Carri Leto Martin slides into home plate against Chicago. Follow East County's own Carri Leto Martin daily on the New England Riptide website HERE, or the National Pro Fastpitch website HERE

Philadelphia Force media Day '06 '06: Carri scores game-winning run

WOMEN IN SPORTS

Follow the daily exploits of Roz Savage, who started her attempt to row solo across the Pacific Ocean on August 12th. East County Sports.com is part of a network of websites following her brave mission.

Lakeside's Katie Wilkins (Christian HS) now starts for the USA women's volleyball team. Follow Katie on her trek to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (Photo, Courtesy of USA Volleyball) Current Schedule FIVA World Grand Prix Aug. 3-5 -- Rzeszow, Poland Aug. 10-12 -- Khabarovsk, Russia Aug. 17-19 -- Macau, China Aug. 20-26 -- Ningbo, China NORCECA Championships Sept. 17-22 -- Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Following her RBI triple, Carri Leto Martin (right) celebrates with Lisa Modglin after scoring in the 3rd inning on a squeeze bunt by Lyndsey Angus. (Courtesy, New England Riptide)

© East County Sports.com
LOWELL, Mass. (8-10-07) -- Following the forfeiture of three ballgames by her New England Riptide, former Valhalla High and Northwestern University standout CARRI LETO MARTIN moved the Riptide back into National Pro Fastpitch playoff contention on Friday (Aug. 10) night.

Leto Martin, a three-time All-Star and reigning NPF Defensive Player of the Year, brought home what proved to be the winning run with a triple, then scored on a Lyndsey Angus squeeze bunt, pacing the Riptide past the visiting Akron Racers, 3-1, in the first of a four-game series at Martin Field.

Riptide pitcher Eileen Canney struck out 11 in tossing a 1-hitter, increasing her league-leading strikeout total to 128.

Earlier in the week, NPF commissioner Cheri Kempf ruled that New England illegally utilized a player who was on the inactive list in three victories during July, forcing a pair of forfeits to the Michigan Ice and another to the Philadelphia Force. The resulting setbacks sent New England into fifth place behind Akron, but with Friday's triumph, the teams are now tied for the fourth and final NPF postseason berth heading into the final week of the season..

Both sides are now 21-16 with seven regular season contests remaining. Following the series, New England completes the schedule with a four-game road slate with third-place Philadelphia (23-17).

Leto Martin currently ranked 9th in the NPF with a..306 batting average.

Carri Leto Martin

© East County Sports.com
LOWELL, Mass. (7-14-07) -- With the National Pro Fastpitch season approaching its final four weeks before the playoffs, former Valhalla High and Northwestern University standout CARRI LETO MARTIN continues to swing a hot bat for the New England Riptide.

On Friday (July 13), Leto Martin registered another multi-hit game with two more singles, pacing the Tide to a 4-3 victory over the Michigan Ice. Leto Martin also stole third base and eventually scored the game-winning run, making New England (16-11) winners of 3 straight contests. The team also moved into fourth place ahead of Leto Martin's old ballclub, the Philadelphia Force, to rest in position for the final NPF playoff berth.

Leto Martin currently leads the Riptide in hits, doubles, triples and batting average (.318), and is second in runs scored. With respect to the league, the All-Star second baseman is second in doubles, third in total hits and triples, fourth in total at bats, eighth in runs scored and 10th in batting average.

In Thursday's (July 12) series opener against the Ice, it was a special night for Leto Martin in what turned out to be a Northwestern softball reunion.

Identical twins Kate and Caryl Drohan, who coached Leto Martin over her final seasons in the Big 10 Conference, drove more than 12 hours to watch her play during their vacation. The pair guided Northwestern to the NCAA Women's College World Series championship contest two seasons ago, then the Wildcats came in third place last season.

The sisters showed their devotion to former players by making the trek to watch Leto Martin play. Along with Leto Martin, they were welcomed to Massachusetts by legendary coach Sharon Drysdale, the Riptide coach who originally recruited and then coached Carri her freshman season at NU. If that is not enough, Christy Hebert also coached her as an assistant coach her first year at NU and is also currently an assistant coach for the Riptide.

