Masuk’s Barone returns from maternity leave

When Leigh Barone scheduled her six-week postpartum checkup, the only appointment time she could get was last Friday afternoon.

“I asked my doctor if he could clear me right away to go back to practice,” Barone said. “He cleared me. After my appointment around 3:30, I dropped my letter off at HR ...”

And headed straight to Monroe for Masuk softball practice.

The following day, there she was in the coach’s box for Senior Day and a 4-2 victory against Norwich Free Academy. It was Masuk’s 17th win in 18 games and led the Panthers into a substantial final regular-season week against No. 6 Newtown and at No. 1 Southington.

The SWC and state tournaments follow. A potential Class L five-peat awaits.

Mom knows she is stepping right into the fire of high expectations.

“It was really nice to be back Saturday,” Barone said. “I know I have two kids at home now. I miss them during the day, but the softball field — it’s kind of similar with my girls — is your happy place.”

Weighing in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces, Layton Carole Falco was born April 4. Everything went well for mom, dad Jim and 3year-old Hudson’s new sister. So well, that Barone wanted to go out the next day to watch Masuk play No. 2 Fairfield Ludlowe.

It would be No. 3 Masuk’s only loss of the season.

“I was trying but they wouldn’t let me go,” she said. “I would’ve if I could’ve. The doctors said I had to wait 24 hours. The girls FaceTimed me that day and that was really special.”

The following day was practice. Sure enough, Barone went to say hi to the team. She brought Layton.

“That’s another bond that gets my heart when my players see my kids,” Barone said. “They want to hold her. They want to be part of that, too. It’s like we’re all a big family.”

Masuk has won four Class L state championships in a row and stands as one of Connecticut’s powerhouses. The 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 titles sandwich Hudson’s birth in April 2020. Because of COVID-19, there was no CIAC spring sports that year. So this is Barone’s first time as coach-new mom during the season.

“It’s definitely different,” Barone said.

And challenging on multiple levels.

The next time one of the male