David Galla’s journey into the UNH record book and the Hall of Fame started unconventionally, at another school nearly 570 miles away in southeastern Ohio.
The Trumbull, Conn. native was lightly recruited and unsigned by UNH coming out of high school. Galla played the 1996 season at Marietta College in Ohio, helping the team to the NCAA Division III World Series.
In looking for transfer opportunities closer to home, Galla was introduced to head coach Frank "Porky" Vieira. He eventually sold David on the idea of playing for the Chargers, and a Hall of Fame career was born.
Galla went on to star for the Chargers for three seasons, helping lead UNH to the NCAA Division II College World Series in 1998 and two City Series Championships during his tenure. He was also instrumental in the implementation of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as President for the first two years of SAAC’s existence.
In his first season at UNH in 1997, Galla hit .426 in 25 games to earn First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Region honors.
Galla would go on to earn two more All-Conference awards at UNH while playing different defensive positions each season.
In 1998, he hit .389 with 10 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 46 RBIs as the team went 29-11-1 and made a run to the College World Series for the final time under Coach Vieira. In 38 games as a senior, he drove in 61 runs - a school record that still stands as of his induction - mashing 13 doubles and 13 home runs.
Galla ended his three-year career at UNH with a .373 batting average in 100 games, logging 126 RBIs, 31 doubles, five triples and 26 home runs. Galla ranks among UNH’s all-time top ten in career slugging percentage (6th), home runs (4th) and RBIs (t-8th), and was tied for second on the single-season home runs list with 13 in 1999.
