Albert eyes return from knee injury Kelley, Leah Francona are softball mates

One of the top girls basketball players in Eastern Maine will be sidelined for part of the season as she tries to recover from a knee injury.

Fort Kent guard Marisa Albert, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee two weeks ago, said she plans to put off surgery so she can play at least part of her senior season.

Sitting on the bench while her teammates practiced the last few weeks made Albert realize she couldn’t miss her final year playing for coach Travis Delisle’s Warriors.

“I thought about it and I decided to wait until after the basketball season,” she said. “It’s my senior year and I hate just watching. I want to be out there with my teammates. It’s just so disappointing.”

Albert suffered the injury going up for a layup during an open gym session after school on Nov. 14. She knew immediately as she pushed off that she had done something to her knee.

She visited several doctors and physical therapists in Aroostook County for their opinions, and will have surgery in Portland at the end of February.

Albert will miss about one month of the high school season, after which she’ll have to pass a strength test to be cleared to join the Warriors.

“I need to get my strength back,” she said. “I’ve lost a lot on my left side because of the injury.”

The only danger for her knee upon returning to the court is that she could injure the meniscus, which is cartilage in the knee joint. But it’s a chance Albert said she’s prepared to take.

Albert, an All-Maine honorable mention who is hoping to continue her career at either Husson College, Southern Maine or UMaine-Presque Isle, was named to the 2007 Eastern Maine Class C all-tourney team after helping Fort Kent advance to the semifinals. She averaged 25.5 points in two games, including 30 in the quarterfinals when the No. 6 Warriors knocked off No. 3 Houlton 65-58 in overtime.

She’s also a soccer and softball standout.

Albert won the Class C girls Butch Shaw Award, which is given to the top soccer players in Aroostook County, and was named to the Maine Soccer Coaches Eastern Maine Class C all-star team. Albert was also second-team All-PVC.

In softball, Albert was named Class B/C All-Aroostook County. She will miss the season this year while recuperating from surgery. Recovery time is about six months, she said.

Kelley enjoying Sox connection

Hermon senior Ashley Kelley has at least eight months before she reports to the University of Maine next fall as a full scholarship softball player.

Before she goes, however, she’ll have one more season with the Polar Crush, a Junior Olympic Gold-level team based in Worcester, Mass. The Gold designation means the pitchers pitch from the collegiate distance of 43 feet.

One of Kelley’s teammates is Leah Francona, the daughter of Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Francona, a shortstop, is listed on the Polar Crush Web site as a senior at Brookline High in Brookline, Mass.

Kelley has enjoyed getting to know the daughter of the two-time World Series winner.

“Her father might be famous but she’s very humble,” Kelley said. “She doesn’t let anybody treat her any different. And she’s an excellent player.”

Francona has committed to play for the University of North Carolina, Kelley added.

Kelley tried out for the Polar Crush several months ago. The team travels all over the country – the 2007 schedule included trips to Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Jersey, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

“It’s a lot higher level of play,” Kelley said. “There are a lot of college prospects and talented players. I really wanted to challenge myself and I know I have a lot of things to work on before I get to college. This is where I can get the challenge I need to be a successful pitcher.”

Kelley will practice with the team starting in January, in addition to playing basketball for Hermon. The Crush will play tournaments this summer.

The team is coached by former Boston University pitcher Robyn King, who pitched professionally, and ex-UMaine standout Sara Jewett, who was the America East Player of the Year in 2000 and is also a former pro player.

Kelley signed her National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Maine on Nov. 14.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.