Fleischer left indelible mark
Two-sport standout led Hornets to two SL softball titles
Brittany Fleischer, known more for her softball exploits, also was a solid volleyball player and is The Post’s 2016-17 Highland Female Athlete of the Year. Photo by BRUCE BILLOW
Brittany Fleischer started playing tee-ball when she was 3 years old. She eventually graduated to coach-pitch and ultimately full-fledged fast-pitch, which she has come to dominate.
Despite her baker’s dozen years in the sport, and some pretty remarkable accomplishments, she never has had a notion where playing in college is concerned. She wasn’t interested in the recruiting process, the pressures of performing for scouts, going to camps and all the other sundries that accompany being a college athlete.
“I never wanted to play,” she said. “It’s not that I’ve had enough. I didn’t have enough. I would love to keep playing, but I think I need to move on and experience new things and focus on my school work.”
So Fleischer, who as a pitcher and a hitter led Highland to perhaps the two greatest seasons in school history, is leaving organized sports behind her. That includes volleyball, which she also stood out in at Highland.
“It’s a shock that I’ll never play in a competitive softball game again,” Fleischer said. “Slow-pitch is just not the same at all.”
This past year Fleischer was 15-6 with a 1.84 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 125 innings in the pitching circle for the Hornets. She was also the team’s best hitter, posting a .459 average with three home runs, 24 RBI and 24 runs. Highland finished 18-5 overall, 12-2 in the Suburban League American Conference.
During the fall, she was among the Hornets’ leaders in kills and a solid blocker for a volleyball team that struggled a bit through a rebuilding season.
That combination is why Fleischer is The Post‘s 2016-17 Highland Female Athlete of the Year. Certainly better known for softball, she was a true athlete in every sense. In fact, in some ways, she liked volleyball even better than softball.
“It was always just a a fun sport,” Fleischer said. “I like how much you move in it. It never gets boring. You’re never just standing there.”
That wasn’t always the case for Fleischer’s softball teammates. In her days of playing in the Emerald Necklace league around the age of 10, she would strike out 19 batters in a seven-inning game.
“I kind of felt bad for my fielders,” she said. “They never got to field any balls.”
She began developing as a pitcher around age 12. Early on she threw a fastball, change-up and drop, before eventually adding a knuckleball, screwball, drop-curve, rise, crew-rise and curveball.
Throughout high school, Fleischer threw almost all those pitches, though she dropped the drop. And, surprisingly, the fastball.
“I can throw my movement pitches for strikes as easily as a fastball and just as fast,” she said. “They could hit a fastball.”
Fleischer’s individual dominance ultimately translated into team success for Highland, which won AL championships in each of Fleischer’s last two years. The titles were the Hornets’ first in softball in four decades.
“It’s more than double my life,” Fleischer said, trying to grasp the time span.
Her impact on the program has been indisputable. When Highland tries to defend its SL title again, it may be hard-pressed to find an adequate replacement.
“Earning the starting pitcher role as a junior and leading the team to the first back-to-back league championships in school history says a lot about her work ethic, selflessness, and talents as a player,” Hornets coach Patrick Martin said. “She has been an even better student in the classroom, and sets a strong example both on and off the field. Brittany has helped create a foundation that Highland softball can be proud of and build upon for years to come.”
Fleischer has plenty of reason not to pursue athletics after high school. Her academic record, as Martin alluded, is better. Fleischer graduated with a 4.23 grade-point average and is headed to Miami University’s business school.
Her sports career, which ended officially this past week with her last summer tournament, has been relegated to memories. Fleischer, though, has a bank full.
“Beating Tallmadge,” she said of what might stand out. “They were always a really tough team to beat. And Revere last year. They were really tough.
“Really, I remember all the friends I made from it. It was so fun competing against other high schools you know. That’s why liked it.”
Despite her baker’s dozen years in the sport, and some pretty remarkable accomplishments, she never has had a notion where playing in college is concerned. She wasn’t interested in the recruiting process, the pressures of performing for scouts, going to camps and all the other sundries that accompany being a college athlete.
“I never wanted to play,” she said. “It’s not that I’ve had enough. I didn’t have enough. I would love to keep playing, but I think I need to move on and experience new things and focus on my school work.”
So Fleischer, who as a pitcher and a hitter led Highland to perhaps the two greatest seasons in school history, is leaving organized sports behind her. That includes volleyball, which she also stood out in at Highland.
“It’s a shock that I’ll never play in a competitive softball game again,” Fleischer said. “Slow-pitch is just not the same at all.”
This past year Fleischer was 15-6 with a 1.84 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 125 innings in the pitching circle for the Hornets. She was also the team’s best hitter, posting a .459 average with three home runs, 24 RBI and 24 runs. Highland finished 18-5 overall, 12-2 in the Suburban League American Conference.
During the fall, she was among the Hornets’ leaders in kills and a solid blocker for a volleyball team that struggled a bit through a rebuilding season.
That combination is why Fleischer is The Post‘s 2016-17 Highland Female Athlete of the Year. Certainly better known for softball, she was a true athlete in every sense. In fact, in some ways, she liked volleyball even better than softball.
“It was always just a a fun sport,” Fleischer said. “I like how much you move in it. It never gets boring. You’re never just standing there.”
That wasn’t always the case for Fleischer’s softball teammates. In her days of playing in the Emerald Necklace league around the age of 10, she would strike out 19 batters in a seven-inning game.
“I kind of felt bad for my fielders,” she said. “They never got to field any balls.”
She began developing as a pitcher around age 12. Early on she threw a fastball, change-up and drop, before eventually adding a knuckleball, screwball, drop-curve, rise, crew-rise and curveball.
Throughout high school, Fleischer threw almost all those pitches, though she dropped the drop. And, surprisingly, the fastball.
“I can throw my movement pitches for strikes as easily as a fastball and just as fast,” she said. “They could hit a fastball.”
Fleischer’s individual dominance ultimately translated into team success for Highland, which won AL championships in each of Fleischer’s last two years. The titles were the Hornets’ first in softball in four decades.
“It’s more than double my life,” Fleischer said, trying to grasp the time span.
Her impact on the program has been indisputable. When Highland tries to defend its SL title again, it may be hard-pressed to find an adequate replacement.
“Earning the starting pitcher role as a junior and leading the team to the first back-to-back league championships in school history says a lot about her work ethic, selflessness, and talents as a player,” Hornets coach Patrick Martin said. “She has been an even better student in the classroom, and sets a strong example both on and off the field. Brittany has helped create a foundation that Highland softball can be proud of and build upon for years to come.”
Fleischer has plenty of reason not to pursue athletics after high school. Her academic record, as Martin alluded, is better. Fleischer graduated with a 4.23 grade-point average and is headed to Miami University’s business school.
Her sports career, which ended officially this past week with her last summer tournament, has been relegated to memories. Fleischer, though, has a bank full.
“Beating Tallmadge,” she said of what might stand out. “They were always a really tough team to beat. And Revere last year. They were really tough.
“Really, I remember all the friends I made from it. It was so fun competing against other high schools you know. That’s why liked it.”