The Riptide roster also features two other Northwestern alums in first baseman Garland Cooper and right-handed pitcher Eileen Canney, both NPF rookies this season. Leto Martin is in her fourth pro season.

Carri Leto Martin Leads NPF with .385 average. (Courtesy, New England Riptide)

© East County Sports.com
ROCKFORD, Ill. (6-10-07) -- Former Valhalla High and Northwestern University standout CARRI LETO MARTIN broke a scoreless pitchers' duel which lasted into extra innings, making her third hit of the night the game-winner with an RBI double to power the New England Riptide past the league-leading Rockford Thunder, 3-0 in nine innings, in Saturday's (June 9) National Pro Fastpitch contest.

With one out in the 9th, Riptide speedster Shanel Scott reached on the first of two errors by the Thunder, this one when Audrey Rendon booted a ball at third. That brought up Leto Martin, who reached the gap in left-center to easily scoring Scott.

Lyndsey Angus later added another double to score Martin and Jackie Pasquerella.

Eileen Canney, who was making her pro debut after earning second-team NFCA All-America honors after pitching Northwestern to the Women's College World Series semifinals last week, tossed a 1-hitter at the Thunder through seven innings.

Canney struck out 13, walked three, and had Thunder batters hitting mostly harmless pop ups when not striking them out in her 2-hit shutout.

The victory came one night after the Riptide blanked Rockford, 7-0, handing the Thunder their first setback of the season. Martin Leto batted 2-for-4 and scored twice, followed by a 3-for-5 effort Saturday, as she enters the series finale as the top hitter in the NPF at .385. She also ranks first in doubles and second in both total hits and runs scored.

Carri Leto with a basehit against the Chicago Bandits. (Philadelphia Force courtesy photo).

2005 STORIES ON CARRI LETO HERE

© East County Sports.com
LOWELL, Mass. (4-30-07) -- Following her recent marriage and a move to the Boston area to serve as an assistant women's softball coach for Harvard, former Valhalla High and Northwestern University standout CARRI LETO MARTIN requested one additional change in her whirlwind life.

At first, the Force were reluctant to trade their All-Star second baseman, but with a new owner in Philly and a clean slate to fill for its roster, draft picks were offered to the Force and the trade was consummated. And Martin got the better end of the deal, starting her fourth professional season playing for the defending NPF champions.

"I am extremely excited to play with the Riptide this year," said Leto Martin. "They have a rich tradition and a championship to defend. I can't wait to contribute to their success."

"We have a great infield and Carri could easily be part of that, but it is a case of a lot of players," noted Riptide general manager Joe Adlman. "We needed to rebuild our outfield and Carri will be part of that. Look for her to back up any of the infielders who may get injured. Carri and I discussed her role and we were both good with it."

New England already boasts All-Star second baseman Lisa Iancin, the NPF defensive player of the year in 2005 (Leto won the award in 2006), plus a third baseman who was runner-up both years.

Oh, there are other benefits for Leto Martin's move. The Riptide play their ballgames -- talk about public relations value -- at Martin Field.

Currently in her first season as the first base coach at Harvard, Leto Martin is helping the Crimson to a winning season. After finishing last season with a 20-24 record, the Crimson are currently leading the Ivy League's North Division with an 11-5 record (25-12 overall), fighting for their fourth-ever Ivy League championship.

Leto Martin is enjoying the ride as a coach.

"This team is stepping up their game at the right time and coaching such a great group of girls has been very rewarding," Leto Martin said.

Leto Martin graduated from Northwestern in 2004 with a degree in communication studies and spent time as an undergraduate teaching and research assistant in the communications department, while participating in the Teamsmith Nationals 2002 North American Tour, posting a 40-3 record, later earning a tryout with the 2005 USA National Team.

Last season, she earned her third All-Star berth and was named the NPF Defensive Player of the Year with the Force. It is not known whether Leto Marin will request a trade to the nearby New England Riptide -- she remains under contract with Philadelphia.

