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Lady Warriors softball is looking for ‘nothing less’ in championship hopes
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Photo by Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Elise Fry pitches in the second game of Galt’s scrimmages Saturday. Galt will have its first game tomorrow afternoon against McClatchy.
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By Kerensa Uyeta-Buckley
Herald Sports
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For the varsity Lady Warriors softball program, they have one goal and one goal only-to win a league championship.
Galt currently has one of the best softball programs in the Sierra Valley Conference, and head coach Jim Briggs has made it clear that he sees the potential for his players to take the team to the top of the SVC.
“There’s no doubt about it. We want to be there to win the championship,” Briggs said. “Once we do that, we’ll see how deep in the playoffs we can go. We’ve alreadytold the players, nothing less than a championship is acceptable,” Briggs said. “We have the team, we have the depth. We have three good pitchers, we have very, very solid defense.”
Several key players are returning this season, including seniors Kim Briggs, Bailie Diehl, and Elise Fry.
Briggs, a two-time all-league second baseman, is Galt’s only four-year varsity starter and has hit over .400 in both of the past two seasons, according to Briggs.
“Kim will most likely hit in the three spot and we look for her to be our team leader,” Briggs said.
Diehl, who plays third base and catcher, is also a two-time all-league player, and has led the Lady Warriors in hitting both of the past two seasons that she has played, Briggs says.
“She swings a mean bat and will again hit in the cleanup spot,” Briggs said.
Pitcher Elise Fry was a big force for Galt last season, before being suspended at the end of the season.
In her second varsity season, Fry has returned with a renewed dedication to the team, says Briggs.
“She was very instrumental in helping get last year’s team out to a 9-1 league record before being suspended from the team. We look for her to complete this season in good standing,” Briggs said.
The Lady Warriors will try to reach their goal of a SVC championship by practicing this year’s motto, “zero tolerance,” which was designed to keep players focused on their game.
“If you look at our motto this year, ‘zero tolerance,’ what that means is no tolerance for mistakes, not being there for your team and making practice every day and doing all the little things that you need to do to be successful,” said Briggs, who will be working again with assistant coach Ron Diehl.
The Lady Warriors will have at least eight players returning from last year’s team.
Brittany Monday is one of the team’s three pitchers, all-league shortstop Lauren Reyes, Andrea Hanchey, who is returning after being injured for most of last season, sophomore Dominique Perry, and sophomore Dani Wise are all back, in addition to Briggs, Fry and Diehl.
The Lady Warriors also have several players from last year’s JV team and several newcomers who bring talented athletic backgrounds to the mix.
Allison Barsetti, Leanna Reyes, and Alicia Villano all moved up from last season’s JV team and will add the depth they brought to the 2007 JV championship team.
“We will graduate six seniors this year and the experience that the younger players get this season will really help them to fill those spots on next years squad,” Briggs said.
“We’re solid, pretty much from one through nine. We just have to get a little more consistent with our hitting,” Briggs said.
Saturday, Galt had three scrimmages in a four-team scrimmage that included Calaveras, Sheldon, and Tokay.
While the Lady Warriors had already participated in a scrimmage a few days earlier, Briggs said he liked the freedom of Saturday’s format.
“Having a scrimmage like this, where you have free substitution is extremely helpful because you can pull people in and out in different situations without having to change your lineup,” Briggs said.
The Lady Warriors will have their first home game tomorrow afternoon against McClatchy.
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