Story by Alex Garcia
Sarah Fisher and Allie Hughen, are more than just teammates. They have been best friends for over 15 years, and have made a lasting impact on the softball team here at Palomar.
The duo met in Vista girls softball recreational league and have been teammates ever since. Both being All Star athletes, they have evolved as athletes winning state championships.
Fisher was the State Player of the year last year, while Hughen hasn’t given up a run in 48 and two thirds innings. When asking the girls what inspires them, Fisher and Hughen said,” When you do something above and beyond that is required of you and being very hardworking.”
Over 15 years, the girls played on five recreational teams, one travel ball team and attended Rancho Buena Vista High School, where they both played all 4 years.
“We know each other so well and have played together for so long that we know what we can do,” Hughen and Fisher said, ” so if we see the other person not giving it their all or not doing something correctly we know how to help them, encourage them to pick it up or fix whatever they were doing wrong.”
Both Fisher and Hughen consider themselves team leaders as well because they are the ones that are in charge of making sure that the team stays confident and tries as hard as they can.
Coach Lacey Craft had nothing but good words to say about them ”Both of the girls have a competitive mentality, incredible work ethic, and are great team leaders,” she explained, “and they make sure and get the best outta their teammates and set a great example.”
Fisher says when Hughen is pitching it is her job in the outfield to make sure she has Hughen’s back and not let anything get by her, being the last line of defense.
They are confident having already been through this when they were freshman, facing a new schedule, the team requiring more of your time than usual, and a whole new environment, that they can help the incoming freshman and help them and push them through the same struggles that they may have experienced themselves.
The girls both agreed that they share a deep mutual respect for one another on and off the field, because their friendship is so strong. They know that they can count on each other for anything.
The girls raved about Coach Craft saying,” We love her to death and wouldn’t change anything about her. She is the most favorite coach that we’ve both had.” They added that if they do something wrong or need help Coach Craft is always there for us and gets on us as well if we are slacking or messing around.
The friendship between the two women is apparent on and off the field, they continue to encourage each other to reach their goal of playing softball for a D1 school. The chemistry they share has helped them achieve goals they thought were impossible of reaching on and off the field.