Sports
San Marin Basketball Success Leaves Baseball Team All Wet
As Mustangs await field to dry and two key infielders to return from the champion basketball squad, the baseball team must jump right into the competitive MCAL fray.
There is no bigger basketball fan than Mark Whitburn, which is a bit surprising.
After all, those Mustangs are killing his Mustangs.
You see, Whitburn is the San Marin baseball coach. He’d love to have returning all-leaguer playing shortstop and manning second base.
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But at the same time, Whitburn loves watching them contribute to San Marin’s ongoing basketball season.
So the coach is conflicted … ah, not really.
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“These are high school kids and this is a dream. I’m really happy for them,” Whitburn said of the basketball team in general. “Sure I’d love to have (Zirkle and Glennon) on my team. But this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I’m glad they can experience something magical.
“It’s great for them, great for the school, great for the community. When it comes time to play baseball, they’ll be out there.”
Unfortunately for the Mustangs, it was time to play baseball for all Marin County Athletic League teams on Tuesday. The short-handed San Marin squad fell 6-2 to defending league champion Drake.
“When you hit four batters, walk four and make three errors, it’s hard to win. We didn’t play our best game,” Whitburn observed. “We can play a lot better, and we will play a lot better. We didn’t play like we did a week ago when we beat El Cerrito 2-1. I know what we’re capable of.”
Whitburn expects to improve on last year’s 10-8 league record, a season in which the Mustangs started three sophomores.
The team returns Zirkle, Glennon, three pitchers (, Brad Smith and Nick Driscoll), catcher Mitchell Ho, first baseman Ryan Burke, and outfielders and Forrest Bousquette.
Among the newcomers expected to contribute immediately are sophomore utilityman Ryan Schalch and 2010 junior varsity standout Patrick Fairbanks.
Whitburn believes his veteran pitching staff will give San Marin a chance in every game.
“I hope they grow and mature,” the coach said. “If they do, they should do quite well for us this year.”
While Whitburn would love for the San Marin basketball team’s good fortune to continue, there is one thing he would like to see change – the weather.
“We haven’t been on our home field since Feb. 12,” he said of San Marin’s notoriously poor draining diamond. “The water just sits on the field, so we can’t get on it. I’ve been here 26 years and it hasn’t changed.”
One thing that has changed is the school has built a snack bar near the field. Wouldn’t you know it? That’s taken away space on the blacktop from where the team used to practice during the rainy season.
“We can jump on the football field for a quick infield and outfield,” the coach said, “but that’s about it.”
Before you ask: No, the gym is not available. Remember, it’s still basketball season at San Marin.
SAN MARIN’S 2011 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
Home team in CAPS
San Marin 2, El Cerrito 1
Drake 6, San Marin 2
March 11, JUSTIN-SIENA, 3:45 p.m.
March 15, at Tam, 4:30 p.m.
March 18, MARIN CATHOLIC, 4:30 p.m.
March 22, NOVATO, 4:30 p.m.
March 23, at Alhambra (Martinez), 4 p.m.
March 25, BRANSON, 4:30 p.m.
March 29, at San Rafael, 4:30p.m.
April 1, at Redwood, 4:30 p.m.
April 5, TERRA LINDA, 4:30 p.m.
April 8, DRAKE, 4:30 p.m.
April 9, at Miramonte (Orinda), 1 p.m.
April 13, at Analy (Santa Rosa), 4 p.m.
April 15, at El Molino (Forestville), 4 p.m.
April 19, at Justin-Siena, 4:30 p.m.
April 21, TAM, 4:30 p.m.
April 26, at Marin Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
April 29, at Novato, 4:30 p.m.
May 3, at Branson, 4:30 p.m.
May 6, SAN RAFAEL, 4:30 p.m.
May 10, REDWOOD, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, at Terra Linda, 4:30 p.m.
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