This coming Saturday, March 8, is known as International Women’s Day. There is an upcoming rising star who’s determination on the pitching mound is driving a bright future for this well-accomplished female athlete. Sally Leask, daughter of Patrick and Courtney Leask, has a world of opportunity on the pitching mound, with more yet to come. As a youth, Leask was involved in softball from an early onset and it has been opening doors and opportunities for her ever since. She plays with three teams right now, U18 Mission Gold Team, Twos Fast Pitch and Layne’s Stars. Leask has travelled all over Canada and the U.S. to play in tournaments with these teams.
“I had a pretty solid couple of tournaments with the U18 Mission Gold Team,” said Leask. “We played around the Minneapolis area and did well. It’s a close-knit team with very good coaching staff. We all came together and were able to win a couple of games. The team is now very close and I can’t wait to play with them for this upcoming season. It’s a really good community and I like the team so far.
“I played a tournament in Missouri with Team Toba called the Land of the Ozarks Tournament. It was here that I felt I had my best game so far. I pitched a no-hitter with Team Toba and felt that was my greatest game from the fall to now. I’ve actually pitched a couple of perfect games before this one and I’m really proud of that accomplishment.
“Recently, we went to Las Vegas at the end of January,” said Leask. “We had a national coach for the U18 team along with really strong coaching staff. Players from different provinces came together to form the Twos Fast Pitch Team and we won gold. We were up against a bunch of American teams that had been playing together all season and we went undefeated in that tournament. It’s the first time that the program won gold in that tournament. It was a great accomplishment, not only for the program but the team, to make that our goal. I also pitched a perfect game during this tournament as well.
“Now my focus is Twos Fast Pitch, Mission, and my Layne’s Stars Team.”
Leask follows a strict regime and focuses a lot of training during the off-season. This is her first time playing ball in the winter and her hard work has paid off.
“Usually my ball season wraps up around September and then there’s dome ball,” said Leask. “I was in Minnesota where I played a game of dome ball in the University of Minnesota’s dome. It was a cool experience and we did well. It was nice to get back with the team as I haven’t seen them since this fall.
“I noticed the hard work has paid off. I’ve been training very hard with another friend who attends my school. I’ve been going to the gym in the off-season and I need to get stronger for those upcoming games ahead. Hopefully, this upcoming summer, I can accomplish my goals that I set for myself.
“I wake up at 5 a.m. every morning and prioritize my morning routine and having a good night’s sleep,” said Leask. “I train three days a week with a personal trainer and two days a week with my parents at a public gym. The workouts I do with my personal trainer are very intense, and this is my second year of doing circuits and conditioning. I’m grateful for my trainers, but it’s been difficult so far. However, I’m still into doing it. I’ve seen my velocity increase for pitching and my power in batting. It’s paying off and that’s why I like pushing myself harder to get in that extra rep or minute, because I know it will pay off in the long run. I’m doing this for the love of the game.”
Leask is also honing in on her pitching abilities, in terms of speed, velocity and consistency overall.
“At the U17 AAA Provincial Championship in July 2024, I was clocked at pitching 63 miles per hour,” said Leask. “I haven’t clocked since but am hoping to do so again this spring. My goal is to consistently hit 65 miles per hour and plus, but consistently. I also have my rise ball and drop ball that I want to stay consistent with those pitches as well with the velocity of them.”
Leask is very dedicated to her studies and has big ambitions for her future in the medical field. She recently signed with Rider University in New Jersey to play ball with the Broncs for four years. If that offer wasn’t big enough, Leask is still getting more opportunities coming her way.
“I attend Churchill High School and will be finishing my grade 12 at the end of June,” said Leask. “From there, I will be rolling into ball season and am looking forward to it.
“After graduation, I plan to major in biology and from there go into medical school or see the different careers I can pursue with my biology degree, but something in the medical field what I have been interested in. I’m in a medical program right now where I go to hospitals, research centres and different care facilities every other week. I learned more about different careers and caring for patients. I sat in and watched live surgeries, learned how to administer IVs or casts and x-rays.
“I just found out when I was playing with Mission, I got the opportunity to play for Team Netherlands as an import, and will be competing at the International level,” said Leask. “The tournament is called the Triple Crown International Challenge and it’s going to be in Colorado. I will be missing my graduation ceremony to be at the Triple Crown International Challenge, but I received this incredible opportunity and decided to take it. So, experiencing a graduation ceremony will be the one thing I will be missing out on.
“I’m pumped about this and it’s my motivation to train hard, graduate and have a full competitive season of softball. There has been a lot of new opportunities since last summer. All these tournaments and new opportunities have been incredible and I’m excited for the summer.
“This summer, I plan to attend tournaments in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, through U18 Team Mission Gold,” said Leask. “While playing in Vegas, I had a well-pitched game and hitting, and was asked to play at the PGF Nationals in California. I was asked to play with the U18 Las Vegas Team, which is being coached by a Team Canada alumni. I am waiting on confirmation dates for that tournament.”
Leask is fortunate that her family is very supportive of her through a very hectic and demanding ball schedule that has them travelling all over. She is grateful to have them there for her while she takes to the mound in some pretty heavy-hitting tournaments.
“My parents and brother are there every game, every inning, even practices,” said Leask. “My family supports me the entire time and I’m thankful for them and what they do for me. It isn’t just me, but it takes my whole family to make me into a better athlete.
“It can be nerve-wracking, but I have full faith in myself, in what I am doing and in my mindset. I have it in my mindset to do well, and my parents have prepped me mentally and physically for that as well. I know that I have that support system too in my parents, teammates, coaches and friends. I’m glad I have Mission, Twos Fast Pitch and Layne’s Stars teams for that as well.”
Some other notable tournaments and opportunities Leask has coming up this year have her more than eager for summer to come.
“I will be attending Canadian Natives, which will be hosted in Manitoba this year. I will be playing with the Layne’s Stars team for that tournament. This should be my strongest year of ball this year.
“My next goal is to prepare for Team Canada tryouts, which are this summer. I hope to have a good rookie season with the Broncs.”