A three-year team captain at Northwestern, Leto Martin finished her college career with the Wildcats ranked in the school's top seven in ten different career offensive categories. She was Northwestern's 2004 NCAA Division I Woman of the Year nominee and made the CoSIDA Academic All-District team. She was also named to the 2004 Big Ten All-tournament team. For three consecutive years, she was a second team All-Big Ten selection (2002 at shortstop, 2003 and 2004 at second base) and Big Ten All-Academic Team honoree (2002, 2003 and 2004). She was named to the NFCA MidEast Region first team in 2001 and second team in 2004.

Leto-Martin graduated from Northwestern in 2004 with a degree in communication studies and spent time as an undergraduate teaching and research assistant in the communications department.

Harvard will travel west for the tournament during the 2007 season, traveling to the Eller Media Stadium Classic at UNLV on Mar. 8-11.

Leto tabbed NPF's top defender
Second baseman also gains third All-Star berth

© East County Sports.com
DENVER (8-29-06) -- For two seasons, second baseman CARRI LETO paired with U.S. national team shortstop Natasha Watley to form the top double play tandem in National Pro Fastpitch. However, with Watley absent most of the season due to national team commitments, Leto needed to step up her play with several new defensive partners.

Consider the mission accomplished.

Despite playing for the last-place Philadelphia Force, Leto, a product of Valhalla High and Northwestern University, shined brightly enough to be declared a winner on two fronts over the weekend.

Not only did Leto earn her third consecutive berth to the NPF All-Star team, she was also declared the 2006 NPF Defensive Player of the Year (the Nokona American Glove Award).

Leto paced all Force batters with a .307 batting average,and rated among the league leaders in hits, runs and on-base percentage. On defense, she boasted a .970 fielding percentage for the NPF expansion team, committing only six errors on 198 chances while also ranking among the leaders in turning the double play.

The New England Riptide won the 2006 NPF Championship, defeating the Chicago Bandits, 1-0 in nine innings, inthe semifinals, then 2-0 over the host Connecticut Brakettes, the regular season champions, in the title contest. Leto captured the 2004 crown while starring for the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut.

Carri Leto slams a basehit against the Arizona Heat. (Philadelphia Force courtesy photo).

East County Sports.com
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (8-12-06) -- The Philadelphia Force may be riding a nightmare season sitting at the bottom of the National Pro Fastpitch standings, but El Cajon resident CARRI LETO refuses to let down. Over the weekend, the Valhalla High and Northwestern University grad batted .636, leading the Force to a 4-game sweep of the visiting Arizona Heat.

On Wednesday (Aug. 9), Leto took a key extra base which started a 2-run rally tonip the Heat, 2-1. In the fourth inning, Leto was hit by a pitch, then was safe at third on a close play on a Chelsea Spencer single, eventually scoring on a two-out, two-run basehit by Lindsey Cameron.

The next night (Aug.10), Leto batted 3-for-4, scored three times and stole a base in a 9-0 pasting of Arizoma. On Saturday (Aug. 12), Leto gained two additional hits to cap a 7-for-11 week at the plate.

For the season, Leto ranked seventh in hitting (.328), tied for second in runs scored (24), tied for fourth in total hits (42), and 12th in on-base percentage.

The contest is slated to air at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 (Cox Cable chl. 28) from the newly built Sports Complex on the campus of Benedictine University.

Later in the week, Leto and the Force will play on consecutive days against the Akron (Ohio) Racers, with ballgames slated for Saturday (July 29) at 9 a.m., then Sunday (July 30) at 10 a.m. Both will be cablecast on ESPN. All three games are taped, shown on a 1-day delay basis.

Featured on the 2006 Philadelphia Force team poster is two-time NPF All-Star second baseman Carri Leto (far right) and U.S. Olympian shortstop Natasha Watley (far left) -- the league's top-rated combination in turning the double play.

East County Sports.com
LEAGUE CITY, Texas (7-1-06) -- Team USA third baseman Crystl Bustos is considered by many as the top women's fastpitch softball player in the world.

The two-time Olympic and Pan-Am Games gold medalist holds Olympic records for home runs and runs batted in. And Bustos again leads the pack, ranking first in National Pro Fastpitch with a .457 average for the Akron Racers.

Philadelphia Force teammates Sarah Fekete and former Valhalla High standout CARRI LETO rank second and third, respectively.

