Shortstop Providing Punch To Lady Sharks’ Offense

April 8, 2021 Ernesto Nunez Student Athletes, Lady Sharks

The Miami Dade College softball team is 11-16 this season and with 10 games remaining, the Lady Sharks have already improved on last year’s 10-19 mark.

Their performance this season has been aided by the impressive production provided by freshman Melissa Leon, a five-foot-two-inch shortstop from Westminster Christian High School.

Through 27 games, Leon is leading the team in RBI (21), doubles (seven) and home runs (three) and ranks second in runs (15) and batting average (.348).

“She’s an amazing teammate and person, has leadership qualities, and is a very selfless player,” said freshman pitcher/outfielder Brianna Romaguera. “She’s a very vocal person. She’s always talking on the field and pushing us to be the best we can be.”

Leon’s passion for softball was ingrained in her by her older siblings, Sergio and Ashley. Sergio was an infielder on the Marshall University baseball team from 2012-15; Ashley played her freshman season at Auburn University in 2014 before transferring to Florida International University where she played from 2015-17.

“I grew up around this sport,” said Leon, who started playing softball at age seven. “My idols growing up were always my siblings. They were always coaching me and teaching me new things. To this day they still give me advice on where I can improve. It’s because of them that I fell in love with softball.”

Leon attended the Miami Arts Studio at Zelda Glazer in middle school before moving to Coral Reef Senior High School in 2016. She earned the league’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2017 and a Golden Glove award as a sophomore.

After two years with the Barracudas, Leon transferred to Westminster Christian High School in Palmetto Bay. In her junior season, she was named First-Team All-Dade after posting a .458 batting average with 33 runs and 25 RBI in 28 games. Her senior campaign was cut short—it only lasted seven games—due to the coronavirus pandemic.

At MDC, Leon has taken her game to the next level. She credits the team’s demanding schedule for her improvement. All of the Lady Sharks games are doubleheaders or invitational tournaments throughout Florida.

“In high school, there are games you know you’re going to win right away, but in college, everyone you play is good,” Leon said. “The competition gets better and harder as you go. The talent in college is at a higher level, therefore it pushes me to want to be better.”

Despite the impressive numbers, teammates and coaches say Leon’s most valuable contribution to the Lady Sharks is her presence in the locker room and her team-first mentality.

“I’ve been able to see Melissa really transform into an even better player,” said infielder Lindsey Arana, who was Leon’s teammate at Westminster. “She’s loud on the field and in the dugout. She’s powerful at the plate and she’s a wall at shortstop. She’s come in this season ready to work and she’s been doing great.”

The Lady Sharks’ next game will be a doubleheader at home versus Eastern Florida State College on April 9 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.