New Drake Softball Coach Learning From Own Mistakes

Drake softball coach expects improvement over the course of the season.

Sure, some from his players. But mostly from himself.

“I was nervous,” the first-year coach admitted of his Marin County Athletic League head-coaching debut Monday. “I think we all were, and I take responsibility for that.”

Fisherbaugh boasted before the season that he thought the Pirates, who finished fourth behind Redwood, San Marin and Tam last season, could crack the top three in 2011. He still feels that way, even though Drake opened MCAL play by suffering a 15-3 shellacking at the hands of the Mustangs.

The fact Drake was matched up right away with San Marin made the coach nervous as well.

“I used to coach there, so I know what kind of program they have,” noted Fisherbaugh, who started the freshman baseball program at San Marin about 10 years ago. “I knew they had a bunch of returners – an all-league pitcher, an all-league catcher … And that’s where we’re young.

“I felt we could play with them, but I wasn’t sure because of the inexperience – my inexperience, their inexperience. So I didn’t feel like we could go out and be super aggressive.”

Late in the game, with San Marin holding a less-than-insurmountable lead, Fisherbaugh made a pitching change, bringing in one of his freshmen.

Before you knew it, the Mustangs had added eight runs en route to the victory that was actually much closer than the 15-3 score would indicate.

Fisherbaugh demonstrated Tuesday he’s a quick learner. Having to face a tough Campolindo team one day after the San Marin debacle, the coach started freshman pitcher , saving ace for relief.

The strategy worked. Goodwin pitched well enough to keep the Pirates in the game, and Goodwin shut out the Cougars over the final five innings, allowing Drake to rally behind the hitting of , and and forge a 4-4 tie.

It’s a game Drake could have won. Yep, Fisherbaugh says he blew it again.

With the potential winning run at second base and no outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, the coach called for a sacrifice bunt, which was executed perfectly.

However, when the excitable coach noticed no one was covering first base on the play, he yelled, “Nobody there. Nobody there.”

His runner advancing to third mistakenly thought he was talking about home plate, so she made a dash for it. Not only was she thrown out, but when the batter tried for second, she also was gunned down.

So, instead of first and third with no outs and a good chance for a win, the Pirates were one out away from a tie.

“Primarily my fault. I made a mistake on the basecoaching,” Fisherbaugh admitted. “Not really knowing my team and not knowing how they would react to me probably cost us the win.”

So, is it time to reconsider the goal of cracking the Big Three in the MCAL?

“I’m not afraid. I still really think we’re a good team,” the coach assured. “Everything I’ve asked my girls in the San Marin game and in the Campolindo game, they’ve executed. I’ve just got to build on that.”

Past week’s results: Lost to San Marin, 16-3; tied Campolindo, 4-4.

Upcoming games: Thursday at home vs. Terra Linda, 4 p.m.; Monday vs. Marin Catholic at Piper Park, 4 p.m.