Softball Coach Leigh Barone built a perennial powerhouse in her nine seasons at Masuk High School, compiling a record of 207 wins and 26 losses as she and her assistant coaches guided talent-laden teams to six SWC championships, six consecutive Class L State championships (absent the 2020 season, which was canceled due to COVID), and were the Class L runner up to Fitch in 2016.
The Panthers enjoyed a perfect season last spring, going 28-0, winning the SWC Championship, and outscoring four tournament foes by a combined 22-3, culminating in a 3-0 shutout of Jonathan Law in the Class L Championship.
Masuk’s dominance did not go unnoticed by the Connecticut Sports Media Alliance, which will honor Barone as this year’s female recipient of the Doc McInerney High School Coach of the Year Award at its 82nd Gold Key Dinner on Oct. 20.
“It is such an honor to win this award,” Barone told The Sun. “However, the success our program has had throughout the years I have coached takes a village, including players, parents, coaches, administration and the support of many in town.”
The Panthers were ranked first in the season-ending GameTime CT poll, and placed 30th in the national rankings.
“The Masuk Softball Program under Coach Barone has been an example that all other programs should be measured against,” Masuk Principal Steve Swensen said. “She has set the standards for all of the student-athletes extremely high and supported them in meeting and/or exceeding them. For any team or program to experience the success they have achieved is a testament to her dedication and commitment to it and her athletes.”
Photo by James Falco
“She is a fantastic coach, leader and person,” Swensen added. “She has built a culture of positivity and mutual respect and that has brought on unparalleled confidence and success. We are proud to call her a Masuk Panther!”
Barone expressed her gratitude to the players she has coached for always being willing to put in the work, as well as their parents, not only for their support during the season, “but also the countless hours and miles to support their daughters’ love of the game.”
“I would also like to thank my assistant coaches, past and present, for the time they have put in and continue to put in,” Barone said. “Lastly, I would like to thank our administration and the town for not just supporting the program, but also for recognizing the hard work of our players.”
Players fuel Masuk’s success
Barone said many factors have made Masuk’s softball program so successful over the years, but the biggest is the talented young women who have played for the Panthers.
“Previous players, those that played in my 10 years of coaching and even before that, have set such high standards for the program,” she said. “Rachele Fico and Tatum Buckley really started the tradition of dominant pitchers, and Samantha Schiebe, Madison Procyk, Kat Gallant and now Julia Bacoulis all worked hard to carry on that tradition — not just for themselves, but for the team.”
Another factor in Masuk’s winning formula is championship seasons inspiring young girls to play softball for their hometown.
“The girls that play on the youth softball teams look up to our players as role models and strive to be them in the future and continue the program’s success,” Barone said. “They know that in order to do so, they have to put in the work and they are willing to do that to one day be a part of the winning tradition.”
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