Dean Gregory teaches science at Buchanan High, but he knows his mathematics equations, too.

And this is the way the sixth-year head coach adds up his softball team’s season: The Bears were 20-2-1 — including a 5-3 victory over Stockdale for the Central Section Division I title — with Rushael Lawley in the lineup, and 6-5 when she was sidelined by a pesky hamstring injury.

“I can’t say positively that we couldn’t have won the title without her, and I don’t want to take anything away from the rest of my team, but it would have been a lot more difficult,” Gregory said. “It’s an intangible thing. I don’t even know how to describe it. I just know she makes a difference.”

Lawley has been selected The Bee’s Softball Player of the Year not as much for her statistics (which weren’t too shabby with a .338 average, 20 RBIs, and 10 of 15 would-be base stealers thrown out) as for her presence and leadership during Buchanan’s drive to its fourth D-I championship.

Bullard coach Jaime Maxey noticed the difference Lawley made.

“When they didn’t have her, they weren’t as good,” Maxey said. “They resurfaced as soon as she came back and obviously she led them to the Valley championship. She’s a difference-maker.”

Gregory said Lawley was off to a quick start, hitting .450 with 14 RBIs through Buchanan’s first 13 games before injuring her right hamstring while running the bases at practice before the Bears’ second Tri-River Athletic Conference game. Buchanan was 12-0-1 at that point.

The hamstring still isn’t completely healed, but after missing 3 1/2 weeks, Lawley returned to help Buchanan’s title quest.

“It was really hard for me. I had never missed a game since my freshman year,” said Lawley, who will play in college for North Dakota State. “I went back before it was fully healed, but I had to and I wanted to, so I did. And I’m glad I did because we went on to win a Valley championship.”

About Rushael Lawley

Vitals: Buchanan, senior, catcher

She's qualified because: Was the driving force behind the Division I champion Bears, despite a hamstring injury that limited her ability with the bat during the second half of the season. Hit .338 with 20 RBIs. The All-Tri-River Athletic Conference pick also threw out 10 of 15 would-be base stealers and picked another 12 runners off base and made only one error all season. Helped Buchanan go 108-38-1 during her four seasons as a starter. The two-time Bee All-Star has signed to play for North Dakota State next season.

He said it: “Defensively, we’ve had some very good catchers, but she’s one of the best catchers I’ve ever seen. Sometimes you have a player who’s so good defensively that you don’t care what they hit. Well, Rushael hits well, too.” — Buchanan coach Dean Gregory