Name: C.J. Gahagan
School: Central
Age: 17
Grade: Senior
Sport: Baseball
Athlete of the week achievement: Last Monday, Gahagan went 3-for-3, drove in both Central runs and made a big defensive play at third base as the Dragons upset WPIAL champion Beaver Falls. On Thursday, he made two more outstanding defensive plays and allowed no runs in pitching the final 32/3 innings to get the win against Redbank Valley.
Season update: Gahagan is hitting .384 with a team-high three homers and a team-high three RBIs for the Scarlet Dragons, who are 16-10 heading into today's PIAA Class AA semifinal game with Mount Union. He is also 3-4 as a pitcher with 49 strikeouts in 402/3 innings.
Coach A.J. Hoenstine's quote: "C.J.'s been a great leader this year. He plays the game the right way, and that's carried over into the playoffs. He's led us with his hitting all year, and, when we needed him to, he came through with his pitching on Thursday. He's stepped up in a big way.''
Favorite teacher: Mr. Fitzpatrick
Favorite subject: Physics
Favorite movie: "Shawshank Redemption''
Favorite food: Tacos
Favorite song: Rock
Outside interests: Basketball, golf and hanging out with friends
Favorite professional team: Arizona Diamondbacks
Favorite college team: North Carolina
Pro athlete most admired: Dustin Pedroia
Best athlete I ever played with: Richland's Austin Urban
Best athlete I ever competed against: Philipsburg-Osceola's Luke Curtis
Most influential person on my athletic career: "My parents, definitely.''
Proudest athletic achievement: Making it to the state semifinals this year.
How I got my start in baseball: "I played since I was 3 or 4. My dad got me involved, and I was playing in the backyard."
Future goal: "I'm going to UPJ to play baseball there and to start a career as a financial advisor."