On Friday (June 30), Leto went 3-for-3 from the plate with three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base, powering the Force past the host Texas Thunder, 8-2, at Big League Dreams. Leto, who is now averaging .395 on the season, was aided by teammate Jenna Hall, a first baseman who slugged a pair of tape-measure homers in the victory.

Leto, a two-time All-star second baseman, has hit safely in 8 of her last 9 games. The three-year veteran from Northwestern University is leading the Force with 17 hits and a .435 on-base percentage, enjoying her position in the two hole behind Hall, the Force center fielder.

"I love hitting behind Fekete in the lineup. When you have speed at the top of your lineup, it opens up a lot of holes in the defense," noted Leto. "Every time Sarah gets on base, the defense knows there is a great possibility of her stealing a base, which gives me an advantage as a hitter. I have the option of placing down a bunt, slapping a ball in the hole or hitting away. Having these options as a hitter, specifically with speed on the base paths, certainly gives me an edge against the opposition."

Leto has put up great numbers in the first month of the NPF season.

"It's my third year in the NPF and I've learned a great deal from facing these pitchers for the past two years."

When asked about the offensive outlook for the rest of the season, Leto states that consistency is the key. "I definitely think that hitting is contagious, which attributes to the importance of me and Sarah getting on base. When your leadoff gets on, it sends an automatic boost of confidence throughout the lineup."

Force head coach Gina LaMandre knows that there will be a huge void to fill in the leadoff spot when Fekete, who is batting an even .400, leaves the roster for U.S. National Team commitments in July.

"Everyone is going to have to step it up," said LaMandre. "The Fekete-Leto combo is vital to our team because they are both quick and they get the job done. They make things happen and we generate offense off of their speed. Obviously, Fekete has done really well for us and we are going to need to replace our leadoff hitter."

Leto is no stranger to the leadoff position and is eager to take on the challenge.

"If coach places me in the leadoff spot, I will adjust my role as a hitter," noted Leto. "I am confident in the rest of our lineup and I see a bright offensive season ahead of us. Of course, we will be eager to get Sarah back for the rest of August."

East County Sports.com
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (6-21-06) -- Valhalla High alum CARRI LETO continues to climb among the leading National Pro Fastpitch hitters, registering at least two hits for the fifth straight contrest to lead the Philadelphia Force in sweeping the first three games in a four-game series against the visiting Texas Thuinder.

Leto went 3-for-4 and scored twice in the most recent Force victory, a 7-1 pasting Friday (June 16) at ECTB Stadium at Bicentennial Park. Leto is now batting an even .400 for the season, ranking fifth in NPF.

Philadelphia (3-5 overall) will host a four-game series with the National Team of China, starting Wednesday (June 21) before hitting the road for a thee-game return engagement with the Thunder in Houston next week.

While the Force seems to have turned the corner after dropping three straight to open the season, Leto, a two-time NPF All-Star second baseman, may be losing some company. Her double-play partner, Natasha Watley of UCLA -- considered by many as the world's best shortstop -- may be lost of the rest of the summer due to U.S. National Team commitments.

Following the rain, Leto becomes Force

East County Sports.com
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (06-11-06) -- After three days of rain outs, the Philadelphia Force opened the National Pro Fastpitch season Saturday night (June 10) against the Connecticut Brakettes and fell 3-1. Former Valhalla High standout CARRI LETO drove in the first run of the season for the Force (0-4) with the first of her team-best two hits. The Force had been shutout in three season-opening games in Akron the previous weekend, contests which were also rain-delayed.

Carri Leto

East County Sports.com
HORSHAM, Pa. (10-3-05) -- CARRI LETO, the two-time National Pro Fastpitch All-Star for the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut, will continue to be a force in professional softball as one of four free agent signings by the expansion Philadelphia Force. The team will play its inaugural season home games as historic Patriots Park in Allentown.

With the Juggernaut, Leto captured the NPF Cowles Cup championship in 2004 following standout careers at Valhalla High and Northwestern University. Plus, Leto will remain part of the most prolific double-play combination in the league, as the Force also signed free agent shortstop NATASHA WATLEYy, Leto’s teammate with the Nauts.

