A-K Valley Senior Spotlight: Leechburg’s Chase Henry

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, March 31, 2025 | 11:22 AM

He never saw it coming.

As Leechburg senior pitcher/shortstop Chase Henry slid into second base in the Blue Devils’ final regular-season game last year against Highlands, the baseball came up and struck him in the face.

“I knew it was going to be a close play, but the throw was offline,” said Henry. “The second baseman had no chance of catching it.”

Henry knew instantly he had broken his jaw. But with playoffs the following week, he wasn’t going to miss any time.

From that moment until the Blue Devils’ first-round loss to West Greene in the WPIAL Class A playoffs, Henry was relegated to a liquid diet and the most pain he felt came when he yawned when he could feel his jaw cracking and breaking further.

“I don’t regret it at all,” Henry said. “I would do anything like that for myself and my teammates during the baseball season.”

After the loss, Henry got his jaw wired shut, and was in that condition for five weeks. The whole affair is just one snapshot of the dedication and sacrifice Henry is willing to make when it comes to sports.

“I watched him at a basketball game this year,” baseball coach Heath Shimer said. “He was flying across the court, and the next thing I knew, he was in a garbage can. He’s going to give you 100%, and he doesn’t know any other way.”

A team captain for the last three seasons, Henry has learned how to lead, and last year he became a mentor to the younger players on the team.

“I like going to the JV games and helping out whenever I can,” Henry said. “I want to be somebody they can look up to and go to for advice. I believe that being a mentor is a great skill to have later on in life.”

Henry will look to improve his numbers from last year when he hit .470 with nine RBIs, stole 19 bases and scored 25 runs from the leadoff spot. As a pitcher, he went 4-2 with two saves and 41 strikeouts and held opponents to a .184 average.

Henry earned all-section team honors last year, but his main objective this year is to get Leechburg as far as he can.

“I was proud of myself, but it was still hard to take in after the playoff loss. I wanted more. Not just individual awards. I wanted team awards and success,” Henry said.

Henry took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

Not the way you guys wanted to start the year, losing 10-0 to Serra Catholic, but what do you think the outlook will be on the season, despite that nonsection loss?

Serra Catholic is No. 2 in the rankings, and we knew it was going to be a tough game. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but we learned a lot. It’s going to take us in the right direction.

Your coach says you’re very talented and is surprised you’re not going to play at the next level. Why did you make that choice?

Hearing from kids who have gone on to play at the college level, I know it would be a huge time commitment, which I feel is too much for me at this time.

Do you think you’ll get the itch to play while in college, and would you consider acting on that impulse?

It’s a possibility I will get that itch. But I don’t see myself acting on it. I might play in some summer leagues and stuff like that when I come home but nothing competitive.

What are your goals for the season?

I want something hung on a banner for my year. I want to be a part of something left behind in the school’s history, whether that’s a section or WPIAL title. I want to contribute to something that people will remember.

What part of your game are you looking to improve on this season?

I want to show off better command with my pitching. I feel I was really wild last year, and I want to dial it back in this year.

Any hobbies?

Outside of baseball season, I’m a big golfer. The best I ever shot was a 41 on a par 35. I don’t play 18. I only play nine.

Post high school plans?

I’m attending IUP, and I’ll be studying finance with a minor in accounting.

What’s one piece of advice you’d want to leave your teammates?

Do as much as you can in high school. Be active with your friends. Don’t just sit inside and be a hermit.

Tags: Leechburg