was electric in the field, spearing liners, backhanding bad hops and hurtling out of nowhere to snag balls she shouldn’t have even thought about going after, yet did so without fear.

And, at the plate, she was dynamic, a pint-sized nuclear missile waiting to explode in 10,000 different ways. Slap hit or moon ball launcher, she wielded her bat like an artist.

Of course, there’s a ton more to Roberts than just softball. She was a key part of the CHS cheer squad and one of the student leaders in the Class of 2014.

As she moves on to the next stop in her diamond trek, we wish her the best and thank her for being so entertaining during her time in the red and black.

Madeline, you’re a class act, on the field and off.