Sports
Senior-laden Giants Seek Softball Grand Slam
Annie Boyer and Lindsey Matteo head a group of Redwood seniors looking for their fourth consecutive Marin County Athletic League title against tough competition.
Twelve seniors have a message for Marin County Athletic League softball teams thinking about dethroning the Giants in 2011:
Wait ‘til next year.
Returning five players who took home all-league honors last season, the Giants will look for a sixth consecutive MCAL title – the fourth for this year’s seniors – against much of the same stiff competition they edged out a year ago.
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“This is the final year of this wave that’s coming through,” Redwood coach Gary Casassa noted. “Normally you’d worry that they’re going to get some senioritis. But not this group. They’re too competitive for that.”
One reason the fire still burns is that the Giants (16-2 overall, 21-7 overall last season) have failed to win the North Coast Section title either of the last two years after having accomplished the feat when several of the seniors played on the team as freshmen in 2008.
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But Casassa knows that’s looking way too far down the line.
“On paper, we should be at least as strong as last year,” he said. “But there are some (MCAL) teams, especially Tam, that have moved up. A lot of teams are getting better. And San Marin has one of the best pitchers in the league.”
Ah, but so does Redwood in , a returning all-leaguer.
“She keeps us in it,” Casassa assured.
Offensively, leadoff hitter Lindsey Matteo often gives Boyer all the support she’ll need in just one at-bat. The shortstop is both one of the top hitters and base-stealers in the MCAL.
“We’re loaded with speed,” Casassa boasted. “That’s going to be our signature this year.”
Helping author that signature will be catcher Paris Gravely, third baseman Megan Atkinson, second baseman Seren Mohn and center fielder Maddie Rubin.
Also expected to contribute are right fielder Settie Frasco and sophomore first baseman Nicole Coppinger, who figures to be the only underclassman in the veteran starting lineup.
If there’s hope for the MCAL opposition this season, it’s that the Giants were beaten seven times last season. In fact, they dropped their non-league opener last week 3-2 to Rancho Cotate.
That doesn’t bother Casassa.
“I play the top D2 (Division 2) teams around -- Rancho Cotate, Petaluma, Napa, Pinole Valley … They were all in the NCS last year,” he explained. “I’ve always felt it’s important to play the strong teams to get yourself ready for the playoffs.
“We’ve never really taken any games to pad our won-loss record. We make them earn it … especially when we have this kind of talent.”
REDWOOD’S 2011 SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Home games in CAPS
Rancho Cotate 3, Redwood 2
Redwood 12, Windsor 2
March 8, at Justin-Siena, 4 p.m.
March 10, BRANSON, 4 p.m.
March 14, SAN RAFAEL, 4:30 p.m.
March 15, PETALUMA, 4 p.m.
March 17, at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.
March 21, TAM, 4:30 p.m.
March 22, at Pinole Valley, 4 p.m.
March 24, at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
March 28, at Drake, 4:30 p.m.
March 29, at Napa, 4 p.m.
March 31, SAN MARIN, 4:30 p.m.
April 1, ANALY, 4 p.m.
April 4, NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.
April 8, JUSTIN-SIENA, 4:30 p.m.
APRIL 20, at Branson, 4:30 p.m.
April 21, at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.
April 25, TERRA LINDA, 4:30 p.m.
April 28, at Tam, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, DRAKE, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, at San Marin, 6 p.m.
May 12, at Novato, 4:30 p.m.
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