Softball players honored at post-season banquet

Fallbrook High School’s softball team held its post-season banquet June 11 at the home of Fallbrook co-coach Shannon Koran and Warrior pitcher Brooke Koran.

Shannon Koran and Patti Drew, who is Fallbrook’s other co-coach, gave the Coaches Award to senior Emily Casillas. The other three awards were selected by player vote; Hailey Drew received Most Valuable Offensive Player honors; Brooke Koran was the Most Valuable Defensive Player; and Veronica Lowry was given the Most Improved award.

“I don’t think any of the awards were surprising,” Patti Drew said.

Hailey Drew was also named as the Avocado West League player of the year and was on the all-CIF first team.

“It was not surprising,” Shannon Koran said of Drew being selected as the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player. “She sets the tone for us every game.”

Drew had a .467 batting average for the season and batted .593 against Avocado West League competition. Her 10 walks gave her a .533 on-base percentage. Drew’s 43 hits in 92 at-bats included seven doubles, two triples, and three home runs to give her a slugging percentage of .685. She scored 35 times while driving in 11 runs, and she stole 20 bases.

“She’s probably not a typical leadoff hitter,” Koran said.

Brooke Koran was Fallbrook’s pitcher for 194 of the Warriors’ 198 defensive innings. Koran’s record was 16-11-2, which was also Fallbrook’s overall season record. The Warriors were 3-5 in league play, giving the team fourth place in the standings. (Games cancelled due to the May 13-16 fires were not made up, costing Fallbrook two contests against teams the Warriors beat in the first round of league play.) Koran had an earned run average of 2.08 and struck out 88 batters.

“It’s nice that her teammates recognized what she brings to the pitching circle,” Shannon Koran said.

Lowry, a junior, took over as Fallbrook’s right fielder this year when Morgan Pilbin was shifted to catcher to replace 2013 graduate Brittni Arena. “She did a good job. She worked really hard. She made some good catches in right field,” Patti Drew said.

Lowery also hit her first varsity home run during 2014. She pitched the four innings Brooke Koran didn’t, and during the Spring Jamboree tournament in Las Vegas Koran and Lowry combined for a no-hitter against Pahrump High School in a game shortened to five innings due to a time limit.

“Just really happy for her. Veronica’s the kind of kid who just comes out and tries to get a little better every day,” Shannon Koran said. “She played a great right field.”

Casillas, a senior, was Fallbrook’s third baseman for most of the season. When first baseman Lauren Hirota was injured making a catch to save the victory in Fallbrook’s first playoff game, Casillas took over at first base for most of Fallbrook’s next playoff competition and all of the Warriors’ final two post-season matches. “She had to come in and fill a void,” Drew said. “She did a great job.”

“She’s one of those kids who does whatever you ask of her,” Koran said. “We were really fortunate to have her this year.”

“Emily worked hard all season,” Drew said. “A very positive team member.”