GRAND ISLAND — Most folks in this area see the name Emily Thompson and automatically think of the former three-sport standout at Niagara Falls High School. The tall blonde that ruled the tennis courts, was Destiny Harrison’s main sidekick on the hardwood and could hit the ball a country mile on the diamond. The 2006 NFHS graduate who currently plays softball, and very well at that, at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

But there’s another young lady with the same namesake carving her own athletic niche, especially on the diamond, across the river at Grand Island High School.

The Vikings’ Emily Thompson has developed into one of the best softball players in the entire Niagara Frontier League. And the junior has done so playing a position she was never really fond of — pitcher. In fact, she’d rather being roaming around in the outfield.

“I’ve always loved outfield,” she said. “I love running and diving for balls. I could do that all day, plus there’s a lot less pressure.”

But for GI to be successful, second-year coach Pat Lester needed Thompson in the circle, even though he too knew that she would be perfect in center field.

“She’s just a phenomenal player and she could play anywhere in the field, but she’s our go-to in tough games,” he said of the 2007 first team all-NFL performer.

That kind of role often times lends itself to added pressure and increased chances for failures, things that Thompson notices and perhaps unfairly places upon herself. But for Lester, Thompson’s best quality is her ability to quickly overcome those pressures.

“She has the perfect athlete’s memory — a short one,” the coach said. “She is able to bounce back when something goes wrong.”

A perfect example was just last week when Thompson struggled in the circle against Niagara Falls and declared afterwards that she was “getting worse.” The very next day, she came right back with a stellar performance against two-time defending champion Kenmore West.

That kind of performance in a huge game shows the biggest development in Thompson’s game from the previous two years — leadership.

“I think this year she has really stepped into that leadership role, whether it’s pitching us out of a bases-loaded jam, making a great catch in the outfield, laying down a bunt to move a runner or sparking us with a scorching line drive up the middle,” Lester said.

And even though she’s one of the most intense players out on the field, don’t underestimate her ability to toss a joke or two in the mix as well.

“She’s got a great sense of humor and for as intense as she is on the field, she is just as fun off,” Lester said.

That kind of attitude, of course mixed in with some serious softball, will be key if GI is to continue its strong season throughout the rest of the NFL schedule and into the Class A playoffs.

“We just need Emily to keep being Emily,” Lester said.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.





EMILY THOMPSON

• SCHOOL: Grand Island

• SPORT: Softball

• GRADE: Junior

• POSITION: Pitcher/Outfield

• COACH’S QUOTE: “She’s our go-to in tough games.”

— Pat Lester