Over the past four years, Josh Taylor has built the Louisiana Tech University softball program into one of the best in Conference USA. His prowess has earned him Coach of the Year honors in 2022 and 2024, a regular-season conference championship, and five straight 30-win seasons.
Player development and his ability to recognize and recruit talent in North Louisiana have been instrumental in keeping Louisiana Tech winning, as shown by the five current North Louisiana players on the roster, including local legend Maggie Guyotte from Quitman High School.
On Tuesday, September 15th, Taylor struck “gold’ once again. Or maybe that should be said “blue and gold”. That was when Hallie Kate Pullig, of three-time defending Class B state champion Quitman High School, decided to join her former teammate and continue her softball career at Louisiana Tech.
“I am so excited to announce that I have committed to Louisiana Tech University to further my academic and athletic career. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me the ability to play the sport that I love at the next level. Thank you, Mom, Dad, Hudson, the rest of my family, and coaches for supporting me throughout this journey. Your unwavering love and encouragement have kept me going and made me not just a better player, but a better person. Lastly, I would like to thank Coach Taylor, Coach Tyler, Coach Madie, and the rest of the Louisiana Tech coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to play for this amazing program! I am forever grateful.” – Hallie Kate Pullig
Pullig will become one of the youngest players ever signed by the Lady Techsters. The 2025 and 2026 first-team Class B All-Stater and 2024 Class B championship game MVP (as an 8th grader) will enter her fifth season as a starter for Quitman High School this coming spring, but she is only beginning her junior year of high school.
“Hallie Kate is one of the hardest workers we have coached. From the time she was in 6th grade, you could tell she was going to be special. She is another coach on the field and a great leader on the team. The girls look up to her when things aren’t great, but she steps up, cheers the team on, and helps us rally to victory. She is also a great competitor who always shows up when the lights are bright.” – QHS Coaching Staff.
During her four-year career at Quitman High School, which began as a 7th grader, Pullig has compiled 161 hits in 417 at-bats for an outstanding .386 career batting average, including 36 doubles, 5 triples, and 23 home runs, as well as 148 RBI and 121 runs scored. Added are 16 stolen bases. And remember, she is just now entering her junior year.
While those statistics are worthy in their own right, Pullig may be best known for her ability to come up big in big games. This is shown by her incredible stats in Quitman’s three state championship victories: in tournament competition, Pullig has 10 hits in 23 at-bats for a .434 batting average, including 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, 4 runs scored, and a mind-blowing 16 runs batted in.