Sports
Tam Seeks to Take Final Step in Softball
Team that has come close the last two years returns its ace pitcher, Kim Scarsella, and adds two key freshmen in an attempt to win an elusive championship.
softball coach Mike Wills realizes his team could win all its games this season if he really pushed his players hard to do so.
But he’d rather focus on winning just one game.
The last one.
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“I feel like the Buffalo Bills,” Wills said of his Red-tailed Hawks, who have lost to Redwood in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL) championship game each of the past two seasons and to Bishop O’Dowd in the NCS championship game last year. “We’ve been to the door three times and come in second all three times.”
The Hawks are prepared to knock down that door this season. That’s due in large part to Kim Scarsella, an all-state and MCAL Pitcher of the Year selection last season as a sophomore.
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Scarsella won’t pitch every game for Tam this season. There are two reasons for that. First, Wills wants her fresh for the season-ending games that will determine the champions. Secondly, he has a quality second pitcher in .
“Softball is so much about pitching,” the coach noted, “and we’re very fortunate to have two dominant pitchers.”
Oh, the Hawks have much more than that – an intriguing blend of established standouts and potential stars.
Two seniors will be mainstays in the middle of the lineup -- Stephanie Lee, a first-team all-leaguer last season who will catch or play first base, and Emily Banks, a All-MCAL first-team pick two years ago who will bat third and anchor the infield defense at third base.
Wills enters the preseason not exactly sure what his best defense will be. That’s because of the versatility of supremely talented freshmen Rebecca Fong and Aria Pogni.
Fong could be the team’s starting shortstop. Trombadore is another candidate. Whoever doesn’t play shortstop will line up in center field.
Pogni, meanwhile, will either catch or play first base. And she’ll bat cleanup, there’s no doubt about that.
“I hear the other girls saying how happy they are that she is on our team,” Wills said of Pogni, who plays travel ball in the off-season for one of the East Bay’s top programs. “I have to credit the Mill Valley Girls Softball League for the strength of players I keep get coming into Tam.”
The Hawks (20-10 overall, 13-5 in league play) finished third in the MCAL regular season behind Redwood (16-2) and San Marin (15-3) in 2010. In each of the past two seasons, they’ve beaten the Mustangs in the semifinals of the MCAL playoffs, only to come up short against the Giants in the finals.
Wills can’t wait to give it another shot.
“This,” he assured, “is going to be a fun season.”
TAM 2011 GIRLS SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Home games in CAPS
Tam 2, Casa Grande 1
Tam 5, Marin Catholic 2
March 9, at Maria Carrillo (Santa Rosa), 4 p.m.
March 10, at Novato, 4 p.m.
March 14, SAN MARIN, 4:30 p.m.
March 17, at San Rafael, 4:30 p.m.
March 19, at Petaluma, 11 a.m.
March 21, at Redwood, 4:30 p.m.
March 22, ALBANY, 4:15 p.m.
March 24, TERRA LINDA, 4:30 p.m.
March 28, vs. Branson at College of Marin, 4:30 p.m.
March 29, ANALY (SEBASTOPOL), 4 p.m.
April 1, at Justin-Siena, 4:30 p.m.
April 4, DRAKE, 4:30 p.m.
April 7, at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
April 18, NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.
April 21, at San Marin, 6:30 p.m.
April 25, SAN RAFAEL, 4:30 p.m.
April 28, REDWOOD, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, BRANSON, 4:30 p.m.
May 10, JUSTIN-SIENA, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, at Drake, 4:30 p.m.
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