The defending district champions are the Bridge City Lady Cardinals. Coming to Bridge City to take over as head coach is Kayla Gallardo who was the assistant coach at Orangefield.
Coach Gallardo has four returning seniors from last year’s team. To fill in the holes caused by graduation Gallardo has some good young ladies to play. Kassidy Wilbur is back as the starter in the circle for the Lady Cardinals which will be a strong benefit.
Gallardo has three freshmen Abby Anderson, Caitlin Denison, and Peyton Trapp that have found spots on the varsity this season. Trapp will help out with pitching behind Wilbur. Denison is doing a great job at third and is consistent at the plate for Coach Gallardo. Anderson will be behind the plate.
A move-in from Orangefield Lauren Groom broke her hand in the preseason, but will also be a catcher when she returns. Maggie Garcia has returned from an injury last year, and Gallardo says she’s doing excellent at second base.
Bridge City graduated some good hitters, but Gallardo believes several good sticks are still in the lineup. Gallardo thinks Denison will add some new pop to the Lady Cardinal batting order. The Lady Cards still have power hitters Wilbur and Hannah Carpenter that will pick up the slack caused by graduation and be leaders at the plate as well.
Coach Gallardo adds two other young ladies will help start the Lady Cardinals dancing on the bases. Baili Thibodaux will bat leadoff for Bridge City. Gallardo states Thibodeaux is aggressive and consistent by putting the ball in play every at bat when she starts the game for the Lady Cards. Faith Kaufman is a senior in the outfield who works the plate and is crucial for their batting order.
Pitching is so important in softball, and Gallardo has a starter back from last season at Bridge City in the circle. Gallardo will give the ball to Kassidy Wilbur to be the Lady Cardinals’ number one starter. Peyton Trapp is just a freshman and has a lot to offer as the number two pitcher. The coach says the two girls work well together, and they can help each other.
The Lady Cardinals would love to repeat as district champions. Top challengers in the district should be Hardin-Jefferson, Orangefield, and Silsbee. Coach Gallardo gives the team’s goals as always high for district play, hopefully winning the title again. She states the keys are playing one game at a time, focusing on what the Lady Cardinals need to do each game to win, and strive to be successful.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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