OUTLOOK
Hayleigh Galvan has come aboard as the new softball coach for the Stilwell Indians. A standout softball player in her own right not too many years ago at Sequoyah Tahlequah, she played at OSU and Fresno State and then spent a year at Oktaha before deciding to further her education and try college coaching at Northwestern State and then Northeastern State for two years. “At the college level I felt I was more of a friend than a mentor because I was so close to their age so I decided to return to the high school level because I felt I could really help them with my college background,” said Galvan. While instilling her knowledge of the game with her girls, Galvan says she’s learned some things from them. “Some of these girls come from tough family situations where they might be having to work to help support their family and are sometimes forced to choose between working and playing softball. They’re having to make sacrifices that I never had to make in high school and they’re opening my eyes in that regard.” Galvan will be counting on three returning seniors to help her turn things around after a disappointing 2024 season starting with Taylee Sawney. “She pitched a lot last year but I’m moving her to shortstop. She’s got a good work ethic, has a good command of the field and the kids all look up to her as a leader. Aspyn Cochran will be our catcher. She can be a powerhouse hitter for us and will be a good influence on our young pitchers and Baylee Birdtail will be in center field. She’s one of those kids that you wish you had more of on your team,” said Galvan. Other players returning for the Indians include Abeni Sanders at third base and pitcher, Ashlyn Fuller, Miley and Macie Burns, Monalisa Freeman, Abriauna Sevenstar, Rachael Morgan, Ava Swafford and Mia Vizeuth. Galvan is looking for immediate impact from incoming freshman Adrianna Buckner who will probably be the number one pitcher along with Cadence Ross and Kaitlyn Dandridge. “We’re working a lot on building endurance this summer and developing a right attitude of BELIEVING we can win every game and taking the field confident and not scared.”
