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MHS catcher Madison Gault likes to be involved on every play

RON JOHNSTON The Marietta Times Marietta High senior Madison Gault is a standout catcher for the Tigers’ softball team. She plans to attend the University of Akron and major in business/human resource management.

Madison Gault

Marietta High

Year: senior

Age: 17

GPA: 3.0

Sports: softball, swimming, Marquettes dance team (pregame and halftime during football and basketball seasons)

Softball position: catcher

College: University of Akron

Major: business/human resource management

Family: Greg and Megan Gault (father and mother); Ethan (brother)

Question: Do you have a nickname?

Answer: (Smiles) Gault is pretty much what it is. The (softball) team calls me by my last name Gault.

Q: How long have you been playing softball?

A: I’ve been playing since the third grade. I was a dancer and a gymnast before and I just wanted to do sports within the school. So, I got on a team with a friend whose mom was coaching. My friend’s mom (Audria Hogue) got me started. And I still play with her daughter — Bailey Hogue.

Q: Have you always been a catcher?

A: I started catching my second year in the fourth grade. It was my dad and Mark Hiatt. Nobody wanted to catch and so I said I’d try it — and I loved it. You got the ball every single play.

Q: How tough is the position?

A: (Laughs) I get knocked around a lot. I get run over. But I love it.

I got a scar on this thumb (left) from surgery. In my freshman year, I was catching and a girl came running to home plate, and she slid. I went to tag her and it bent my thumb all the way back inside my glove. It tore a ligament.

On my right thumb, I partially tore a ligament batting about three weeks ago. I don’t know how I did it. It’s crazy. I went to the doctor last week, and he told that I’d partially torn it. I can still play as long as I wear the brace outside.

Q: Does it affect your throwing?

A: No, we tape it so that my thumb anchors and doesn’t bend back.

I love to throw runners out.

Q: Can you play any other positions?

A: Catcher is my main position, but if they want to put me on first or in the outfield, I can do that as well. Wherever they want to put me.

Q: The Tigers are having a really good season on the softball diamond. What do you attribute that to?

A: We are more of a team this year. We communicate so much better this year in games. You can really tell from watching that we’re together and we’re trying to achieve a goal to win. I think we’re 10-3 in the league (ECOL). I really hope that we can go far. I think we can do it. We can do it.

(Pauses) We’re all batting. Everyone’s getting the bat on the ball and sending it out in the field. That helps, too.

Q: So does having a good pitcher, right?

A: Jillian (Middleton) has really stepped up as a pitcher this year and helped us out a lot, along with our other pitchers.

Jillian and I have a pitcher-catcher relationship that we’ve developed this year. Last year, Jillian (Middleton) was hurt.

Q: Where do you bat in the order?

A: I’m the fifth batter right behind Hannah Kroft. We’ve got some strong hitters, three-four-and five.

Q: Do you know what you’re batting?

A: Uh…no. I don’t know.

Q: Over .400?

A: Probably. I’m just hitting grounds to the outfield. I’m getting singles, but I got a double the other day at Cambridge. I think I’m hitting pretty well.

Q: Any homers?

A: (Laughs) No home runs. When Hannah hits one, and I come up, I realize I can’t top that.

Q: Have you ever thought about playing softball in college?

A: I wanted to play. I was getting letters from coaches, but then I had to tell them I’ve had a lot of injuries. My back is not…I have a ruptured disk in my back. And, obviously, my hands aren’t as strong as I want them to be.

Q: Was your back injury catcher-related?

A: I think so. There wasn’t really a specific injury that happened. It was just catching over time and always squatting and coming back up. And, then, there’s the collisions, too.

Q: Any highlights that you’d like to share?

A: This year, I guess every time we win…I’m just proud of the entire team. I mean, we’re really achieving what we want to do. This whole season has been a highlight for me.

Q: What did you do this past winter?

A: (Smiles) I didn’t swim this year because of back issues. I’m just wearing the sweatshirt. I only swam my junior year.

I started swimming to basically get in shape for softball, but then I ended up really liking it. I tried to do it my senior year, but with my back, I just couldn’t do it. You would think swimming would help, but…I do the breaststroke and you have to arch your back and it just wasn’t healthy.

Q: During your time at MHS, has their been someone who has helped impact your sports career?

A: Honestly, my dad has really pushed me to do my best in softball. And, my family has really helped me. They always get me the best equipment.

I used to go to Herb Academy and bat. I’ve gotten lessons there. I’ve done like camps there.They’ve helped me.

Q: Are there a lot of softball players at Herb Academy?

A: (Laughs) No, there’s not a lot. Mostly all boys. (Laughs) And they look at you and wonder what you’re doing here. But it is for softball, too.

Q: What do you do off the playing field?

A: I have a horse. I like to ride my horse.

Q: What’s your horse’s name?

A: CJ. He’s a Tennessee Walker. We don’t show him or anything. He’s just kind of like a pleasure horse. I used to have two, but the other one passed away. It’s kept at my grandparents’ house, so I go over there and spend time with him.

He’s a lot of fun. He’s like a dog and follows you around. He’s gentle and really sweet.

Q: I’ll bet you have a dog, too?

A: (Laughs) I do. I have two dogs. We also have a goat, chickens, and a cow.

Q: Is CJ pretty fast?

A: When you get him going, he’s pretty fast.

Ron Johnston, rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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