Watley, who played at UCLA before winning an Olympic Gold Medal for the USA in the 2004 Games, led the Juggernaut by batting ,374 last season.

Philadelphia also signed 2005 NPF Co-pitcher of the year, LAUREN BAY, the top pitcher on the Canadian Olympic team, along with power hitting catcher RYAN REALMUTO. Bay was arguably the best left-hander in the NPF, last year accumulating 17 wins and an 0.88 ERA en route to being named an All-Star in 2005. Realmuto was a standout for NCAA Women’s College World Series teams at Oklahoma State.

Meanwhile, Carri, who currently resides in Manhattan, recently obtained a job in the athletic department at Columbia University in New York City, where she will intermittently assist the Lions softball program.

For further information, visit the NPF website, at: www.profastpitch.com/news/?id=8686.

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (9-12-05) – It was a huge month of August for CARRI LETO, the former Valhalla High and Northwestern University softball standout. Playing for the defending champion New York-New Jersey Juggernaut of National Pro Fastpitch, Leto earned her second starting berth in the NPF All-Star Game, selected as the second baseman for the East All-Stars.

The Juggs then went out and collected another playoff berth, officially qualifying after whipping the New England Riptide, 5-2, on Aug. 21, to finish with a 31-14 record. In the final two games of the serie, Leto collected a double, a walk and scored two runs in the first victory. She also hit a sacrifice RBI in the next game to score a run to clinch an invitation to the post-season, although the Juggs finally lost in the semifinals to regular-season champion Chicago Bandits, featuring U.S. National Team pitcher Jennie Finch. However, Finch then lost her first game as a professional, as the Akron (Ohio) Racers won the title game to win the Cowles Cup championship.

In the All-Star Game, Leto was paired by Juggernaut teammate Natasha Watley, the former UCLA All-American shortstop who won a 2005 Olympic gold medal and was selected to the 2005 U.S. National team. The pair led NPF in double plays all season, then helped the East down the West, 2-1, in the All-Star Game.

The Juggernaut’s run to reach the playoffs start well in Lisle, Ill., for a four-game series against Chicago. Leto & Co. earned a split after scoring five runs in the second inning in a 5-1 triumph. After Watley and Leto opened the decisive frame with consecutive singles, the Bandits then committed a pair of errors to open the floodgates. Leto eventually singled twice in the frame; the teams eventually split the series.

In addition, NPF is also attempting to get the International Olympics Committee to reinstate softball and baseball for the 2012 Games. You can sign a free, online petition, located at: www.PetitionOnline.com/olysoftb.

Juggernaut players Lauren Bauer (24) and Carri Leto (5) high-five with teammate Jaclyn Pasquerella, (23) during the player introduction prior to a game. (Photo by Amy Newman/Herald News)

2005 STORIES ON CARRI LETO HERE

Leto stands out in professional debut in NPFL
East County Sports.Com
 
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (6-1-04) -- Second baseman CARRI LETO led the way offensively for the New York/New Jersey Juggernauts professional softball team Tuesday (June 1) as they defeated the New England Riptide 6-0 in their rainy first game of the newly formed National Pro Fastpitch League.
 
Leto, a product of Valhalla High and Northwestern University, went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in her professional debut.
 
In front of an Opening Day crowd of over 1,000, two-time Olympic gold-medalist, Michele Smith, pitched the Juggernaut to victory by striking out 12 and allowing only three hits in a complete game shutout.
 
After two and a half innings of hitless pitching by both Smith and the Riptide starting pitcher, Jocelyn Forest, the Juggernaut broke through in the third with three runs. Leto led off the inning with a single on a sinking line drive to center. Third baseman Jaclyn Pasquerella followed with an infield single, and a wild pitch by Forest advanced the runners to second and third. Leto then scored on Forest's errant throw to home after catcher, Lindsey Collins, hit a ground ball that deflected off Forest. Shortstop Lyndsey Klein then came through with a sacrifice fly to center to score Pasquerella in the next at bat. The inning was topped off when first baseman Kellie Wilkerson, who was walked to load the bases earlier in the inning, scored on a fielder's choice.
 
The Juggernaut scored two more in the fifth.