Amy Williamson's enthusiasm is contagious.

Bounding off the bleachers at Lehighton's new stadium complex following another successful track and field practice, the sophomore is eager to talk about the sport she loves."I like running," Williamson says. "I'm a sprinter, and I like doing that."Williamson, a 16-year-old with special needs, has competed in the 100, 200 and 400 this season. Though her races might take longer than those of her peers, it's not the time or the result that matters."I'm proud of her," Jackie Williamson said of her daughter's determination. "I'm very proud of her that she's willing to do it and finish."The first year she competed for the high school she only did one race, but this year she is able to do as many as she wants, which I think is good because she works out there every day with the team. She might not work as hard as some of the other members on the team, but she works to her capacity, and when you train every day, you feel like you want to at least participate (in the meets), versus not being put in at all, which is very deterring."I'm just very happy that they have included her, which is so nice to see."And when she is out on the track, Williamson is met with extraordinary support, as competitors and coaches - both opposing and her own - stop what they are doing to encourage her."The other kids are fun. They treat me well," Williamson said. "I like being supported, sprinting hard and trying to do good."Lehighton head coach Jim Blakeslee makes sure Williamson, who also competes in Special Olympics, is always giving her best at practice."Sometimes I have to tell her she has to work harder if she wants to get better," Blakeslee said. "I tell her that if she wants to improve her times for Special Olympics she has to start working."(Assistant coach) Darren Frehulfer works with her on running form, and she does as many of the drills and exercises as she can. She's a part of everything we do. She's a part of the group, the team concept and does normal things."Williamson works to the best of her ability, but does have certain limitations.As a baby, an atrial septal defect forced Williamson to have an open-heart surgery to remedy a hole in her heart that was patched with her own tissue. At 2 years old, a routine echocardiogram found a subaortic stenosis, where the blood going to the heart through the aortic valve was spinning and causing scar tissue that needed to be removed. This forced a second open-heart surgery."She does have a heart condition, and she will tell them (coaches) when she needs a break, and she should really have that break," her mother said. "But (I tell them) to not let her slack. She's got to be pushed. She can slack as much as anybody else."Williamson has no trouble staying busy off the track, as she recently participated in Lehighton's production of "Bye Bye Birdie," and is also a member of the band, where she played the cowbell."I like all of it," she said. "Track is fun, and I had a lot of friends that did the play with me. The band is fun. I don't march in it, but I do play in it."Full of life and personality, it doesn't take long to see how popular Williamson, who came to Lehighton in seventh grade, is around the school, as students are always quick to greet her."The kids are great. She really has been accepted," Jackie Williamson said. "She has kids to walk to class with, and they're not all students with special needs. She has a lot of friends."Trying to fit in anywhere that you're new - anywhere that you're different - and trying to make a name for yourself and just fit in like a regular kid (is hard)."But I really feel that Lehighton is supportive of all their kids. It's not just her. They give them the opportunity to succeed should they want to take it."While the assimilation into everyday activities around the school has helped Amy transition into life as a student in a new environment, it's also something Blakeslee believes will benefit those around her."It's been great. She's truly a part of the school," he said. "They might not know it now, but what she is doing is something that is good for everyone on the team and everyone that gets a chance to be around her."Whether it's running in a track meet, playing in the band or participating in the school play, Jackie will always encourage her daughter to try new things.Just like any other teenager would."For her and for other kids who have disabilities, everybody wants to be included," said Jackie. "Maybe she's the first to promote it a little bit more for other people who are afraid of doing it."I let her try as much as possible. I do give her encouragement. She may not get it, but I let her try it. If she can do it, anybody can do it."**********Every Thursday during the spring sports season, the Times News will publish its annual "Spring Sports Notebook" reflecting back on the week that was, and highlighting both individual and team accomplishments, as well as interesting information that may have occurred in games and matches. This week's notebook will cover baseball, softball and lacrosse, and will consist of storylines from the previous six days (Wednesday-Monday). Times News sports writer Jason Boris will be handling the compilation of notes and is encouraging all local coaches to email him with noteworthy information that can be used in this column. Emails can be sent to

