Baseball player Johnny Pesanti and softball player Ada Rautio-Boyle are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.

Pesanti takes home the boys’ honor. He plays catcher for the Northwestern Energy team in the 11-12 division of the Northwest Little League.

Coaches say that Johnny has shown exceptional leadership all season. He inspires his teammates by leading by example, and he helped his team win eight of its first 10 games. Johnny actively practices and hones his catching skills daily, working on the things that often get overlooked about catching. He can be found practicing drop blocking with his dad, Casey Pesanti, when he’s not actively playing. Johnny sports an impressive batting average at the plate on top of his defensive prowess. 

“Johnny is a dog,” coach Mike Butala said. “He’s just willing to do whatever it takes.”

Rautio-Boyle receives the girls’ honor for her many contributions to her Dennehy Flooring team in the 11-12 division of the Copper City Softball Little League.

Coach Jenny McEwen said that Ada has really stepped up her game the past two or three weeks. The coach said Ada works hard, hustles, hits the ball and cheers her teammates on. She is an ideal teammate. In addition to being an excellent base runner, McEwen said Ada pays attention and is extremely coachable.

Ada, who will be an eighth grader at East Middle School next school year, usually plays center field.

Since the beginning of 2023, Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back, has teamed up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.