April 10, 2023 – Story and photos by Joshua Ross
After a little break in between seasons, we are back recognizing outstanding performances by high school athletes for the spring season. This week’s Athlete of the Week presented by College Hype is Elise Fickes. Elise is a freshman on the Hingham softball team and made quite a debut in her first varsity game on Thursday. She capped off a 3 for 4 day with a grand slam in the fifth inning giving the Harborwomen a 15 run lead and ending the game on the mercy rule.
Elise had made an impression with her teammates even in the short time she’s been part of the team.
“Elise is an all around excellent player,” says senior captain Bella Sullivan. “She is a hard worker who puts in year round effort and excels in many aspects of the game. From hitting with power to tracking down fly balls, our team would not be the same without her. Her energy is always through the roof and inspires the other players to keep up their intensity. The team is really lucky to have such a talented and dedicated player.”
Coach Chuck Green concurs.
“We knew she could hit, but weren’t expect that,” he said after the game. “First time ever a freshman hit a grand slam in her first varsity game.”
Outstanding performance by freshmen this year is becoming common place. We saw it in field hockey and girls hockey already. Add softball to the list of sports that invested and grew a youth program that the high school team in now benefiting from years later.
“For the last 4 years, our youth program has had girls hitting the ball out of the park, becoming strong pitchers who are ready to win at the varsity level as freshmen and contributing to the success of our JV program as 8th graders,” Sullivan explains. “Today’s youth program has built upon that foundation laid 8 years ago and grown the program to record numbers. They continue to offer clinics and continue a winning tradition that has been the cornerstone for the emergence of freshman and sophomores who not only start, but are impact players earning recognitions such as Anchor’s Athlete of the Week.”
Congrats to Elise and the entire team on amazing start to the season.