Mike Sypher: Leaders emerge on the diamond

May 18—According to the calendar, Father's Day may still be more than a month away, but that doesn't mean a pair of proud Dads can't puff out their chests and beam a bit when reading about their son and daughter, respectively, on today's Page 11 of the Chronicle.

After all, Brian Mercado and John Lebiszczak are two of the main reasons why their offspring — Diego Mercado and Alyssa Lebiszczak — have burnished their skills over the past decade or so en route to successful careers with their respective scholastic baseball and softball squads.

Brian Mercado, an All- American performer under legendary Eastern Connecticut State University baseball coach Bill Holowaty back in the day, went on to serve as a jayvee coach under fellow ECSU alum Mike Susi at E. O. Smith a few years back. Brian's son, Diego, would work out with the team and Susi quickly took notice.

Whenever one of the Mercado men digs in at the plate, it's ' must- see' watching. ... " Brian and I played New London American Legion ball together in the 1980s before ECSU and then he was my jayvee coach for one year," recalled Susi. "Diego was a big 13-yearold kid who would practice with the team and I saw his abilities at an early age.

"I was hoping his family stayed in the area so Diego would come to E. O. Smith."

Ken Valliere returned to the dugout for his second stint coaching Willimantic's American Legion baseball program two summers ago and quickly noticed an athletic young woman whom he thought might help his Windham High softball program in the Spring.

"I've known and been looking for Alyssa to play softball for me for a while now," said Valliere. " Her father, John ' The Wizard', coaches Legion baseball with me so I've known her almost as a second daughter."

Diego and Alyssa are two of the main reasons why their Panthers and Whippets, respectively, will soon be wrapping up their regular- season schedules in style while preparing for the postseason.

" I started playing baseball when I was 5-years-old," recalled Diego, a senior mainstay in E. O. Smith's lineup. "My Dad had signed me up and I just began having fun with it. My role for my team is to just go out and compete and have the team feed off of it.

"My strengths, I would say, are being competitive and giving the team a spark."

Sparks flew in the first inning of E. O. Smith's Central Connecticut Conference East Division road game at Enfield last week when Mercado ripped a 3- run homer in the top of the first inning to give his Panthers a quick 3-zip advantage.

He finished the day with four RBI overall as E.O. Smith celebrated a 10- 5 victory on the long bus ride back home to Storrs.

The very next day, Mercado found his home run stroke once again and collected six RBI as the Panthers evened their record at 8- 8 overall ( 3- 4 league) with a wild 19-15 CCC East victory over visiting South Windsor at Farrell Field, a win that punched their ticket to the upcoming CIAC Class L state tournament.

Mercado is now hitting .289 with two homers, 12 RBI, 15 runs scored, an OPS of .876 and a 100 percent success rate (9-for-9) on stolen base attempts.

All this while showcasing his versatility on defense as well with Susi expressing confidence in Mercado's abilities at multiple positions.

" Diego is a team leader, a quiet one but a leader by example more than verbally," said Susi.

" The team seems to rally around him. He has played all over this year ... first base, pitched a little and now he's playing third base. He has taken on all of his roles with great confidence.

" Diego's ability to play any corner position helps the team tremendously. Offensively, he can not only hit a home run or extra- base hit but he can steal bases. He's an all- around threat."

Please include Alyssa Lebiszczak on any list of names who qualify as allaround threats on the diamond.

The hard-working sophomore not only shines at the plate, but doubles as a steadying influence behind the dish while providing standout junior hurler Analise Escarraman with a target and encouragement pitch after pitch after pitch.

" I started T- ball when I was 3-years-old, progressed to softball and have been playing ever since," said Lebiszczak.

" I was attracted to this sport ever since I was little while growing up with my brother, along with my Dad, who inspired me."

"My role for the past two years on this team involves being our catcher," continued Lebiszczak.

" I consider some of my strengths to be whenever I get on base, you will always see me stealing whenever I get a chance. Also, I am very dedicated to softball and will always be working hard at games and practices."

Lebiszczak has provided her Whips with a consistent threat out of the No. 2 slot in Valliere's batting order to the tune of a .435 batting average. Alyssa has scored a total of 22 runs for the Whips, who have qualified for CIAC post-season play, and has swiped 22 bases to help jump- start Windham's offense.

Shining performances for Lebiszczak include a 2- for- 2 day at the plate that included three walks and four runs scored in a 14-4 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division III victory over Plainfield in Central Village back on April 23. That effort came two days after she slugged a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning in a 2- 1 road loss at local rival Lyman Memorial.

" Her freshman year, Alyssa stepped in as our catcher and did a great job," said Valliere.

"This season, she has done a tremendous job behind the plate catching Analise and she has also been one of our top hitters.

" Alyssa is a blue- collar player who shows up every day ready to work and get better. I'm looking forward to a great end to this season and a great two more years with her. She is one of those kids you wish you had nine of."

Mike Sypher is the sports editor of the Chronicle.