Sports

Graduation a Giant Obstacle in Baseball

Redwood lost 13 seniors from last year's powerful team, but a quartet of talented seniors has the coach believing a repeat of the 2010 playoffs title is possible.

will attempt to repeat as Marin County Athletic League playoffs baseball champion without the 13 seniors who paved the way to the top last season.

It’ll be the ultimate test of a prep program.

“What makes a good team is having real good leadership,” claimed Redwood coach Jeff Packman. “Our four seniors provide that for this team.”

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The four giants among the Giants this season will be Corbin Wirta, Andrew Stahl, Casey Levy-Tulloch and Henry Turner. All were on the team that went 13-5 in MCAL regular-season league play and 23-7 overall in 2010.

“I’m real excited about the group coming back,” Packman assured. “We have a very strong core and a hard-working group of guys. They have a lot of potential.

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“This year’s goal is to have a good year and hopefully repeat.”

Wirta is the leader, “one of the strongest players in the league,” according to Packman. He’ll lead off and play center field.

Stahl will pitch and play shortstop, Levy-Tulloch will play third base and bat clean-up, and Turner will be the starting catcher.

Among the newcomers, perhaps the key performer will be junior Cal Becker, who will be pitching for the first time at the varsity level.

“He has good enough stuff to be one of the top pitchers in the league,” Packman boasted.

Packman is planning to use the preseason to sort out the rest of his starting lineup, but likes what he sees initially.

“We have a real strong group of guys coming up,” he said. “I think they can do it, as long as they work hard. They can go as far as they want to go.”

REDWOOD’S 2011 BASEBALL SCHEDULE

March 8, at Justin-Siena, 3:45 p.m.

March 11, BRANSON, 3:45 p.m.

March 12, at Ukiah, noon

March 15, SAN RAFAEL, 4:30 p.m.

March 17, CASA GRANDE (PETALUMA), 4:30 p.m.

March 18, at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.

March 22, TAM, 4:30 p.m.

March 23, vs. Marin Academy at Albert Park, 6:30 p.m.

March 25, at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.

March 29, at Drake, 4:30 p.m.

April 1, SAN MARIN, 4:30 p.m.

April 5, NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.

April 8, JUSTIN-SIENA, 4:30 p.m.

April 18, LOWELL, 4:30 p.m.

April 19, at Branson, 4:30 p.m.

April 21, at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.

April 26, TERRA LINDA, 4:30 p.m.

April 29, at Tam, 4:30 p.m.

May 3, MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.

May 6, DRAKE, 4:30 p.m.

May 10, at San Marin, 4:30 p.m.

May 12, at Novato, 4:30 p.m.


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