Warriors’ Leadership Comes From All Angles

IRVINE — They are not two peas in a pod.

In fact, Ashley Boone and Lizzy Lemire are about as far apart as two team captains can get. Woodbridge softball Coach Alan Dugard calls them the antithesis of each other.

Boone has a talk-softly-and-carry-a-big-stick personality. Lemire, a superstitious cut-up, can be heard before she ever reaches your block.

But they are two of the big reasons Woodbridge has won 21 consecutive games, is ranked third in Orange County and the state, and eighth in the nation.

Boone and Lemire are the only seniors on Woodbridge’s team. Most coaches would think they’re getting off lightly replacing only two players. Not Dugard. Not only are Lemire and Boone the unquestioned leaders on the team, they are the 3-4 hitters in the lineup and play two key positions, third and first base.

“One time this year, I looked at them and said, ‘You’re not doing your job,’ ” Dugard said. “I think they were hesitant to be critical when they should have been. . . . [Their style is] I’ll lead, you follow, let’s get this done.

“I have two real holes I’ll have to fill. I’ve got a bigger hole to fill than a lot of people will ever realize.”

Not Jim Daugherty, El Toro’s coach whose team is ranked fifth in the county and has lost to Woodbridge four times this season.

“Only the coaches who have to play against them know,” Daugherty said. “Believe me, I know what those two mean to [Dugard’s] team. I don’t feel sorry for him, but if I was in his shoes, I’d be kind of concerned next year. It will be a long time before he gets another pair of bookends like that who mean so much to his team.

“[Lemire and Boone] bring their air of confidence to the team. That’s really Woodbridge’s strong suit. They’re very skilled, but more than that, they have this air of confidence they’ll persevere through any situation, overcome any adversity, and find a way to win. They’re winners. They make championship plays under pressure. That’s what they mean to their team.”

Individually, what does each think she brings to the table?

Said Boone: “I think I bring confidence, a good attitude, determination, level-headedness, good mental preparation.”

Said Lemire: “A positive outlook on the game. I’m always trying to work together to win.”

Maybe Daugherty knew what he was talking about.

Junior second baseman Nichole Thompson said the serious Boone and “crack-up” Lemire bring an even-handedness to the program that has wide-ranging impact.

“They make the team fun, but when it comes to games, we get serious--you know you’re there to win,” Thompson said. “It’s like a family.”

Thompson tells two stories of her team’s split personalities having a positive benefit on their followers:

“If [Boone] hits the ball really hard, but right at someone, she gets frustrated, but you can’t really tell because she doesn’t show it,” Thompson said. “That helps us out because it’s one less problem for us to worry about--trying to keep her up while we’re trying to play the game.

“If we’re standing on the mound, Lizzy will make us laugh. She’s always trying to relax us and make sure we know what to do. She’s so funny--she’s the nicest person you’ll ever meet.”

But Boone, who is going to Florida, and Lemire, who is headed to Notre Dame, speak volumes in other ways too.

“Having played alongside them, [their dedication] pushes me more,” Thompson said. “It makes me want to work harder to become as great of ballplayers as they are, and achieve the goals just the same. It inspires me to want to do that. It gives me another push.”

Boone bats and throws left-handed, is batting third in the lineup. She is hitting .333 for the season, has an on-base average of .530, a slugging average of .435, has scored 14 runs and driven in 14. She has been walked 13 times.

Lemire bats and throws right-handed and is batting fourth. She is hitting .482 for the season, has an on-base average of .558, a slugging average of .671, has scored 17 runs and driven in 31. She’s one of the county’s best clutch hitters.

They give Dugard reason to believe he has the best 3-4 combination in the county. Woodbridge has outscored opponents, 154-16.

And the Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division II rankings. When the playoffs begin, they will be favored to reach the section final for the third consecutive year and win their second title in that span--with Boone at first and Lemire at third.