Sports
San Marin's Softball Title Hopes Ride on Albini's Strong Arm
The perennially strong Mustangs have some holes to fill, but it might not matter if Albini, now a junior, is as dominant as she's been the last two seasons.
Randy Willis has a simple predictor for a high school softball season.
“So goes the pitching,” he says, “so goes the season.”
If that’s the case, the softball team figures to have quite a season in 2011. Just like 2010 and so many more before it.
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Why? Because junior returns for her junior season.
Albini has earned first-team All-Marin County Athletic League honors each of her first two seasons with the Mustangs. She pitched San Marin (15-3 in league, 16-7 overall) within one win of the MCAL title last season, and within one error of a victory over eventual champion Bishop O’Dowd in the North Coast Section Championships.
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“It all starts with pitching,” observed Willis, who has coached San Marin for 13 years. “Dani has pitched just about every inning of every game we’ve had since she’s been a freshman. If she continues to pitch as she has, we’ll be up there again.”
San Marin has some holes to fill around Albini, but Willis is confident his program has the depth of talent to do it.
Angela Huidekoper, a second-team all-leaguer in 2010, steps in at third base for All-MCAL first-teamer Tabi Carr, who has graduated. “We don’t expect to skip a beat at third base,” Willis promised.
The Mustangs also lost second-team all-league outfielder Alexa Bynum and starting first baseman Jill Sokolov. No problem. Freshman Paige McIntosh has accepted the challenge of replacing Bynum, and Samantha Hassett is moving in at first base.
“We’ve got a program going here. When you develop a program, it just seems to feed on itself,” said Willis, crediting the Novato Girls Softball League and Novato Heat programs for continuing to develop young talent. “It just seems whatever we need, we’re able to find it.”
The Mustangs return shortstop , the team’s leadoff hitter, and catcher Gianna Bruschera, who Willis believes is primed for a big offensive season.
and Erin McEachern will flank McIntosh in the outfield.
Willis said his team’s goals aren’t limited to winning the MCAL title.
“You can’t count San Marin out at any level,” he boasted. “When you start going up against East Bay teams and are competitive there, you feel you can take the field with anybody.”
SAN MARIN’S 2011 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Home team in CAPS
March 7, at Drake, 4 p.m.
March 11, JUSTIN-SIENA, 4 p.m.
March 14, at Tam, 4:30 p.m.
March 17, MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.
March 21, NOVATO, 6:30 p.m.
March 24, BRANSON, 6:30 p.m.
March 28, at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.
March 31, at Redwood, 4:30 p.m.
April 4, TERRA LINDA, 6:30 p.m.
April 7, DRAKE, 6:30 p.m.
April 19, at Justin-Siena, 4:30 p.m.
April 21, TAM, 6:30 p.m.
April 25, at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
April 28, at Novato, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Branson, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, SAN RAFAEL, 6:30 p.m.
May 9, REDWOOD, 6:30 p.m.
May 12, at Terra Linda , 4:30 p.m.
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