jboris@tnonline.com.**********BASEBALLTRIPLE PLAY... Turning a double play is rare in high school baseball. Turning a triple play is almost unheard of. However, don't tell that to Lehighton. In Thursday's 9-6 Schuylkill League victory over Pottsville, the Indians pulled off a triple play in the top of the third inning. With Pottsville having runners at first and second with nobody out, the Crimson Tide attempted to bunt. The bunt was popped up toward the third-base line. Lehighton pitcher Chris Whiteman charged the ball and made a great diving catch simultaneously as he was hitting the ground. The runners were moving on the bunt, so Whiteman got up, and threw the ball to third. The Indians third baseman tagged the runner from second, who was only three feet away from him at the time of the tag, and then quickly threw over to first base to complete (to pick off the runner who was at first base) the inning ending triple play. According to Indians head coach Brian Polaha, "Even though it happened early in the game, I believe it was the biggest sequence of the game by far. Quite possibly, (it) decided the outcome. It was a huge momentum play, because if they get that bunt down successfully, they were sure to take the lead back."PLAYOFF BOUND... Last Wednesday, Northwestern became the first team from the Times News area to punch its ticket into the District 11 Tournament. With a 6-0 Colonial League victory over Palmerton, the Tigers improved to 10-2 on the season, thus securing a berth in the Class AAA Tournament.**********SOFTBALLGOING DEEP... Northwestern's Brooke Wehr blasted a two-run home run in last Wednesday's 6-5 victory over Palmerton and followed that up with a grand slam on Monday against Lehighton (a 14-1 Tigers win). Wehr now has four home runs on the season, which is tops in the Times News area. Tamaqua's Cailyn Joseph and Northern Lehigh's Kaitlin Hoffman have three long balls apiece. Wehr is definitely "in the zone," as the Tigers junior has belted three homers in the past four games.A GRAND PERFORMANCE... In Northwestern's 14-1 victory over Lehighton on Monday afternoon, the Lady Tigers connected for two grand slams. A grand slam by Brooke Wehr was her fourth home run of the season, while Kaitlyn Bowers' grand slam was her first long ball of the season. It was the second time this year that a Times News team has connected for multiple grand slams in the same game. The Weatherly baseball team accomplished the feat on April 16, as Dillon Bizarre and Chris MacNeal each blasted grand slams.STREAKING INTO DISTRICTS... With a huge 7-1 Schuylkill League victory over Pine Grove on Friday, Tamaqua not only ran its winning streak to six games, but the Lady Raiders also became the first softball team from the area to qualify for the District 11 playoffs. With a 10-2 record (as of Friday), Tamaqua will be participating in the Class AA Tournament.HURLING WINS... Several area pitchers are racking up the wins this season as they look to lead their teams into the postseason. Topping the list is Tamaqua's Bailey Pederson. The senior pitcher has nine of her team's 10 wins this season, which includes five complete game shutouts. Lehighton's Autumn Bickert has seven victories, Palmerton's Reese Dugan has six wins, and Northern Lehigh's Katie Ziegler has eight wins on the year.DOUBLE NO-HITTERS... On Saturday afternoon, two local pitchers tossed abbreviated no-hitters. Lehighton's Autumn Bickert accomplished the feat in a 15-0 victory over Panther Valley. Bickert went three innings and struck out four of the nine batters she faced for her seventh win of the season. Then, in the second game of a double-header against Lincoln Leadership Academy, Weatherly's Molly Isom pitched a three-inning no-hitter in the Wreckers 16-0 victory over the Lions.**********LACROSSEA SIX-PACK... On Saturday afternoon, Pleasant Valley's Samir Hoxha scored six goals in a 19-12 setback against Saucon Valley. Hoxha's six goals was a season-high for the Pleasant Valley boys team this season and ties Pleasant Valley girls counterpart Savannah Bauman (who also scored six goals in a game earlier this season) for the school lead.