Softball
Head Coach: Andrea Barton, 1st Season as Varsity HC at Galena
Last season’s record: 6-25 Overall, 4-12 League. Sixth in Northern 5A.
Key Losses: Shailey Chesney, and Jolina Phillips.
Overview: The Grizzlies will begin the 2024 season with a new coaching staff and high expectations as they return approximately eighty percent of their production from last season including a high number of players who have played the last two seasons on varsity. The Grizz will be looking to learn what it takes to take the next step as a program from the championship winning head coach. They return their top hitters and top pitchers from last season and are excited for the future growth of their program. They will be a team on the rise this season and next.
What can we expect from your team this season?
Offense – An assertive offensive strategy aiming to reach base and drive runs onto the scoreboard.
Defense – Effective communication supported by strong foundational skills.
Pitching – Demonstrating pitching excellence with strength, agility, mental toughness, and a dedicated determination to record outs from all our pitchers.
Returning starters for the 2024 season – 9.
What is the key to growing/maintaining your program? The key to growing and maintaining our softball program involves fostering a culture of continuous improvement, player development, strong community engagement, and achieving success on the field through winning.
What is different or special about your team this season in comparison to years past?
This season, our softball team distinguishes itself with an exceptional blend of grit, drive, and passion – showcasing an intensified competitive spirit and commitment.
Players to watch this season:
Junior Ava Greene, RHP/Corner IF – Second Team All Region, .348 Batting Average Last Season.
Senior Maya Bennett, CF – Duh .270 Batting Average Last Season.
Junior Jordan Gurney, C – Honorable Mention All Region, .353 Batting Average Last Season.
Juniors Kaylee Fast, Elaina Robinson, and Emery Snyder.
League schedule:
3/16 vs. Reed (Doubleheader)
3/21 vs. Reno
3/23 at Carson (Doubleheader)
4/13 at Spanish Springs (Doubleheader)
4/16 vs. Bishop Manogue
4/18 at Bishop Manogue
4/20 vs. McQueen (Doubleheader)
4/25 at Reno
4/27 at Douglas (Doubleheader)
5/2 vs. Bishop Manogue
5/4 vs. Damonte Ranch (Doubleheader)
Baseball
Head Coach: Beau Walker, 8th Season as Varsity HC at Galena HS.
Last season’s record: 16-12-1 Overall, 9-7 League, Fourth in League.
Key Losses: Rocco Crow, Xaime Quintero, Landon Greene, and Aiden Komar.
Overview: The Grizzlies will look to continue their run of recent success this season and move past the mistakes of the past few seasons. With five returners from last season coming back for the Grizz they will most certainly be in a position to make a run toward the school’s first regional title in quite some time. Galena has benefited from tradition within their baseball program the last few years as they regularly bring up underclassmen who are ready to perform at the varsity level. This helps them to continue their sustained success year over year and should once again set them up for success this season.
What can we expect from your team this season?
Offense – Execute small ball well, [be] fast on the bases, and power throughout the lineup.
Defense – We will have a young but talented infield. A lot of players [who] can play a lot of different positions. A fast outfield with good arms.
Pitching – We have a lot of good young arms. They will have to put in the work, but they should be the strength of our team.
Returning starters for the 2024 season – 3 returning starters this season including three pitchers and two positional players.
What is the key to growing/maintaining your program? Try and build a program that allows students to grow as humans and baseball players. Help create memories on and off the field that they take with them long after their playing days.
What is different or special about your team this season in comparison to years past? Our players have faced a lot of undue adversity this [past] year. They are a great group of humans, and I believe that these are the moments in life that will help them build character.
Players to watch this season:
Junior Colson Kermode, SS/RHP slashed .362 last season with 10 doubles, 13 RBIs and 11 Stolen Bases.
Senior Cole Benefield, 1B/2B/OF slashed .235 last season with 7 RBIs and 5 Stolen Bases.
Junior Gavin Talonen, 1B/RHP slashed .259 with a .630 slugging percentage and two home runs. On the bump he posted a 4.00 ERA with 16 K’s in 14 IP.
Others to watch:
Junior Drew Fairman, OF; Seniors JoJo Czyz, OF; and Rylan Dolan, RHP/Utility.
Underclassmen who should make an impact:
Sophomores Jayden Quintero, Utility and Memphis Venis, 1B along with Freshman Nathan Cordell, Utility and Garrett Benefield, Utility/RHP.
League Schedule:
3/12 at Spanish Springs
3/19 vs. Douglas
4/2 vs. Reed
4/4 at Reed
4/9 vs. McQueen
4/11 at Carson
4/13 vs. Reno
4/16 vs. Spanish Springs
4/20 at Bishop Manogue
4/23 at Douglas
4/25 vs. Bishop Manogue
4/27 at McQueen
4/30 vs. Carson
5/1 at Reno