“Your brain is too big for your head,” is a phrase one might use to describe a smart person.

In the case of Southeast Lauderdale High School senior shortstop Abbey Leach, who is smart, that description was literal when doctors diagnosed a medical problem.

During the Lady Tigers’ slow-pitch season last fall, Leach would often experience headaches, leading her to see a doctor in Birmingham, Ala.

“The back of her skull was putting pressure on her brain,” her softball coach, Chris Harper, explained. “They told her she would be lucky to (be able to play again) by February.”

Instead, Leach was given the all clear to resume all physical activity — softball included — when she returned to school following Christmas break. Harper said it was a huge surprise Leach came back so quickly.

“It shows her determination, toughness and love of the game,” Harper said. “She’s going to college and not playing softball, so she could have easily hung it up and started planning for the future.”

Leach said her headaches would sometimes be accompanied by blurred vision and dizziness. While she would try to hide the headaches during games, sometimes the pain would require her to be pulled from games.

“I would break down after games, because it felt like the game was being taken away from me,” Leach said.

Physically, Leach said she would be nervous while fielding her position in slow-pitch softball, worrying that the ball might hit her because of slow reaction times from the pain and blurred vision. She got over the fear, but the pain didn’t subside, forcing her to have the surgery Nov. 17.

Leach didn’t want her parents to ask her doctor about softball, fearing she would be told she couldn’t play. She described being in tears on her way home from Birmingham, but Leach ultimately decided to try to play fast-pitch anyway.

“I figured taking the chance would be better than not enjoying my senior season,” Leach said. “Even if I couldn’t play, I’d still be there to support my team.”

When she got back out to practice following Christmas break, Leach said even she was surprised at how quickly she re-acclimated herself to playing.

“They told me it would be a two- to three-month recovery, but he released me for full physical activity when I returned (to school),” Leach said. “At first, I was skeptical of throwing, but after two weeks I was ready to go at it 110 percent every day.”

Throughout the process, her fellow seniors supported her and made the process easier. Center fielder Nicole Bouldin recalled how difficult it was to see Leach going through the headaches and how it affected her ability to play.

“It was hard watching her struggle and not having her on the field with us,” Bouldin said.

One of the most touching things they did was make the trip to Birmingham during her recovery from surgery, Leach said.

“They visited to keep me company, and they saw me through every step with their prayers, texts and phone calls,” Leach said.

Pitcher and third baseman Malerie Thornton said the several-hour trip to Birmingham was no issue for any of them; they just wanted to be there for Leach.

“She loves this game to death, so her not being here was tough,” Thornton said. “She’s my teammate, and she’s personally one of my closest friends, so I wanted to be there for her.”

Nowadays, the other seniors mostly joke about the ordeal, saying Leach doesn’t have a brain in her head. Leach said she appreciates the humor, and first baseman Ashley Anthony said making light of it helps keep Leach from being too stressed out.

“I think it helps a lot by making it not so serious,” Anthony said. “It makes her do better on the ball field and not worry about it.”

Harper said since she got back, Leach has been playing better than she maybe ever has. He called her a blessing to coach, just like the rest of her teammates, because of her dedication to the sport.

“I tell her to do something, and she does it with all she has,” Harper said. “Every one of these players are like that.”

Leach said she doesn’t take for granted her return to the field, especially because she isn’t feeling limited.

“I’ve grown up playing it all my life, so I knew it meant a lot, but I didn’t know how much it meant until I was faced with the reality of it being taken away,” an emotional Leach said, fighting back tears. “I’m thankful that God has really blessed me.”