Hooker High School junior Kinley McGaha’s resolve has been commended by her fastpitch coaches.
“She played first as a freshman and moved to catcher last year,” Hooker head coach Aaron Ruiz said. “She is super tough and does a great job behind the plate. She had 38 hits last year and was second in batting average and on-base percentage.”
McGaha, who also participated in 4H, learned toughness from her older siblings, Corlyn and Layden.
“They have made me realize that you can’t pity yourself or give up on yourself when things get hard. I look up to them a lot, because they have made me such a hard worker. I will always be willing to lay out, hit a fence or give all my effort because, when it comes down to it, that will make me stand out and be a better player for my team.”
McGaha knows nothing is guaranteed.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned in my two prior years of starting is that there is always someone else fighting for your spot on the team,” McGaha said. You have to continue to push yourself to be better on and off the field to keep your spot.”
McGaha’s goals for the next two years are to improve as an individual and as a teammate.
“I am not satisfied with how this year’s season went, and I want to push myself and my team to be better for next season, because we know we can be,” McGaha said.
After high school, McGaha plans to continue her softball career at the collegiate level and pursue a degree in business.
“I want to leave Hooker High School as someone who will always be willing to help others and give up my time to help them,” McGaha said. “ I want to leave here with everyone knowing that I left it all out on the field and in the classroom. That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.”
