THS FRESHMAN HAS BRIGHT FUTURE
Playing varsity sports as a freshman can require quite a bit of a learning curve, but Texas High softballer Braley Turner quickly proved that she wasn’t the average ninth-grader.
Turner fin-
ished the regular season with a .431 batting average, 28 hits, including three triples and five doubles, and 19 RBI. Her impressive numbers earned her the honor of being named Texarkana Gazette Newcomer of the Year.
“I saw early on that she was mature for her age,” THS head softball coach Robbie Hatfield said. “She’s a hardworker and always wants to get better. She’s talented and showed that she was ready to compete at the varsity level. She makes great contact with the ball against some tough varsity pitching; a consistent four and five-hole hitter.”
Turner admitted to having some jitters at the beginning of the year, but she was able to shake them off and really get things going to help her team.
“I was confident, but it was still a little scary because I was a freshman,” Turner said. “I’d say I really settled in around the second or third game. It didn’t take long.”
Turner helped lead her team to a regional quarterfinal appearance in the state playoffs. Other season accolades include sharing District 14-4A Freshman of the Year honors with two other players.
The young star still has three years left with the Lady Tigers, giving her plenty of time to develop her game an become an even better player.
“This season helped me build up confidence in myself,” she said. “It really boosted my confidence to come in as a freshman and get so much playing time. I believe in myself a lot more now.”