AYER — When Gabrielle Sweeney was in the third and fourth grade, she first played baseball before switching over to softball.
She struggled during those years, especially with the bat.
“When I was younger, I never used to play – I’d be on the bench,” she said. “If I got up, and even made contact, half of the time the ball wouldn’t even get out of the infield. I would say that I have worked really hard to be where I am today.”
A lot has changed for Sweeney since those youth sports days. She and her family moved from Danvers to Shirley. Now, as a senior member of the Ayer Shirley varsity softball team, Sweeney is one of the most feared hitters in Central Mass.
She’s developed into a home run hitter who’s blasted 17 round-trippers (and counting) in her varsity career with the Panthers.
Over the last two-plus seasons, Sweeney’s offensive numbers resemble those seen in video games.
This season, she’s batting an eye-popping .750, going 15-for-20 at the plate and blasting five home runs.
Naturally, opposing pitchers are well aware when she steps to the plate. She’s already walked 10 times, a sign of respect. Not a bad strategy – letting her walk to first base is a lot less painful than watching her touch all four bases after she smacks another homer.
Sweeney’s also been hit by a pitch three times and sported an .833 on base percentage before her latest powerful performance Friday.
Against St. Bernard’s of Fitchburg, Sweeney unloaded her fifth home run of the spring, scored four runs and drove in five runs in a 15-3 rout.
She also hasn’t struck out this season.
Last year, Sweeney was named a Sun All-Star after hitting .556 with nine home runs and 41 RBI. Of her 35 hits in 21 games, 21 went for extra bases, including six doubles and six triples. As a sophomore, she batted .611 with three home runs and 30 RBI.
She said her power comes from very basic concepts – adding body muscle, keeping things simple at the plate and having confidence.
“I love going to the gym so I want to say it’s from that,” she said with a laugh. “Last year was kind of a big surprise. I didn’t expect to hit that many (home runs). I don’t try to hit home runs. I just try to hit it up the middle and see what happens. I feel like if I overthink things, it’s not going to happen. I just go up there with a good approach and try to make good contact.”
She also attributed her father and several other hitting coaches who helped her along the way.
“My dad has always been my biggest helper so I thank him for that,” she said. “He just stressed sticking with the basics. I don’t know when, but something just clicked but I think it’s just having better mechanics with my hands, my hips and my hand-eye coordination.”
Sweeney is far from just being a good hitter. The third baseman is a complete ballplayer who will take her talents to Rhode Island College.
“She’s got the bat, she’s got the arm and she’s got the softball IQ,” said AS head coach Mitch Magnette. “It’s been high since she started here as a freshman. She’s been arguably my best hitter all four years.
“She’s everything you want in a player. She’s great on the base paths, she’s aggressive, she slides really well. She can also play first base and the outfield. She’s also a really good bunter but I don’t have her bunt as she hits out of the number three spot. She’s not a stat monger and she doesn’t care about her stats. She just wants to win.”
James Albert
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