HOWELL — Leighton Scott has filled in just about everywhere on the field for Howell’s softball team during her career.
She’s started in the outfield, started all over the infield and has even pitched when the Highlanders have been in a mind.
The only thing she hasn’t done is put on the catcher’s equipment.
Scott couldn’t come up with a reason she’s never suited up behind the plate.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’ve just never tried it before.”
It figures Scott would be the most versatile player on Howell’s softball team because she’s easily the most versatile high school athlete in Livingston County.
There are plenty of three-sport athletes out there, even as sports specialization makes them a dying breed, but nobody with the blend of three completely unrelated sports in which Scott competes.
Scott plays golf in the fall, skis in the winter and plays softball in the spring. A skill set from one of her sports doesn’t translate to any of the others.
“I’m never bored,” said Scott, the Livingston Daily Athlete of the Week. “It just keeps me on my toes all the time.”
Scott started her softball career playing T-ball in kindergarten. She’s also skied from a young age.
“Once I heard there was a racing team, I decided to pursue that,” she said. “Golfing was kind of just to get my third sport. After my first year, I liked it, so I continued golfing.”
Softball is Scott’s primary sport, the one in which she will compete at the University of Northwestern Ohio.
She is Howell’s second-leading hitter with a .477 average, providing plenty of power with five home runs, 12 doubles, four triples and 29 runs batted in. She boosted those numbers by going 9-for-12 with two triples and four doubles over four games May 16 and 17 in the Michigan Challenge.
Scott put up those numbers while Howell was shorthanded, going 0-4 in a highly competitive tournament.
“She’s been our calm in the storm,” Howell coach Lauren Evans said. “We’ve had a couple rocky go-abouts, but Scotty’s the one leading by example. She wants her teammates to be successful. She’s helping them be successful in practice.
“She’s definitely been our leader this year. She’s got help from our other seniors. Her natural talent is taking over. She’s not overthinking the process. Because of that, she’s been successful.”
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Howell 3-sport athlete Leighton Scott pounding ball on softball field
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
