Is she a better hitter or pitcher? Is he a better shortstop or quarterback?
Let’s just say these are good problems to have. For their accomplishments in the classroom and in their respective athletic endeavors, Marblehead softball star Tessa Francis and Lynnfield football and baseball standout Tyler Adamo have been chosen as the Moynihan Lumber North Shore Student-Athletes of the Month for May.
With another trip to the state tournament secured, the Francis-led Marblehead softball team (16-4) was ranked No. 11 in the MIAA’s most recent Division 2 power rankings.
In 123 1/3 innings pitched, Francis, a junior, sports a 1.08 ERA with 230 strikeouts and 65 hits allowed across 450 at-bats. At the plate, in 55 at-bats, she has 22 hits, 22 RBI, four home runs, and eight walks with a .400 average.
“It’s been great. The team is amazing and Johnny Gold is a great coach,” Francis said. “Everybody is very welcoming and supportive – and the whole town is very supportive.”
She began playing softball at age 6 and started pitching four years later.
“Somewhere around there, I started developing a really big passion,” said Francis, who says she couldn’t have gotten where she is today without parents Chris Francis and Rossana Ferrante. “I liked volleyball, but nothing really captured my attention like softball did.”
As for her academics, Francis’ favorite course is AP chemistry.
“I’m very into sciences. I probably want to do a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics),” she said. “I’ve always put academics first with athletics a very close second. I’m really proud to receive this honor because I do focus a lot of my attention on my academics and athletics – I put my heart out in both fields.”
Francis admitted “it’s a struggle sometimes,” but often completes schoolwork on the team bus and studies directly after practices.
“Whatever needs to be done,” she said.
Similarly to Francis, Adamo began playing baseball and football “as soon as you could start.”
Years later, the senior shortstop is Columbia University-bound to play at the Division 1 level.
“When I was around 12, I played in districts and stuff like that – that’s probably when I really fell in love with baseball,” said Adamo, a Cape Ann League Player of the Year. “Playing travel baseball was the best decision I ever made. I was with my best friends and playing my favorite sport.”
On the football field, all Adamo did was become Cape Ann League Player of the Year as a quarterback. He shattered several school records, including career passing yards (5,223), career touchdown passes (69), and single-season touchdown passes (33).
In the classroom, Adamo’s favorite course is AP literature. He’s still undecided on a major.
“I take great pride in my academics and my parents (Kim and Matt) push me very hard,” Adamo said. “And I have two very smart sisters (Abby and Katie) who helped show me what it’s like to work hard in school. I can’t even express how much all of them mean to me.
“I’m super thankful and excited,” Adamo added. “I’ve worked pretty hard in the classroom and on the field, so it’s nice to see something like this.”
