Is she a better hitter or pitcher?
Let’s just say it’s a good problem to have. For her accomplishments in the classroom and in her respective athletic endeavors, Marblehead softball star Tessa Francis has been chosen as the female Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athlete of the Month for May. The male recipient was Lynnfield’s Tyler Adamo.
With another trip to the state tournament secured, the Francis-led Marblehead softball team (16-4) was ranked No. 11 in the MIAA’s most recent Division 2 power rankings.
In 123 1/3 innings pitched, Francis, a junior, sports a 1.08 ERA with 230 strikeouts and 65 hits allowed across 450 at-bats. At the plate, in 55 at-bats, she has 22 hits, 22 RBI, four home runs, and eight walks with a .400 average.
“It’s been great. The team is amazing and Johnny Gold is a great coach,” Francis said. “Everybody is very welcoming and supportive – and the whole town is very supportive.”
She began playing softball at age 6 and started pitching four years later.
“Somewhere around there, I started developing a really big passion,” said Francis, who says she couldn’t have gotten where she is today without parents Chris Francis and Rossana Ferrante. “I liked volleyball, but nothing really captured my attention like softball did.”
As for her academics, Francis’ favorite course is AP chemistry.
“I’m very into sciences. I probably want to do a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics),” she said. “I’ve always put academics first with athletics a very close second. I’m really proud to receive this honor because I do focus a lot of my attention on my academics and athletics – I put my heart out in both fields.”
Francis admitted “it’s a struggle sometimes,” but often completes schoolwork on the team bus and studies directly after practices.
“Whatever needs to be done,” she said.
