Coaches Corner for July 22nd: Gabe Dunn, Madrid Softball

Joining us on Coaches Corner, KWBG, going to put a wrap on the Madrid softball season and Gabe Dunn joining us number one. But number two, this was a lot of fun to watch from afar this year. And I told Gabe this, it was probably somewhere around the Nevada win or the Ogden win or ACG. Somewhere around there in early June, Gabe, it felt like this was a team that wasn't going to be happy to be somewhere around 500, that all of a sudden you had younger girls that were doing kind of what you expected maybe next year. But boy, they were about a year early and really impressive early. Yeah, that's what we're most impressed with as well, to be able to go from a team who could maybe do some things last year to all of a sudden a winning team. And it's hard to do, especially we always talk about how tough this conference is. But to be able to not only win a couple games, but then to keep doing it day after day. And yeah, just like you're talking about, after that second week we kind of found out this could be something fun. And our mindset was always in the right place. And that's really a testament to our kids, that they have been able to mentally turn around to their game to know what it takes to win. And through the long, softball season, that's especially tough. So got to give credit there, because mentally we were in the right space. I know that this first person I'm going to talk about put a lot of time in in the off season. But what I had a chance to see from Maisie Serrat, this past year coach, I mean, I thought she had a really, really solid eighth grade year. And so you always kind of wonder, OK, what's it going to be like from eighth to being a freshman and then freshman to sophomore? Now, obviously the last part I mentioned we'll find out next summer. But I thought she took a step forward, Gabe, if that's even possible from her eighth grade year. What did you see from Maisie this past summer? I think for the most part, talking about Maisie, we could do it all day. Just the type of kid she is, how hard she works, and the way she handles herself. She's the leader of the team, no matter how old she is. She pitches almost every single inning for us and was great doing that. She did take a huge step this year. In terms of power, 14 doubles and five home runs is pretty impressive for anybody, let alone a freshman. And so the fact that she stepped up, she was our lead off hitter, and there's never a question of, hey, can I maybe move back in the order? Can I do something else? She wanted to be up there. And especially if the game was in a big spot, she was the one who wanted to be up. Walked, by the way, 17 times this year, only struck out seven. I say less, I can't wait to see her sophomore year. Somebody else who had a great year, and I really appreciated just what she brought to the lineup coach, because Samantha Springer, a senior, here's somebody who could have been like, hey, I'm already graduated. I'm just kind of out here to have a little fun this summer. We'll see what happens. Girl hits 404 this summer for you, Coach. She has 25 RBI. She's third on the team in base hits. I mean, can you say much more about Samantha Springer? Of course. I mean, Sam is somebody who started for us for four years. She's been a contributor for all five years that she's been with us. And the big thing that we wanted to see from Sam this year as a senior is, could she take that next step for us? And just like you're talking about with those stats, she absolutely did. She hit almost 100 points higher on average from last year. She was stable and solid, basically all year hitting the ball around for us. And with people on base, which is what Maisie and Audrey did, she was able to come through quite a bit. And that's really what you're hoping for from your one senior on the team, especially with all the young kids we have, to say, hey, you want to keep getting better. And the results will show that. And we're not done getting better until the last game. Well, you just mentioned this other girl's in that I wanted to talk about too with Audrey Brown. And having her step into the program, she hits 541 this past summer. Four home runs, 33 RBIs, 18 doubles. You always kind of wonder, I guess, when you add a big piece like that to the puzzle, is it going to fit very well? Gabe, to me, it feels like this thing fit like butter, huh? I'd say so, yeah. She's a warrior. She's one of those kids where every once in a while, you see someone stepping the box, and you know they mean business. And it's super hard to hit over 500. And she did that all year. And she's not just hitting it around, but she is just blasting the ball. As you talk about with those extra base numbers too. And yeah, the toughest part is, you know, we're coming into this program, and how's the team going to accept her, and how's that going to look vice versa? But she was basically like another coach on the field for us, and in practices, and showing the girls the ropes, and letting them know that, hey, you know, you can be this good and be from Madrid, and we can find a way to turn this thing around, and I'll show you the way. And so that's what we're most proud of her. We knew she was good, obviously, but coming in and really taking this by the horns, and saying, we're ready to go, everybody, and follow me. Yeah, no, that's a good one to follow too, by the way. I know we just talked about Springer a little bit, coach. Everybody else is coming back next year. My goodness, this has to be one of the more fun off seasons that you guys will get involved in. Obviously, you'll have fall ball, and then I know you get a chance to throw and do some stuff during the winter, and then all of a sudden, hope, you know, spring's eternal because spring will be back, and all that snow and that stuff will be gone. But Gabe, tell me about this off season. This is pretty important for this team, isn't it? It is. The best part about this year and what we're able to do and find the success that we did is, now we know what it's like, and now we know what it tastes like, and so, yeah, it's going to be a big, prove it year. Are we going to be able to continue that and to keep climbing? And there's going to be some spots out there available, and the kids know right away. You can kind of feel it. They weren't ready for the season to be over, and I think they're especially ready to see, you know, what next year could bring, because they want this to be a softball school and the way where we can find success and keep it going, and not just in softball, but now we know what it's like to win and keep that movement through all of our sports. So, of course, we want everyone to succeed in all these sports, but of course, we're looking already towards May. Gabe, is that tough for you to kind of make sure that everybody, I don't want to say, does what they're supposed to do in the off season. I don't mean that at all. I want to mean, you don't want to do, you can't do something tomorrow. I mean, you've got to give these kids a little chance to do, I know, some other things as well. This has got to be tough on you, coach. You've got to pull the reins back on yourself now. I suppose, you know, I'll make myself busy with other things, I guess I have to, but yeah, no, it's fun, because now these kids, again, they like softball, and winning will make you do that. Gabe, final thing for me. What was it like just, you know, outside the dugout, outside, you know, the field with the girls? It sounds like this was a real fun summer. You and I have had conversations before, and I know you enjoyed doing this, or you wouldn't be doing this, obviously, but it felt like this summer was a little different. Am I wrong in that assumption? Now you got it, you hit it right in the head there. You know, again, there's a buzz, and the kids enjoyed coming to practice and the end of the games every day, and I can always tell that as a coach, you know, the earlier they get here, obviously, is the more fun and time they want to spend with each other. And we saw a lot of that, a lot of hanging around beforehand and afterwards, and that's just what you love to see, because ultimately what we're trying to do is create a good experience and environment for these kids, and this year was definitely that. Gabe, as always, thank you so much for some time. I know I'll see you this fall, but thanks for a great summer, we appreciate it. Thanks, Ryan, appreciate it. You bet, Gabe Dunnigan joining us. Matt from Softball, here on Coaches Corner.