By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
The mantra for the Hanna Lady Golden Eagles is they don’t have just shortstops, pitchers or any other position. They have a team of athletes.
Sometimes they won’t know where they’re lining up until game day.
“I think it kind of keeps them on their toes,” coach Rey Lerma said. “This is a mental game. It just keeps them ready and alert, because if they get the call, they need to produce.”
Injuries haven’t stopped Hanna (9-12, 3-5) from contending in District 32-6A this season because versatile players like Abby Garcia and Salone McManus, who have moved across the diamond at different spots and produced results.
“(He says that) because we can adjust to any position he puts us at,” McManus said. “It’s not like we just play one position and that’s it. Wherever he puts us and needs us, we’ll play there and do our best. We’ll step up.”
Garcia has lined up at second base, third base, left field and right field. McManus has played all three outfield spots for Hanna as well as shortstop and third base.
“It’s difficult at times because I’m a freshman and I’m new at the varsity level, but I’ve adjusted because I’ve played everywhere since I was 4,” Garica said. It’s just getting quicker and faster at different positions. It’s mentally challenging but you adjust to it because I’ve played it for so long.”
It’s genetics for Garcia, a freshman playing on varsity. Her father, Eddie Garcia, is Hanna’s head baseball coach and he’s helped prepare her for the rigors of playing multiple positions at the varsity level.
“He’s given me a lot of advice,” she said. “I think if I didn’t have him, I wouldn’t be mentally prepared for varsity. I probably would still be very nervous. But he’s helped me a lot and given me a lot of advice. He’s helped me a lot. He’s helped me improve so much more.”
That preparation led Garica to even get a start at pitcher this season, against San Benito in the La Joya tournament. The Lady Greyhounds rank No. 1 in the latest Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 6A poll and No. 6. in Maxpreps’ Xcellent 25 national softball poll.
Lerma didn’t want to tip his hand to one of Hanna’s district opponents, so he called on the freshman to pitch.
McManus’ athleticism led to her playing all over the field, but has helped her settle in one of the game’s demanding spots: center field.
Her coach says she has the speed to make center field seem shorter than it is.
“She’s an athletic girl. Very strong willed,” Lerma said. “She wants to succeed. She’s really done that the last few ball games for us in center field. She covers a lot of ground and has a really good strong arm. She might have found a home.”
The sophomore prefers center field but she’ll play wherever she’s needed. McManus has enough experience to know what to expect no matter the position.
“The only thing difficult about going from outfield to infield is adjusting to the ball,” McManus said. “The ball bounces different. In outfield you have to be fast and in the infield you have to be quick. I guess it comes naturally because I’ve played (softball) for so long, I just adjust to wherever he puts me.”
Their selflessness is just an example of the team’s attitude of playing wherever, whenever. Lerma thinks it’s a prime example of his philosophy reaching the girls.
“That just proves it,” he said. “Even our junior varsity when they hear me talk, hear me say ‘you have to be ready to play anywhere.’ I keep telling the girls it’s all about the team concept. If this is where I can help the team, let’s do it. If that’s where you can help the team. It goes with the team. I’m all about the team.”
Joshua McKinney covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.