Canisius College has claimed another one of the area’s top
softball players. Gilroy High senior Lauryn Chris signed a National
Letter of Intent Friday night, a day after her Salinas Valley
Wildcats teammate Lizzy Gatto also chose Canisius.
Canisius College has claimed another one of the area’s top softball players.
Gilroy High senior Lauryn Chris signed a National Letter of Intent Friday night, a day after her Salinas Valley Wildcats teammate Lizzy Gatto also chose Canisius. In fact, there will be six players on the team next year who have played together, and there are 11 from California.
Not bad for a small school located in icy Buffalo, N.Y. more than 2,700 miles away.
“I chose Canisius because of their great softball program and excellent academics,” said Chris, who plans on majoring in biology before going to medical school. “I fell in love with the school after I made a visit out there in early September.”
Already knowing the players on the team helps build chemistry on the team, Chris said.
“It definitely makes it feel more like home,” Chris said. “It makes it easier especially being so far away from home. The coach recruits real hard down here. He takes care of his players, and it makes it real comfortable to play for him.”
Chris was surrounded by about 50 family and friends who attended the ceremony at their Gilroy home. Several former coaches were also on hand.
“You could tell a player is special when you look into her eyes for the first time as a coach and you see that desire to be the best,” said Joe Anderson, who travelled almost three hours to attend. “Whatever you told her, she kept it up. She is a tremendous kid who can’t wait to learn.”
Anderson saw Chris’ potential while she was playing with her Salinas club team and converted her from a pitcher to second baseman, where she plays now. He also turned her around to bat left handed to take advantage of her speed.
Chris, who maintains a 4.2 GPA, was selected All-League as a sophomore and junior. She was on the All-Central Coast Section team last year and was second team All-State as well.
“We’re so excited for her,” said Susie Chris, Lauryn’s mother. “She has worked really hard, and it has all paid off. She has lived in California her whole life, so she was excited to go somewhere else.”
Pat Chris coached his daughter for four years, but said he never pushed her into playing.
“She actually pushes me more than I push her,” he said. “She always wanted to go out and hit extra balls after practice or do more fielding. She’s come a long way from a little 9-year-old with glasses who couldn’t field a ground ball.”
