Redwood Goes For Sixth Straight Title in Softball

When the girls softball team goes for its sixth consecutive championship in the Marin County Athletic League Playoffs finals Saturday at Albert Park, don’t expect a “been there, done that” attitude.

Rather, the Giants’ senior quartet that’s seeking a four-peat will be bringing a “been there, won’t ever be there again” motivation into the 4 p.m. matchup with either Tam or Justin-Siena.

“It actually means more,” Redwood coach said in comparing this finals appearance with the previous five. “Four of these girls made varsity as freshmen, so they know they’re going to be doing something that’s pretty amazing. They’ve got some incentive there.”

Indeed, , , and will not only be aiming to go 4-0 in MCAL championship games but also to finish their careers with an amazing 75-5 record in league play.

Casassa recognizes the big-game experience will help his team, but there’s something else that he’s expecting to aid his team even more.

“I think it has to do with being seniors rather than playoff experience,” he said of his senior-laden squad. “They make the right moves. They go to the right bases. They’ve already paid their dues in things like baserunning and going to the right bases, so they don’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Tam and Justin-Siena met Friday to determine the Giants’ foe. Neither will be a stranger to Redwood.

The Giants swept the season series against Justin-Siena, winning 3-1 and 5-3. They split against Tam, getting shellacked 12-3 in their last meeting after a 2-0 triumph early in league season.

Casassa believes familiarity is a wild card in a third matchup.

“By the third time, kids start to figure it out. There’s no mystery anymore,” he said. “When they’ve seen your pitcher that many times, the hitting starts to catch up to the pitching. So now it becomes your defense.”

The Giants were brilliant defensively in Thursday’s 3-2 semifinal win over San Marin. Matteo, playing shortstop, and third baseman made great plays, but Casassa was most impressed with his right side of the infield.

Chelsea Rose and Kalley Watson, both of whom started the season on the junior varsity, were pressed into front-line duty against San Marin because Gravely, the first baseman, was in Washington, D.C., at a school function and second baseman was unable to play because of postconcussion syndrome.

“Both of them got to stuff that was amazing,” the coach assessed of Rose and Watson. “They just played great.”

Gravely has returned to the Bay Area and is expected to play in the finals. Coppinger remains questionable.