The 2016 spring softball season could be the most exciting and competitive in years for local high school teams, as both Analy and El Molino take aim at what is hoped will be a memorable campaign.
The Lady Tigers have been among the top programs in the Bay Area under 24-year head coach Nick Houtz and this year should be more of the same as Analy takes aim at a coveted Sonoma County League title.
“I’m pretty jacked about this season,” Houtz said following a 2-1 win over Terra Linda in the preseason opener last week. “I’ve got pitching, hitting, speed and talent, so if we play good ball this should be our year.”
The Tigers are coming off a solid 2015 campaign that featured a second-place league mark of 9-3 and a return trip to the North Coast Section playoffs before finishing the year at 16-12.
Analy returns all but a handful of players from last year’s squad, including a group of 13 athletes that are battle-tested and experienced.
The list of returnees includes seniors; pitcher Saja Spearman-Weaver, right-fielder Derika Green, left-fielder Kelsi Roman, centerfielder Mackenzie Evangelisti, utility-player Gillian Halpin, first-baseman Crystal Gevas and catcher Kaiya Ming, juniors; outfielder Peyton Bratton, second baseman Payton Cords, third baseman Jayde Hill and outfielder Gema Gonzalez and sophomores; shortstop Claire Nelson and outfielder Gianna Bianchi.
First-year varsity players are junior first baseman Kahealani Lua, freshman catcher Mikeyla Kraemer and freshman pitcher Carson Rasmussen.
Analy is the clear favorite to regain the top spot in the SCL, followed by defending champion Petaluma and possibly Sonoma Valley and Healdsburg.
The Tigers opened the schedule in winning fashion against visiting Drake on March 1, riding the strong arms of Spearman-Weaver (2.2 IP 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 BB, 2 Ks) and Rasmussen (2.1 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB) in a pair of solid efforts.
Analy overcame a 1-0 deficit with a two-run rally in the fifth, including what proved to be the game-winning hit by Rasmussen. The game was stopped after five due to darkness. Top hitters were Evangelisti (2 for 3, run), Ming (1 for 3), Green (1 for 1) and Rasmussen (1 for 3).
The Tigers (1-0) will resume pre-league action at Ukiah on March 8 (after press time) and visit Maria Carrillo on March 10. Analy will host Tamalpais next Tuesday, March 15. All games start at 4 p.m.
Lady Lions
off and running
El Molino should be much improved following a 3-20 season of a year ago, despite starting the season with three straight losses last week.
The Lions graduated eight players from last year’s squad, but head coach Connie Benevides returns a nice group of eight returning players that should benefit from their experience in 2015.
The list of varsity returnees includes seniors; infielder/outfielder Emily Cheatham, first baseman Rachel Parmeter, infielder Sierra Fiddler, juniors; outfielder Gabby Bushgen, centerfielder Kristine Daniels, pitcher Jessica Vanrillear and outfielder Sydney Casey and sophomore outfielder Lily Krauss.
First-year players are; junior outfielder Cynthia Hernandez, utility players Brenda Vargas, Jamie Noah and Madison Manzo, sophomores Risa Scott-Smith and Amber Osman and freshman pitcher Ericka Olson.
The Lions kicked off the 2016 season on March 1 against visiting St. Helena, coming out on the short end of a 17-11 slugfest. The teams combined for 28 runs on 27 hits and 11 errors. Olson took the loss, while top El Mo hitters were Noah (2 for 4, 3 RBIs), Scott-Smith (1 for 2, 2 runs) and Fiddler (1 for 3, run).
El Molino hit the road to Calistoga on March 2, as Vanrillear and Olson split mound duties in a 12-6 loss. Pacing the offense were Olson (3 for 4, 3 2Bs, 2 runs, 3 RBIs), Scott-Smith (2 for 4, run, 2 RBIs), Noah (1 for 4, RBI), Hernandez (1 for 3) and Fiddler (1 for 4, 2B, run).
The Lions played visited Technology the following day, coming out on the short end of a 9-2 score. Vanrillear took the loss, while leading hitters were Olson (2 for 3, RBI), Krauss (1 for 4) and Fiddler (1 for 4, RBI).
El Molino (0-3) will visit Middletown on March 8 (after press time) and host Clear Lake (March 10, 3:30 p.m.) and Willits (March 14, 4 p.m.).
