Photo courtesy of Mike Neal

On Saturday, October 24th the Collins Hill High School Eagles earned the right to be called the 2009 AAAAA State Softball Champions. This is Collins Hill’s second title in three state tournament appearances dating back to 2005. Gwinnett was well represented in the state tournament as Collins Hill, Buford, Grayson and Providence Christian each sent teams to compete for the title. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask Coach Dooley, Sammy Lenahan, Christina Parham and Kayla Floor some questions to give you a glimpse into what makes a champion and what drives their love of the game. If you ask any of the other players, you’ll likely get answers with similar passion and commitment, but that would be a very long article.
Discussion with Coach Dooley 

Photos courtesy of Mike Neal

Q- Describe what it was like to watch your team achieve its first State title since stepping up as Varsity Head Coach.
A - Winning the title as an assistant coach was great. I got involved with the celebration when the last out was made. The great coach Roger Parham (former South Gwinnett state softball champ) once told me how gratifying it was to just sit back and watch the celebration. When we won it this year, I just stayed back and watched all of the girls celebrate. That is something I will never forget.

Q- What do you believe are your team’s strongest assets?
A - Just that, being a team. Our girls believe in each other and want each other to succeed. In the end, it never mattered who scored the winning run, who was the winning pitcher, or who got the winning hit, as long as it got done. Our girls stuck together all season and rooted for each other and that was a great thing to watch.

Q – What advice would you give youth softball coaches in developing young players?
A - Stick to fundamentals. Throwing and hitting. Keep things simple and make sure the most basic of tasks can be accomplished. Even our best players still need to refresh their skills every once in a while. Even when it may seem boring and monotonous, stick to it. You don’t have to work on it for an hour every day, but you do need to touch on things at least briefly, so they are not forgotten.

Q – What do you do when you’re not coaching softball?
A – Haha! I have a cot at the field. Just kidding. I am a teacher first and enjoy my job. I also coach baseball in the spring. I would love to have the money to play golf every weekend, and I play as often as I can. I try and spend time with my family as much as I can. They are great during the season – my parents, brother, sister, and nephew all come to games all the time. They are very supportive of what I do and were just as excited when we won State as I was.

Q - What else do you think people should know about your team and/or sport?
A - I think fastpitch softball players are some of the hardest working athletes around. As I stated before, most of our girls are already scheduled to play in tournament up through the middle of November. They will start again in February and March and play right up until high school tryouts start in August. Between school, all of their tournaments, and the workouts they attend to continue to grow as players, they don’t seem to have much time for anything else……but ALL of my girls do have a life, with good friends, and still manage to go out and be teenagers and have fun. Working hard doesn’t always mean giving up the other things you love – they have shown that to me since I started coaching, and I thank all of them for that.

Players Q&A

Sammy Lenahan - Photo courtesy of Mike Neal

Christina Parham - Photo courtesy of Mike Neal

Kayla Floor - Photo courtesy of Mike Neal

Sammy Lenahan (SL) - Gwinnett County Defensive Player of the Year, one of Gwinnett’s “Super Six”, had the game winning bases loaded triple in the championship game and are committed to Mississippi State

Christina Parham (CP) 1st team All County 2009, starting short stop, leadoff hitter

Kayla Floor (KF) – Gwinnett County Pitcher of the Year and the winning pitcher in the 2009 State Championship game

Q - How old were you when you began playing softball?
SL – I was 6 years old.
CP – I was 4 years old.
KF - I was 8yrs old when I first started playing peewee softball

Q – Who were some of your role models or inspirational figures?
SL - My older cousin that played softball
CP - Lisa Fernandez!
KF - My Grandpa Bob. He had a bat & ball in my hands at the age of 2. My Grandfather was part of the NY Yankee Organization for many years. Softball/Baseball has always been a big part of my life. My Grandfather was also a fastpitch pitcher as an adult. I’m the only grandchild to follow in his footsteps with pitching. I only wish he was still with us so he could see me play.

Q – What advice would you give an 8 year old girl who wants to someday be in your shoes?
SL - Never give up, and always know that you can do it, work on something every day that will make you better
CP - Believe in yourself more than anything, NEVER give up, and try your best to stay positive.
KF - If you want to be in my shoes, you need to be sure pitching is right for you. It takes someone who is very dedicated, focused, and ready to put in a lot of hard work.

Q – What do you do in your “off” season to stay competitive and build skills?
SL - I don’t really have an off season, I pretty much play year round. After high school ball I go to hitting lessons every week.
CP - I do a lot of speed and agility, tons of running, and fundamentals.
KF - Swimming !! It’s great for both upper & lower body strength. Swimming helps my leg’s to push of the mound, and my arm speed to deliver the ball at 65mph.

Q – What do you do when you’re not playing softball?
SL - NOTHING. I enjoy my time off by watching tv and hanging out with friends.
CP - Hang out with my friends and family.
KF - I love to shop, watch movies, and hang out with my friends.

Q – What else do you think people should know about your team and/or sport?
SL - The game of softball isn’t as easy as it looks. Hitting a fastpitch softball is more difficult than hitting a baseball. Because there is less time to react.
CP - Softball is a very fun sport, it is also very competitive which satisfies a lot of girls. Our team was probably one of the most fun teams I have ever played on. The more chemistry your team has and the more you get along the more fun you will have just playing the game. You will also have a higher chance of succeeding.
KF - Our team has the loudest most obnoxious dugout around!!!! It’s not all up to one person to carry a team. It takes everyone’s effort to keep going strong. There is a lot of intensity in softball that some people haven’t experienced nor seen yet. The team is pretty much like your family. You go through everything together. You’re always bonding and getting closer. It’s all about having fun, but also being serious so you can get the job done.

Q – Sammy – You’ve accomplished so much through softball, thus far.  What are you looking forward to the most as you begin to look ahead to college?
SL - I’m looking forward to playing for the US National Team’s coach, Jay Miller. Also, to have the opportunity of going to the Women’s College World Series during my four years.

Q -Christina – I’ve seen you play, you don’t walk onto the field; you charge the field. You’re also a tremendous source of energy for your team. What motivates you to bring such a consistently high level of intensity and dedication to every game?
CP - I just love to play the game. I always tell myself no matter what I do, there will always be someone better. That motivates me to work hard at all times and reminds me that someone will always be there to take my spot if I don’t work hard.

Q –Kayla – You appear so very confident at the mound.  How do you stay focused and maintain control in tough situations?
KF - Well, I know there are only two things I can control while I’m out on the mound. 1) Is my attitude and 2) is my effort. I have to stay calm, & focused. I know where my teammates are positioned, and I know I have the best defense behind me. Together, we can get through any situation on the field.

Thank you to Coach Dooley, Sammy, Christina and Kayla for giving their time to this short interview.

You can get excellent tournament and Eagles game coverage by reading either of the following articles: AJC coverage, Gwinnett Daily Post. THIS article is meant to give you insight to some of the driving forces behind the Eagle’s success. Statements like those above demonstrate the outstanding character and dedication possessed by state champions. Will they bring home another title in 2010? Only time will tell. However, this team is developing more than champion softball players – it’s building the girls of our future.

Congratulations to all of the Collins Hill Varsity Eagles for a job well done!

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