The El Molino softball team will have a new look and resolve this spring as they take the field for what is hoped will be a competitive season.
First year head coach Steve Newcomb has taken the reins from longtime coach Connie Benevides and is excited to get started, but realistic in setting achievable goals for his charges in his inaugural campaign.
“My goals are for the girls to play to their ability,” he said. “If we can do that we will make the playoffs.”
The Lions will return a group of five solid veterans from a team that went 6-17 in 2017, looking to improve on their 3-9 Sonoma County League record of a year ago.
Key returnees include seniors Risa Scott-Smith, Victoria Briano and Mel Deleon, and juniors Bridget Niclaes and Erika Olson.
The list of first-year varsity players are seniors Justine Bowers and Lacy Alberigi, junior Jordan Rodger, and sophomores Hayley Sheridan, Kaytlin Deniz, Grace St Marie and Natalie Alberigi.
The Lions have already logged a pair of outings on the preseason circuit, falling in road and home games to Cardinal Newman (11-1) and Novato (13-8).
Olson took the loss in the Feb. 27 opener against the host Cardinals, with Scott-Smith, St. Marie, Briano and Lacy Alberigi all collecting one hit for the Lions.
El Mo turned in a much better effort in the Feb. 28 meeting with visiting Novato, with the Lions pounding out 13 hits in a 13-8 loss to the Hornets.
Swinging hot bats for the Lions were Scott-Smith (3 for 3, 3 runs, 3 RBIs), Niclaes (2 for 3, RBI), Lacy Alberigi (2 for 2, 2 runs), Sheridan (2 for 4, RBI), Briano (2 for 3) and Natalie Alberigi (1 for 3, run).
El Molino (0-2) will be back in action this week with scheduled home games against visiting St. Helena on March 6 (after press time), Clear Lake (March 8, 3:30 p.m.) and a doubleheader on Saturday, March 10 versus Kelseyville (11 a.m. and 2 p.m.).
