Chelsea Prescott flings heat. (John Fisken photo)
Prescott models her All-Star uniform. (Josie Prescott photo)
Chelsea Prescott is a diamond dandy.
Baseball or softball, doesn’t matter. Toss her a ball and a mitt and she’s at home.
Prescott, who will be a seventh grader at Coupeville Middle School in the fall, is currently part of Central Whidbey Little League’s 11/12 All-Star Majors baseball squad.
That team kicked off district tourney play with a win over Anacortes Saturday and advances to play North Whidbey next.
If things had gone as originally planned, though, Prescott wouldn’t have been on the squad.
After putting in two seasons of fall ball as a baseball player, she was planning to hop back to softball this summer.
But Central Whidbey was unable to field enough players — four girls ultimately traveled to South Whidbey to play — and Prescott’s options were limited.
“My goal was to play junior softball, but my mom, with her work schedule and my dad being deployed, going to South or North was not possible,” Prescott said. “It was a possibility to stick with baseball and I stayed with baseball because I wanted to be challenged.”
She had an immediate impact, toeing the rubber as a pitcher, while also pulling time at “short stop, third base, and, sometimes, outfield, when my coach needs an arm.”
Prescott enjoys pitching and hitting and is quick to assess the pros and cons of her game.
“My strengths are running,” she said. “I would like to work on pitching more and especially catching.”
An active athlete, Prescott also plays volleyball, basketball and soccer.
In the few moments in which she’s not competing as an athlete, she enjoys math, is in band and is a fan of romance, horror and comedy films.
Her support crew includes her family and local coaches, who have helped her shine since she was barely old enough to pick up a bat.
Prescott is quick to call them out for their support.
“My mom, dad, and coaches Kevin McGranahan and Ron Wright, for taking a chance on me being the only fourth grader on the team!”
Read Full Post »
