A-K Valley athletes of the week: Valley’s Shane Demharter, Leechburg’s Gracie Reinke

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, April 18, 2018 | 10:27 PM

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Shane Demharter

School: Valley

Class: Freshman

Sport: Baseball

Report card: No freshman has made a better first impression this season than Demharter. The shortstop leads Valley (5-3, 3-0) in doubles (three), RBIs (eight), hits (13) and carries a team-best .433 batting average to the plate. Demharter helped the Vikings go 3-0 in section play last week by knocking in two RBIs in Valley's 6-0 win over Section 1-3A foe Shady Side Academy.

When did you begin playing baseball?

When I was 5.

To what do you attribute your success as a freshman?

Hard work. I love baseball. It's my No. 1 sport.

Your brother (Shawn) is a senior on the team. Is there any sibling rivalry?

No. We work good together.

The Vikings went to Myrtle Beach to open the season. How was the trip?

It was fun. I liked it. We played good together.

How big was the win over section rival Steel Valley, which hadn't lost a section game in two seasons?

It felt good to go against them, and we all played as a team.

Is there something special about this year's team?

The seniors and the freshmen play well together. We're ranked No. 4 in the WPIAL.

Can this team get out of the first round of the playoffs?

Yeah, I believe so.

Do you think Valley is still flying under the radar?

Yeah. We play one game at a time.

What's the strength of this year's team?

Hitting. We hit really well.

Who is the most underrated player on the team?

I say my brother (Shawn). He's a good pitcher and outfielder.

If you could have walk-up music on your way to the plate, what song would you use?

I would say, “XO 4 Life” by Lil Uzi Vert.

Do you have any baseball superstitions?

I don't eat before games; I don't want to cramp up or anything.

How many games will the Pirates win this year?

Hopefully a lot, because I'm a Pirates fan.

Who is your favorite Pirate?

Gregory Polanco.

What's your favorite subject at school?

Biology.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

I'm a shoe collector; I like shoes.

What's your favorite pair of shoes?

The Air Jordan Concord 11s.

Gracie Reinke

School: Leechburg

Class: Sophomore

Sport: Softball

Report card: Reinke homered in back-to-back games last week to help lead Class A No. 3 Leechburg (7-1, 6-0) through a week of perfection and extend the Blue Devils' win streak to six games. A two-year starter at first base, Reinke leads the Blue Devils with 15 RBIs, seven home runs and a .727 batting average. She's also a member of the Leechburg girls volleyball team, where she came off the bench as an outside hitter.

When did you begin playing softball?

T-ball, when I was 5 years old.

What's the difference between last year's team and this year's team?

We all get along a lot better and we work well together. We're good at lifting each other up.

How do you explain your recent performance at the plate?

I shocked myself with all of my home runs. I never thought I was capable of that. I want to improve on not striking out as often.

Does losing in last season's semifinals and third-place consolation game motivate this team?

Yeah, I think it does. We definitely didn't play how we should have. That's not the team we have now.

Where does this team need to improve the most before the postseason?

At first, I thought it was going to be our defense. But now that we started playing, I think it's our batting. We have more strikeouts than we should every game.

What is the strength of this team?

Our defense.

Who is the most underrated player on the team?

McKenna Pierce (shortstop). I don't think she gets enough credit because she is very good.

How important is it to keep up the Leechburg softball tradition?

You feel a lot of pressure with that because you know people are watching you and it also gives you the confidence. It's nice to know that other schools fear us.

What is your dream softball school to go and play at?

My favorite team is the Florida Gators, so probably them.

Three words to describe yourself?

Dedicated. Honest. Humble.

What's your favorite subject at school?

Biology II.

What is something interesting about you that nobody knows?

I can make most the half-court shots that I take even though I don't play basketball. That's my hidden talent.

Why don't you play basketball?

I like watching it, not playing it.

Tags: Leechburg, Valley