The CT Softball Blog

Fallyn Banks had an awe-dropping freshman season for Avon High School, even breaking a school record. For all of her accomplishments this past high school season, the CT Softball Blog named Banks its 2026 Freshman of the Year. Recently, Fallyn, who is spending the summer playing for the Lady Dukes travel program, took the time to go “Extra Innings” with the blog and comment on her outstanding freshman year, and what she hopes to do in the next three years.

FIRST INNING: Tell us about your softball journey. How did you find your way to the softball field?

FALLYN BANKS: I’ve been playing from a very young age, since I was three. I’ve just enjoyed it my whole life. I’ve wanted to get more competitive, so I always practice every day. I have found something I love, so I just play it all the time.

SECOND INNING: You are one of Connecticut’s most feared hitters. You had a .519 batting average with 42 hits, and 35 runs scored for Avon High School. What was it like to have this incredible freshman season?

FB: It was great. The team did very well this year. I couldn’t have done it without everyone else’s help. It’s just a lot of hard work paying off which felt really good.

THIRD INNING: You also broke Avon’s RBI record, recording 46 RBIs this year. You are only a freshman and are already rewriting Avon High School’s history. What were you thinking and feeling when you found out you made school history and broke the RBI record?

FB: I honestly had no idea I did that until later in the season, but I was very surprised and honored that I did that. I just hope to do it again next year and be able to improve and maybe break some more records.

FOURTH INNING: The CT Softball Blog voted you Freshman of the Year for 2026. What does receiving this award mean to you?

FB: It’s such a great honor because I know how many amazing freshmen there are in the state. There are so many great players out there and it was just such a great honor to be selected as the best one in the state.

FIFTH INNING: This was your first year of high school. What was the transition like for you both on and off the field?

FB: I’d say on the field the biggest transition was just the level of competition. There were a lot of older girls, but I think that I adjusted to that well. Off the field there was more work and I had to do more time management between my sports and school.

SIXTH INNING: What is your favorite thing about the Avon High School team?

FB: That we have a little fun. We all work very hard and we just enjoy playing together.

SEVENTH INNING: Let’s move away from softball for a minute. What do you like to do outside of softball?

FB: I’d say outside of softball I like to spend time with my friends. If it’s summer, I like to go to the pool and go shopping a lot with friends.

EIGHTH INNING: What shows are you currently binging?

FB: I am currently binging Stranger Things and Outer Banks.

NINTH INNING: Do you play any other sports besides softball?

FB: I do. I play basketball.

TENTH INNING: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

FB:  I think a dream place to live is probably Hawaii just because it’s such a nice place to live. It’s so sunny and always warm with nice beaches.

ELEVENTH INNING: Let’s move back to softball. If you didn’t play short, what other position would you want to play and why?

FB: I think I would like to try and play outfield because I feel like it’d be fun to track down balls
and to be out there.

TWELVETH INNING: Do you have any pregame superstitions? If so, what are they?

FB: I did during high school season. I ate the same breakfast. I had eggs and a waffle every morning before every game.

THIRTEENTH INNING: You are now on the Lady Dukes. You just went to Atlanta, and are going to Massachusetts, as well. What is being on a team that travels so much like? 

FB: It’s great. I think the best part of traveling with them is you get to stay with your team and bond a lot. You also get to see different competition from other states, and you just get to spend a lot of time with your team. I think that is good for bonding on the field and off the field and just getting to know your teammates.

FOURTEENTH INNING: You spend so much time playing softball and working to get better. What are your long-term softball goals?

FB: My goal is to play in college and to work harder so I can get recruited by a college.

FIFTEENTH INNING: Do you have a specific college you want to play at?

FB: I am open. I know I want to stay on the East Coast, but I am open to pretty much any school.

SIXTEENTH INNING: What is one word to describe you?

FB: Hardworking.

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