SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The second game of WPBL was less eventful, with San Francisco leading from start to finish in an 11-3 victory over Boston, but still showcased plenty of talent.
Ace pitcher Kelsie Whitmore tossed three innings without giving up an earned run as the Firebells slugged their way to a big lead.
But who else stood out? Here are some players to watch for the rest of the season who might be under the radar.
1B Andreanne LeBlanc
LeBlanc crushed a liner off the right field wall in the first inning to give the Firebells a 1-0 lead that they never looked back from. She scored a run and walked twice while batting out of the five-hole for San Francisco.
The Canadian national team slugger said she just found a good one to hit.
“It’s new for me,” she said. “So just getting used to it is, and the season will go on, and it will just be just part of our statement.”
LeBlanc went 6-for-12 with a double and five RBI in the World Cup before joining the Firebells, and is going to be at the center of what might be the most dangerous lineup in the WPBL.
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SS Joely Leguizamon
Known as one of the best defensive shortstops in the game, Leguizamon went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs in the Firebells’ offensive onslaught.
“She can hit the ball to any field,” said Firebells manager Matt Williams. “She stays on the ball really well. On a couple of breaking balls tonight, she was able to turn on. She made a fantastic defensive play off the pitcher and got the out of first. So I think that her approach is one that will serve us all season long. She’s got the ability to drive runs in, got a little bit of power in there too.”
The Dominican Republic women’s national team representative was a strong hitter in softball at Jacksonville University but grew up playing baseball. She was the ninth overall pick to the Firebells in December and the 26-year-old might be buried in a deep San Francisco lineup, but could be one of their best right-handed hitters, too.
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P Maïka Dumais
Dumais relieved Raine Padgham for Boston in the third inning and tossed 2 1/3 frames and though she allowed four hits, she didn’t give up any runs as she stopped the bleeding for the Hunters.
It was a tough position to come into after the Hunters already trailed 10-3, but Dumais’ poise at least prevented more of an onslaught from the Firebells offense.
“When she came in and did that, it stopped the bleeding,” said Hunters manager Keith Foulke. “It gave everybody a little hope that a couple hits here and there with runners in scoring position, it would turn out a different ball game.”
A Canadian pitcher, Dumais is one of the youngest players in the league at 18 years old and just out of high school. As she gains experience, she might develop into a dangerous arm for the Hunters – and Canada.
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3B Denver Bryant
Bryant didn’t get a hit on Sunday but made one of the best plays of the night as she dove to her right to stop what would have been a double down the line.
She batted seventh and went 0-for-3 but drove in a run and was stellar in the field. She was listed on the roster as a second baseman, but started at third on Sunday, where it seems she might stay.
“I think this week we’ve had her at every infield position except first,” Foulke said. “She’s done really well. She works really hard. She’s got great fundamentals. But I know for me, after seeing her action a third tonight, I don’t know if we’re going to be able to top that with anybody.”
A softball player for Auburn and South Carolina in college, Bryant has been on the USWNT baseball radar since 2017. She will be one of the best defensive infielders in the league as a quick third baseman with a cannon of an arm, and her hitting should come along as well.
“Today we just were figuring it out, getting all our nerves out,” Bryant said. “I think we did pretty good as a team getting behind our pitchers. I think we just need to have a little bit more fun and get a little loose.”
