Every team needs an Emily; an Emily Cecchini, that is.

A multi-sport athlete who participated in every high school sports season with cross country in the fall, swimming in the winter, and softball in the spring, Cecchini is this year's Bethlehem Press Female Player of the Year from Liberty High School.

Liberty softball coach Rich Giering said, "You don't see big [multi] sport athletes anymore. When you're around, and you do more than one sport, it's nice to have. Knowing how hard Emily was going to work and the effort she was going to put in, I didn't have to worry about it."

Cecchini was a latecomer to this year's softball season, still wrapped up in swimming at the PIAA State Championships.

"Emily came right out of the pool to softball. She had no workouts, but her determination and her intensity, I wish some others had that. Emily always looks to do well. Everything she does, she looks to do well," said Giering.

A third baseman, Cecchini had 27 RBIs, five homeruns, and batted .420 this season.

"She had a real good year. I knew what to expect from her," Giering said.

Cecchini even had five RBIs in one game. One of her homeruns, with the wind blowing straight at her, was well over the fence. Defensively, Cecchini emerged from the season with only one error.

"She was constantly on the ground. She would run into the fence if she had to. In practice, even when we were inside, she'd stay after practice. She always wanted to do better," Giering said.

Giering called it a pleasure to coach Cecchini for four years.

"Emily had a great season," said Giering. "Any team would benefit from having her on it."

Liberty High School swimming coach Reik Foust feels the same.

"We were a better team because of Emily. The girls coming up will follow in her suit. They saw how Emily did it. Liberty girls swimming will be a positive thing," Foust said.

Cecchini swam the backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, but it was her butterfly that put her on the 200 medley relay team that set a school record this year and qualified the Hurricanes for states.

"Emily is a very good swimmer. You can't be a school record holder if not. She was probably more comfortable with the backstroke, but the fly was better for her. She was real good in the breaststroke too," said Foust.

Perhaps most significant was that Cecchini scored points for the Hurricanes in all her events, which is hugely important.

Likewise, her conscientiousness as a teammate was also of utmost importance.

"She was very aware of everybody else on the team and wanted to make sure they had what they needed. She made sure everyone got their fair share. It was like having a coach in the pool," Foust said.

In addition, Cecchini believed that what was good for her was good for the team.

"She wasn't up in anybody's face. She was more like, if you get better, our whole team gets better," said Foust.

Cecchini always did what Foust asked, sometimes to excess, but not without explanation.

"I can't say she didn't question me," said Foust. "She always questioned me about whether something was going to work, but she never didn't do it.

After graduation, Cecchini worked out with Foust, running on the track to get the times she needed before entering the Naval Academy, where Cecchini is presently, and unfortunately was unavailable for comment.

"We worked very well together when school let out. She was really, really good at being here and being on time," said Foust.

In addition, Cecchini was recruited for the Naval Academy's crew team.

Apparently, they need an Emily.