TURNER – She came into the softball season as a proven third baseman, but will leave it as a standout catcher.

Leavitt’s senior all-star Kristen Healy started the season on the move, filling a void behind the plate while maintaining her superior level of play for the Hornets.

“I knew she had done some catching, and I knew she’s that type of player,” said Leavitt coach Pete Higgins. “You can move her around. I could put her just about anywhere and she’d do a fantastic job. I hated to take her away from third, but the catcher handles the ball almost every play. So I’ve got to put someone there I can trust.”

Healy, a superb field hockey and basketball player at Leavitt, had played catcher for four years before arriving at Leavitt. She’d also played the position during summer softball. So when Sarah Sennett graduated and the team’s projected starter transferred out of state, Higgins knew he had to find someone else.

“I’ve been thinking about this all summer and all winter,” said Higgins. “I didn’t really have to say much to her. She pretty much knew it was going to come. She accepted it well. She’s a trooper.”

It was a bit of change for Healy. She had been a conference all-star at third and was a Sun Journal All-State pick at the position.

“I was a little nervous because our catcher last year was so good,” said Healy. “I was like ‘I’ve got to fill some big shoes,’ but I was willing to do it.”

She hadn’t played the position much last summer, but made a quick transition in the preseason. It was just a matter of adjusting to a new role and perspective of the game.

“When I was at third base, I got used to having the ball come toward me,” said Healy. “Behind the plate, it’s totally different because you have the hitter in front of you. At first, I was scared because I thought of myself as not having the catcher’s gear on. Then I was like ‘Wait, I have the gear on. So I can do whatever.'”

It also takes a bit of a mental adjustment. A third baseman has to be on one’s toes and play aggressive at times, but being behind the plate takes a certain edge.

Though she misses third somewhat, she’s relishing her new job.

“I really like it,” said Healy. “Every game there’s always those nervous feelings but as soon as I get behind the plate, I’m ready to attack every single ball that comes to me.”

The switch has worked out extremely well for the unbeaten Hornets as the defending Class A state champions have rushed out to the top seeding in Eastern A. They haven’t missed a beat at third with junior Alanna Leonard stepping in.

“The girl we put in at third has done a really good job,” said Higgins. “She’s been more than I expected. So it hasn’t hurt us at third. That was my big preseason concern.”

Having Healy behind the plate, has put one of the team’s best leaders in a place where her experience and leadership can shine in all facets.

It was a rather smooth transition for the battery as well. Though pitcher Sam St. Hilaire has thrown to Sennett for much of her high school career, she has worked with Healy in the past.

“Sam and I played on the same summer team,” said Healy. “So I was able to catch her for as long as I was catching. I was used to all her pitches. We knew each other’s playing styles. So it wasn’t hard to adjust.”

Healy will turn in her softball gear next year when she goes to college. She has a half-scholarship to play field hockey at the University of Maine, where she plans to study speech therapy and work with children.

“It’s really too bad she’s not going to play at the Division I level,” said Higgins. “She definitely could play there. Orono never really looked at her, which was their mistake. She’s going on a field hockey scholarship anyway. So she’s still going to play collegiate sports, but I hate to see her not play softball.”