By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Southern Alamance graduate Bri Gallagher became one of the first two players in Catawba College softball history to receive All-America first-team honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association.
Gallagher, junior utility player, smacked a single-season, program-record 16 home runs and led the South Atlantic Conference with a .480 batting average. Her homer total was second in the SAC.
“I think I learned how to hit the ball,” Gallagher said. “I felt I was genuinely seeing the ball a whole lot better. That kind of helped me figure out little tweaks.”
She was selected as the SAC Player of the Year. No other Catawba softball player has ever received that distinction.
That was a special development, particularly because Catawba didn’t qualify for the conference tournament. It came as a surprise for Gallagher.
The team was summoned to the softball field for what was described as a tarp pull because the field needed to be ready for an outside group to use. When there, the news of the SAC Player of the Year honor was shared on the field’s videoboard – and there was no reason for a tarp pull.
There was a change during the season for Gallagher, who was shifted from right field to shortstop.
“I hadn’t fielded a ground ball in a long time,” she said of the in-season position change.
In 2024, she had been recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as a Gold Glove recipient for her work in right field. She said she’s anticipating staying in the infield for her final collegiate season.
Gallagher has played in 141 games across the first three years of her college career, compiling a .428 batting average. She’s a three-time all-conference selection.
Gallagher was joined with the All-America honors by senior teammate Kary Hales, a first baseman who batted .452.
Catawba, which ended its season on a three-game winning streak, had a 23-23 record, including 12-12 in SAC play.
