Collegiate coach loves his new Bison recruit's 'calm'

Though McCook High senior Briley Morgan led with her pitching these past three seasons, she also showed strong hitting skills as one of the Bison leaders for slugging percentage and runs batted in. The Bison won back-to-back subdistricts.

Maryann Kassner/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — Wham-bam-no thank you, ma’am!

A line drive off Briley Morgan’s stomach last fall was about that stopped her from throwing the next pitch for McCook High softball.

“Oh yeah, that one hurt,” she confirmed.

Perhaps it’s why Briley already relies on a more powerful force while pitching in the “bulls-eye” circle game after game after game.

“Prayer is definitely big for me. I’m praying constantly,” McCook’s No. 2 all-time strikeouts leader said. “Most probably don’t know there’s almost a constant talk going on out there.”

Briley’s 2024 season had many talking whether it was her 19 wins, 147 strikeouts or batting home 32 runs during 34 games.

She’s a country girl who also appreciates some “Pitbull” music to keep her edge.

The happy McCook Starz dancer could be so filthy certain teammates even had a name for her.

“(Senior) Lacyn (Keller) would come over from second base and tell me ‘I’m a beast,” Briley revealed. “Then she tells me how much she loves me.”

Ahh, but enough of the sappy girl love talk.

What really caught Brock Cullar’s attention is how civilized Briley seems on or off the diamond.

“Her composure. I’d say that is something that has really impressed us,” the Concorida University.coach observed about of his newest softball team signees.

Briley signed to join the Concordia University Bulldogs from Seward on Tuesday in McCook High’s gymnasium.

“She has a good work ethic, she’s a good student and she has a good family,” Cullar added about Morgan. ““And from my days of coachint at Grand Island Central Catholic, I’ve lways been impressed with how McCook students are so polite. She’s the kind of athlete we want representing Concordia University.”

Dad Darrin, mom Jennifer and both sisters (Brantleigh, Brolin) were there to witness Briley finish her 147-strikeout season at last month’s Class B-7 district championship.

Though the Bearcats prevailed 2-1 to finish Briley’s Bison softball career, Cullar knows her pitch potential is really only beginning.

“She already has good spin, but we can definitely build up her strength, her stride and add some speed,” he concluded.

Briley will focus on pursuing an elementary education career but won’t forget Bison softball, whether it was a College World Series trip or seeing “Reptile Gardens” in South Dakota.

Plus she’ll never forget those eight seniors who’ve been playing softball together likely even before age eight. They won a summer state title as McCook Rebels, three straight subdistrict tourneys and last fall’s magnificent 26-8 .

“I was so proud of how everyone exploded and hit the ball this year,” she said. “And how we all get along. It was really a lot of fun.”