Shortstop and sometimes third base player Haley Fagan has a family tree planted in the game of softball, as her older sister, Sami, currently plays for the Missouri Tigers and her eldest sister, Kasey, plays for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Growing up with two brothers and another sister, the Fagan sisters played for Dunnellon High School in Florida and were coached by their father, Kevin, who played football for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s.
“(My dad) wanted boys,” Haley said. “He grew up with all boys. When he had three girls in a row, he didn’t know what to do, but he knew he wanted us to play sports. He basically taught himself the game (of softball) and got us all into it.”
All three were then drafted to play college ball; however, not all of them started in the SEC.
Kasey was the first and played at the University of Florida for two seasons until her transfer to Arkansas her junior year.
Sami also played at Florida before transferring to Missouri in 2013. However, Haley first played for the University of South Alabama before making the switch into the SEC with Auburn.
According to Haley, her decision to transfer was not because of her sisters’ placements in the conference.
“It was cool that I had the opportunity to play in the same conference as my sisters,” Haley said. “But it kind of just worked out that way.”
When the Fagan family gets together during vacation times, softball is the main topic of conversation.
“The most fun part about it is comparing all of our coaches’ strategies,” Sami said. “We all play for pretty good coaches, so just to hear what they do differently and the same.”
Haley agreed.
“It’s all softball,” Haley said. “Over the summer, we practice together, we work out together, we go to the pool together. When we’re home, we’re really close. They’re my best friends.”
This year, Haley, Sami and Kasey were all able to play each other for the first time at a collegiate level.
“This is the first year we’ve played each other,” Sami said. “It was really weird. When I went home over summer, (Haley) kept talking trash, saying the only reason we won is because she wasn’t playing. So, this year, when we got to play, it was just fun.”
Kasey was also able to play Sami when Arkansas took on Mizzou from April 17-19. Kasey said as Sami was up at bat, she found herself cheering for Sami, and had to catch herself when she realized she was cheering for the other team.
“She was up to bat, and she took a pitch and I said, ‘Good take,’” Kasey said.
April 24-26 made it a two-week sister series for Kasey, as she traveled to Auburn to play the Tigers and Haley.
“I have always loved being able to see my sisters anytime that I can,” Kasey said. “Our coaches give us family time, so I’ll definitely have some time to catch up with Haley this weekend.”
Haley said the support they give to each other helps with improvements in softball.
“I listen to (my sisters) more than anyone else because I know they have my back and they’re not going to try to hurt me,” Haley said. “To have them be as good as they are and to know what they’re talking about is like having yourself on the other side watching and being able to coach you.”
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