Ryan Leach’s French is improving, but more importantly, so is his fastball.

A graduate of Hall-Dale High School and Franklin Pierce University, Leach is in his first full season as a relief pitcher with the Quebec Capitales of the Canadian American Association, an independent minor league. Leach joined the Capitales for the final month of the 2014 season, and didn’t allow an earned run in 6 2/3 innings, striking out six hitters.

So far this season, Leach is 1-0 with a 3.38 earned run average. He has 17 strikeouts in 16 innings. A shaky outing against Trois-Rivieres last Monday, in which Leach allowed two hits, two walks and an earned run in an inning, is the outlier. Prior to that, Leach had been on a strong run, allowing just one earned run in nine appearances.

“Being able to play the last month of last season really showed me what I had to work on, and improve over the offseason. I got to see how well the batters hit mistake pitches, and how important it is to get ahead in the count,” Leach said via email. “I have improved for the most part on getting ahead ahead and limiting walks this season. I have also been a lot more aggressive when I am behind in the count so I do not make a mistake pitch.”

Professional baseball, particularly professional baseball in an independent league, is a grind. Teams in the Canadian Association play six series against teams in the American Association, an independent league with teams across the Midwest. You ever take a 1,500 mile bus ride? Leach and his teammates did, driving from Quebec City to Sioux Falls, Iowa.

“On our drive out we stopped at a few other cities to play teams, which broke up the trip a bit. On the way back though, it was a straight shot back to Quebec City. That drive took us just about 30 hours,” Leach said.

The grind is made tougher when you live in a city where you do not speak the predominant language. Leach studied Spanish in high school, not knowing at the time French would be more important early in his career.

“The language barrier can sometimes be difficult with the fans and around town, but most people do speak a little English at the very least. I have been trying to learn as much French as I can. I didn’t know any French before last year,” Leach said. “Now I am starting to pick up more and more French which has helped a lot.”

Leach shares an apartment with a teammate, and four other Capitales live in the same building. Together they’ve learned the best routes around the city. Younger guys, like the 23-year old Leach, are learning how to turn the grind into a daily routine.

“There are a lot of guys with a lot of experience, and they really know the game well. I have learned so much just asking questions, and watching how they go about business day in and day out,” Leach said.

Many athletes question themselves, until they have that “I belong here” moment. Leach’s came a couple weeks ago against the Rockland (N.Y.) Boulders. In an inning and two-thirds, Leach struck out five hitters. He walked off the mound knowing he had the stuff to compete.

“It was the first time I had struck out the side in this league, and the first time I have got a strikeout for every out maybe in my career,” Leach said.

There’s also Leach’s performance against Reggie Abercrombie, who played 180 games in the major leagues with the Marlins and Astros from 2006-2008. Now, Abercrombie is an outfielder on the Sussex (N.J.) Miners. Leach struck Abercrombie out. Twice.

“I have actually done that to him both times I have faced him this year, bases loaded both times in a close game,” Leach said.

A handful of players have used the Canadian American Association as a springboard to bigger things in baseball. Boston Red Sox reliever Craig Breslow played in the league, as did a pair of Toronto Blue Jays, Chris Colabello and Steve Delabar. Leach’s goal is no different than that of many of his teammates and competitiors, get noticed by a big league club and earn a spot on an affiliated minor league roster. In the meantime, the Capitales were 23-20 after Friday night’s win over the Garden State Greys, in third place, 3.5 games behind first place Rockland.

“I still have goals that I would like to achieve, but for now my mind is focused on giving the Capitales the best chance I can to help win a championship. My ultimate goal is to reach affiliate ball and give it a run with a team,” Leach said.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM

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