Vavra’s No-Hitter Leads Lady Horns to Softball’s Area Round, County Athlete of the Week Honors
Schulenburg softball player Briana Vavra has taken strong command of the mound for the Lady Horns, pitching a nohitter in the first of a three game bi-district playoff series where Schulenburg trounced Refugio 13-0.
She then pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts in the third contest in order to clinch the series.
“She’s done a great job,” said Schulenburg head softball coach Gilbert Price. “She came in at the beginning of the season and was on the injured list. After the third district game, she came back and she’s been pitching since then. With the weather on Saturday in the first game, it was something different. It just didn’t go well. But she picked herself up and felt that she could get the job done. We came out on top and I’m very proud of her for doing what she did.”
Vavra’s focus led to production for the Lady Horns and she’s now earned herself a bid for this edition’s Player of the Week.
Question: Can you summarize the no-hitter and how it went for you?
Answer: “It went by fast. It kind of just happened. I had to bring myself up whenever I walked a person. I can’t say it was an easy game but it could’ve become more tough if I walked more people.”
Question: How have you and your team been able to put together this playoff run?
Answer: “I feel like we’ve become better. We are progressing as we play. We’ve had tough games and we’ve had good games. We just have to find ourselves and know that we’re going to do good no matter how we play.”
Question: What do you look forward to the most when playing softball?
Answer: “The thing I look forward to the most is trying not to walk anybody. It’s kind of just my mindset not to walk anybody and keep myself up. I look forward to after the games and how we’re going to have fun in the dugout in between each inning that we play.”
Question: What’s your favorite TV show?
Answer: “Probably Riverdale or Grey’s Anatomy.”
Question: If you had to do one good deed, what would it be?
Answer: “I would probably go help the community some way. I try my best to help out as much as I can but I have a busy schedule with softball and school. I want to help the community more.”
Question: What are some of your pre-game or in-game traditions?
Answer: “Before games, after we warm up, we go and pray. Just to help us and know that God is with us. It help us play good and know He’s with us.”
Question: Where’s a place you’ve always wanted to visit?
Answer: “Australia. I just think it’s cool.”
Question: In what ways have you grown as a person and/or player this year?
Answer: “I’d say I’ve become better with trying to think that I’ll do better. I used to be nervous. I’ll still be nervous but I won’t be as nervous. I’m just more or less calming my nerves down before I play.”
Question: Do you have any pets? If not, what’s a pet you would like to have?
Answer: “I have three dogs in the house. We have a Chihuahua and two pugs.”
Question: What’s been your biggest achievement as a softball player?
Answer: “My biggest achievement is for one game, I haven’t walked anybody after being injured. So that just says that I’ve healed my back pretty well. Now pitching a no-hitter and not walking anybody is a big achievement for me.”
Vavra has overcome obstacles during the regular season in order to turn on the jets for the playoffs and help carry Schulenburg softball to victory.
Fayette Co. Record’s Athlete of the Week
A Weekly Feature by BRIAN PIERSON
Recent FCR’s Athlete of the Week
March 29: Jessica Pope, Flatonia Track
April 2: Trey East, La Grange Track
April 9: Wyatt Wick, La Grange Baseball
April 16: Ilse Salinas, RT-C Track
April 23: Keagan Supak, Fayetteville Baseball/Track
April 30: Bravion Rogers, La Grange Track
May 7: Briana Vavra, Schulenburg Softball
* Read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.