Sofia Foulds ’26 | Grace Schoenstein ’26
There’s no doubt that Hanna-Mae Legaspi ’25 is a constant source of positive energy on EA’s Varsity Softball team. Friendly, genuine, bubbly, and kind: Legaspi was first introduced to softball in second grade when she signed up for Lower Merion Little League. Over the past eight years, she has grown into an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable player. For all three years of her high school career, she has been a starter on Varsity and an integral part of the softball program’s success during these seasons.
Legaspi’s primary position is catching, which is a crucial position on the field. The “captain” of the infield while behind home plate, she is involved in every single play and calls every pitch that is thrown. Legaspi handles this pressure perfectly; she is known to have knowledge of the game more advanced than most. Varsity Head Coach Bernadette Moran, recalling the first time she saw Legaspi play, remarks, “She was mature beyond her years behind the plate and as a hitter.”
While Legaspi is mainly a catcher, she also has the rare ability to play and excel at many positions on the field. Sophia Santinelli ’26 explains that Legaspi has the “ability to adapt and play multiple positions to help where it’s needed.” This flexibility has been crucial to the team’s successful start to the season. Co-captain Alyssa Sterner ’24 comments, “Hanna-Mae is really quick to the ball in terms of throwing, hitting, and running. She also has a very strong arm.”
Legaspi’s maturity goes deeper than just her softball skills as she knows the game inside and out. Her analysis and knowledge of the game is an area of pride for her. She remarks, “I like to focus more on the logistical aspect of the game: where the ball should be thrown, what pitches should be called, and what I should be thinking about.” This overthinking might manifest itself as an obstacle for some athletes, but Legaspi has turned her analytical tendencies into a positive asset. She reflects, “I’ve done a good job at turning it into a good thing. I think the fact that I really analyze things sets me apart.”
The positive attitude that Legaspi has on and off the field does not go unnoticed by her teammates and coaches, especially because her positivity is largely directed toward others. Sterner remarks, “When someone messes up, Hanna-Mae makes a point not to make them embarrassed.” Sophia Santinelli ’26 adds, “She is the first one to pick us up when we’re down.” Legaspi is known to radiate positivity in both the dugout and on the field, helping to bring the team together. She always has a smile on her face no matter what the situation, which has a huge impact on her teammates. Legaspi believes that one reason for the team’s success throughout the past few years is “the team environment and the bond that we all have,” which she undoubtedly contributes to.
Her primary personal goal for the 2024 season is to improve her hitting. She explains, “You can always improve anywhere in your game.” Legaspi’s goal for the team is to “win the Inter-Ac title for the third year in a row.” The varsity softball team is undefeated so far through non-conference play and during their spring training trip in Florida. They have already had key wins against the reigning PIAA 6A State Champions North Penn High School (1-0). Other notable wins include St. Thomas Aquinas (#5 in NJ), Seymour High School (WI) (4-0), and Archbishop Ryan (3-1). At the time of this article’s publication, Legaspi holds an impressive batting average of .515 with 17 hits on the season so far. Additionally, she has a .980 fielding percentage with 0 passed balls allowed.
Legaspi works hard and hustles for both EA’s softball team and her club team, Chaos Softball. “When she’s here, she’s present,” remarks Coach Moran. Legaspi’s hard work and hustle have all been in service of her ultimate goal: to continue playing softball at the next level while also gaining an excellent education. Although she loves the sport, for Legaspi, the academic rigor of the school was her top priority when considering her options.
Photo courtesy of Hannah-Mae Legaspi ’25
Legaspi committed to continuing her softball and academic careers at Georgetown University starting in the fall of 2025. “Hanna-Mae has a good experience and gets to show off her skills when she gets there,” Moran says. Legaspi is excited to “see the difference between club softball and the collegiate-level,” and is also looking forward to “a new daily regimen” during both the season and off-season. Legaspi says, “I ended up at my top choice. That reassured me that the work I put into this sport really was worth it.”