Broward 5A-1A softball player of the year: Emily LeGette, American Heritage senior

When Emily LeGette first made American Heritage’s varsity team, she was a seventh grader taking the field with seniors five years older than her.

LeGette looked up to the older girls on the team, who were headed to colleges around the state and across the nation.

Now that she is a senior, LeGette has become the player others on the team look up to.

“I got to meet and play with these wonderful people that I’ll never forget,” LeGette said. “And then towards the end of my career, I kind of became that person for the younger ones because we have a young team, too. I kind of just had the mentality like, ‘When I was in seventh grade, how did I look up to these girls? What did they do for me that really helped me out?’ I was just trying to be that player and play that role that those older girls played for me.”

LeGette certainly demonstrated how to be a fearsome presence at the plate, earning the Sun Sentinel Broward County Class 5A-1A player of the year honor for her hitting prowess.

In her final season with the Patriots, LeGette hit .567 with seven home runs and 22 total extra-base hits. She had a 1.850 OPS, walking 19 times with only three strikeouts. The American Heritage infielder added 19 steals, as well.

“Because it was my last season, I was focused on just having fun, trying to make the best of it,” LeGette said. “And I was more relaxed up at the plate because I was trying to have fun, make the best of every moment and every opportunity I was receiving.”

LeGette, who made the Sun Sentinel All-County first team three times before, had 11 multi-hit games this season, including a two-hit game against Palm Beach Gardens where he crushed an opposite-field grand slam to help vault the Patriots ahead of the Gators.

“We haven’t beat this team since I was in seventh grade. We’ve gotten run-ruled, lost by multiple runs, wasn’t really ever a close game,” LeGette said. “We were down, I believe, it was four runs in the sixth inning and I’ve gotten walked twice before. I didn’t get a single pitch to hit all game, and bases loaded, I was like, ‘Alright, they’re probably going to walk me. But I’m going to sit up here and if they give me a pitch, I’m going to hit it.’”

LeGette ends her high school career with a .451 batting average, 23 home runs, 126 RBIs and 1.327 OPS.

LeGette’s career won’t come to an end in South Florida. The Patriots star is headed north to play for Virginia Tech. She cited the Hokies’ coaching staff and the school environment as big reasons why she chose the ACC school.

“I love the family, home vibes … I’m leaving my home, so I want to be somewhere where I’m comfortable, I have a home vibe and I know I have a bunch of support behind me,” LeGette said. “Virginia Tech definitely has the support that I’m looking for.”