Port Washington HS Softball Phenom Named To National Team

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — A talented Port Washington high-schooler is one of just 15 kids in America to be named to the 2019 USA Softball U-17 Women's National Team.

Maddie Gallagher, an infielder at Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School on Campus Drive, was the only New Yorker to make the team Wednesday.

Gallagher, who plays for the Tampa Mustangs, plans to attend the University of South Carolina. She routinely flies from New York to Florida to work out with her club team.

"My commute to practice involves a 40-minute Uber ride to the airport, then a 2 ½ hour plane ride, followed by a 40-minute car ride," she told Extra Inning Softball. "So, including arriving early to the airport to check in, my commute to practice takes about six hours. Whenever I can, I like to get to Florida a day early so I'm fresh for practice."

The February 2018 profile showed she had a 4.2 GPA and has been a varsity softball player since seventh grade. Among her most impressive accomplishments: She was named the 2015 USSSA National Championship Offensive MVP.

USA Softball said the teens will compete at the under-17 Women's Pan American Softball Championship from Oct. 11-19. The tournament will be held in Barranquilla, Columbia. The schedule will be announced at a later date.

The kids selected to the team were part of the USA Softball athlete pool. They attended camps and clinics, competitions and events, submitted videos and attended events coordinated by the organization.

Head Coach Kyla Holas said she was "thrilled" to coach the kids.

"Competing internationally and representing your country is what every athlete and coach aspires to," Holas said in a news release. "I would like to thank USA Softball for this opportunity and look forward to October. My goal is for them to learn each other’s strengths as quickly as possible and play the game as passionately as possible to best represent the name on the front. Go USA!"

Patch has reached out to Gallagher and will update when we hear back.

Congratulations to our middle infielder @m1gallagher on being named to the U18 Women's National team! Excited to see you represent the USA and the Tampa Mustangs! pic.twitter.com/3I2XS55OhC
— tampamustangs_maguire (@TampamustangsM) September 11, 2019