INPERSON
Catch a
Rising
Star
Pine-Richland High School ’ s June McCune is living her best life as catcher for the varsity softball team .
BY W . B . FRESA
You can hear the announcer ’ s voice , “ June McCune , behind the plate , makes the catch .” The rhyme of her name isn ’ t just fun to say . The young lady and her moniker are going places . As catcher for the Pine-Richland High School girls varsity softball team , sophomore June McCune , 15 , is already rated a 3-star recruit by OnDeck Softball and is currently ranked # 22 overall by ExtraInningSoftball . com and # 8 nationally for catchers for the 2025 graduation class .
As a young girl , June was a very energetic kid . “ My parents put me in almost every activity growing up ,” she says . “ It was a way to exert my energy . And they taught me that exercise is fun , so I was always into walks , running , jumping from the highest place on the playground ... I just had to be active . As I grew up , sports called to me .”
Since starting in softball , June hasn ’ t looked back . “ It ’ s very difficult to choose one thing I love most about the sport ,” she explains . “ The people I play with are great , whether it ’ s high school softball or travel softball . I love everyone — even the people who aren ’ t on my team . I can find a connection . I love the environment and outlook on the world softball has given me .”
Her love of the sport has also provided accolades any athlete would enjoy . June was previously a Select 30 All-American , Softball Nation National MVP , and TheSoftballZone . com Player of the Year . Her travel team , “ Beverly Bandits ,” was ranked fourth in the country last year . This year and into 2023 , she ’ ll be playing across the country with the “ Lady Dukes ” national team , where she ’ ll participate in college showcases as well as the Premier Girls Fastpitch ( PGF ) National Championship in Huntington Beach , California .
As the catcher on the team , June uses her abundant communication skills to her advantage : “ I am a great vocal leader . I talk all the time . I develop great relationships with my pitchers since pitching and catching go hand in hand . Their success is my success . I have to make them look good and trust is key . As a catcher I steal a lot of strikes , am aggressive with the base runners , and have major hops and amazing blocks that keep the ball in front at all times .”
June implements a varied training regimen to keep her at the top of her game , but it changes depending on how much softball she plays . “ Softball is the busiest in the summer ,” she says . “ I work out and lift in the mornings then go to hitting lessons . I also go to the cages with my dad or hit off
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