What's in a name?

Plenty, if you're Daren Hays, the man in charge of the softball program at Lubbock Christian University.

Before Hays complimented her swing and gauged her interest in his school and his program, the second-year head coach needed one certainty.

"First, he made sure he had my name right."

It's Sara, coach.

Sara Galano.

Galano will put her name to paper next weekend, when the 2011 Santa Fe High School graduate and Demonette of the Year enrolls for fall classes at the private school in West Texas, and signs with the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics powerhouse.

The Lady Chaparrals are coming off a 52-12 season that included a fourth straight appearance in the NAIA National Championships. Lubbock Christian wore the national crown in 2008.

Galano will arrive as a shortstop. It's a position she owned the final two seasons of her five-year varsity career, a position that earned her back-to-back All-District honors.

"His shortstop will be a senior next year," Galano says of Hays, who replaced his father, Larry, as head coach. "That's fine. I'll get to learn from her for a season. But, if there is somewhere else I can play, I'll do that."

Galano shared second base as an eighth-grader. She also pitched.

"She's a helluva shortstop," says Sig Rivera, Santa Fe High head coach. "She's like a coach out there. She always knows exactly what to do."

Defensively.

Offensively.

Galano batted .553. Her slugging percentage was 1.026. Her on-base percentage was .621. She finished with 42 hits and plated 46 runs.

The 42 hits were 19 singles, 14 doubles, five triples, four home runs. She walked 10 times. Yes, she struck out, but only 16 times.

She was the Most Valuable Player.

"Talk about a big loss," Rivera says. "She's been one of the team leaders since she was a sophomore. It's going to be hard. I'm not looking forward to trying to replace her."

Galano knows all about goodbyes. She said hers to Stockton, and to California, when Marilyn and Bob Galano, Mom and Dad, moved the family to Santa Fe when Sara was entering eighth grade.

She'll continue her migration east on the 17th day of August, though her original destination choice was north.

"My junior year I wanted to go to Adams State," Galano says. "I contacted their coach many times, but I never heard back."

Galano remained proactive, attending camps and tryouts. She received an offer from New Mexico Highlands, and was set to sign with the Cowgirls until a nondescript Wednesday in January.

Galano came across a camp at Lubbock Christian and decided to fill out the questionnaire. LCU called Friday. She was on the field Saturday.

"It was quick and unexpected," Galano says.

And altered her future path, one she's been constructing since eighth grade.

"That's when I got serious and wanted to make it a reality for myself," Galano says. "It's always been there, that idea of playing in college."

Lubbock Christian University showed more than interest. It showed Galano the school and the campus.

"I really liked it there. I knew it would be the better choice for me," Galano says.

Galano knows she must make a name for herself.

"I feel that I'm ready," Galano says. "I'm real excited and proud of myself that all the extra hours in the weight room and running by myself paid off."

Galano didn't just earn five varsity letters in softball. She earned four varsity letters in cross country.

"I wanted to stay in shape for the spring and I wanted someone to force me to work out. But I fell in love with cross country because of coach Graham," Galano says of Peter Graham.

Hey, Lubbock Christian University has cross country.

"Uh, no," Galano says. "Softball is year-round."

That's too bad.

Sara Galano is a name worth knowing.

And remembering.