Albini's Pitching Just Part of San Marin's Success

softball coach didn’t necessarily enjoy waking up to the sound of raindrops Tuesday morning, but they did nonetheless bring back good memories.

“You have to remember, we didn’t have much of a preseason,” Willis said of the rainy start to the season and star pitcher ’s late arrival from basketball. “It took us a while to really get going. We’re really playing well now.”

Sure enough, the Mustangs looked to be in midseason form Saturday when they went to Sebastopol and excelled in all facets of the game while upsetting fourth-seeded Analy 3-1 in the North Coast Section quarterfinals.

Next up: Another road game, Wednesday at 5 p.m. at top-seeded Alhambra of Martinez, which needed a seventh-inning rally and nine innings in all to get past eighth-seeded Moreau Catholic of Hayward 2-1 in its quarterfinal game.

San Marin lost three times in the rainy month of March, but has lost just three times since and has looked exceptionally sharp in dispatching its first two NCS opponents by a combined score of 22-1.

That lone run came Saturday against Analy, but key hits by (a single) and (a triple) set the stage for RBI hits by Albini, and Pacchetti as the Mustangs mustered up just enough offense to back Albini’s two-hit pitching.

In fact, Albini almost pitched a no-hitter against the 18-win club. Analy got only an infield hit and check-swing double off the talented junior.

“She didn’t have a preseason because she plays basketball,” Willis noted. “Without those preseason games, she was at a disadvantage. That’s why we lost those three games.”

Now a third-year varsity pitcher with extensive postseason experience, Albini can dominate a game like few others.

“She’s really come a long way this year,” Willis praised. “Her maturity level … she knows how to take control of the game. Her presence on the mound is excellent.”

Albini has every reason to be confident on the mound. After all, she’s supported by a first-class defense, especially up the middle with Pacchetti at shortstop and Bruschera behind the plate.

“It all starts with Pacchetti,” Willis assured. “She’s just playing flawless ball. She handles every chance and makes the game look easy.”

Pacchetti and Bruschera were involved in the key defensive play of the game Saturday.

San Marin made a throw to third base in an effort to get Analy’s lead runner, but she was safe. A second throw then went to second in an attempt to stop the trail runner from advancing, but she also was safe.

But then the home team took it a step too far. The runner on third then broke for the plate, and a perfect throw from Pacchetti to Bruschera nailed her.

“We’re not afraid to throw the ball around,” Willis said. “That was a huge play. They just basically ran themselves out of the game.”

A win over Alhambra would send the Mustangs into the finals, where they would meet the winner of the Terra Linda-Albany semifinal.

“We’re hoping Terra Linda can pull through,” Willis offered. “An all-Marin final would be fun.”