Softball: Coaches Corner with Coach Gallagher

Head Softball Coach John Gallagher

Canyon Lake Softball team will be unveiling their 2018 version this Friday when the Hawks open District 28-4A on the road in Boerne.

The Greyhounds have been a tough out for CL for several years and a good start will be paramount in finishing this part of the season in good shape to be seeded as a higher seed. La Vernia has shown they will have the potential to be the winner of their district with Wimberley in that same running.

Canyon Lake would need to finish 1st or 2nd to avoid having to play those two schools in that first round of playoffs.

The Hawks had a tough start to their season as a young team, playing 6A schools certainly proved to be a mismatch which proved to be the main reason for starting their campaign with an 8 game losing streak.

Once again, Canyon Lake, has had to depend on Freshman to start on the front lines which can be a tough road for those players. Freshman playing Seniors is not a good way to start your career, but that has been a good learning tool for some of these younger players.

Kenzie Sayles is presently batting at a .500 clip and leads the team stolen bases while being the lead-off hitter for most of her starts. K Puente is another freshman with a solid start with a .311 batting average while playing one of the toughest defensive positions, behind the plate.

                Proud of the Hawks!!

Bailey Bryan has been hitting the ball hard as she has averaged scoring a run per game and will go into district play with 25 hits. Six of those hits have been for extra bases.

Maggie Banks has been getting quality at bats with a .364 average and a solid game inside the circle with her pitches. Banks started this season with a .230 batting average and she has certainly blossomed for her final year.

The ReSporter had a chance for a brief Coaches Corner with Gallagher as this year’s district gets going this Friday…Go Hawks!!

The ReSporter: What are your thoughts as the pre-season games have concluded?

Coach Gallagher: “Our pre-district schedule was challenging and tough. The goal was to play as many quality opponents as we could before hitting district. We were pushed in every game to compete and for the most part this team responded. Being short a couple of basketball players until our second tournament and a couple of injuries I thought we did some very good things. Playing very good Wimberley, New Braunfels, and Canyon teams showed our players where we could be once district starts. We only had a couple of games where we dominated teams but we were challenged the rest of our schedule.”

Rebecca Creek Golf, says Go Hawks!

The ReSporter: Will not having as many games with your set defense be a detriment in starting district? And what are your thoughts on the overall defense of this group?

Coach Gallagher: “Our defense is pretty much set and is performing well. We have a couple of lineups depending on who we pitch but both are solid. Our outfield is very solid and has good arms. Having depth at some key positions helps us when we have to move players around.”

The ReSporter: Offensively, it seems you might be deeper than previous years going into the bottom of the line-up….how do you feel this part can perform and your overall thoughts on this year’s offense?

Coach Gallagher: “Offensively we have options especially in the bottom of our lineup whether we go with speed-power or power-speed. The top of our order has been very good getting on base which results in runs being scored.”

The ReSporter: Pitching is the trifecta and probably the most important aspect on how a team might finish in district play…..you have primarily had 2 pitchers….where are they in the grander theme as district comes calling?

Coach Gallagher: “Our pitchers both have different styles of pitching. Madison throws hard and uses several pitches to her advantage. Maggie throws hard but relies on her control and off-speed to be effective. Both compliment each other when in the game.”

Alayna-Gayle says way to Go Softball Hawks!!

The ReSporter: Any other thoughts on this district and your thoughts going into these games?

Coach Gallagher: “Our goal is to take one game at a time and use what we have learned in earlier games to be effective. Our district is very balanced so each game is important as we compete for a district title, which has been our goal.”

The ReSporter: Thanks Coach and good luck this Friday!!