Smackers Program Already a Winner This Summer

’s goal is simple when it comes to his 10-and-under NorCal Smackers girls softball team: Show significant improvement over the course of the summer.

Well, we’re barely into July and already Gaito’s girls have done their coach proud.

The San Rafael-based Smackers, who had struggled in earlier games, swept through the Nicole Mattson Memorial Tournament in Rohnert Park recently, going 5-0 en route to the “A” Division championship.

“I wasn’t all that surprised we won the tournament, but I was very proud of them because you could see that they had started to try harder,” said Gaito, who has brought together top 9- and 10-year-olds from Marin County and San Francisco.

“It’s the developmental aspect of what we do. They’re starting to learn things -- things are starting to become automatic that weren’t before. It’s very rewarding for a coach that they’re getting what I consider to be a very complex game.”

The Smackers’ chief competition at Rohnert Park came from the Napa Extreme. But in the end, Maddie Augusto’s pitching proved to be too tough for the overmatched rivals.

She was supported by a defense Gaito credited with making the “routine” plays – not a simple task for girls 10 years old and under.

“The thing I remember most (about the tournament) is the players finally started to learn what to do when they have the ball, when to back up and how to play defense,” he said. “And what not to do – and that’s not to throw the ball when you don’t have to.

“The general level of play has matured as the season has progressed and I’m happy to see that.”

Augusto, who beat the Extreme twice in the tournament, also contributed big-time to the Smackers’ offense in the five-game run. Isabella Incaviglia and Alyssa Freed also had big games at the plate in the finals, and Sona Halajian had a clutch pinch-hit that helped the Smackers pull away.

The 10A club has one more tournament (July 16-17 in Lincoln) before heading to the Triple Crown World Series in Reno at the end of the month.

“We’re going in the right direction,” Gaito assessed. “If we have an advantage over most teams, it’s that our kids are smart. Sometimes we can use that to our advantage.”

The 10A squad is one of four teams representing the Smackers this summer. Here’s a capsule look at each:

10-and-under

Roster: Maddie Augusto, Katrina Avila, Gigi Collins, Sierra Cooper, Madisen Fong, Alyssa Freed, Mikayla Gaito, Grace Grassi, Sona Halajian, Isabella Invaviglia, Kama Kaleikini, Nicole Reilly, Brittney Righetti, Toni Spina, Vanessa Torres.

Highlights to date: Took first place in the Nicole Mattson Memorial Tournament in Rohnert Park behind the pitching of Maddie Augusto.

Remaining schedule: July 16-17 at Lincoln Tournament; July 30-31 at Triple Crown World Series in Reno.

12-and-under

Roster: Kianna Ahlstorm, Ellie Bauer, Audrey Kennett, Carmel Gisslow, Sophie Lin, Isabelle Marmur, Anna Reichenbach, Jon Quil Sekula, Riley Siegel, Jo Van Hasselt.

Highlights to date: The team is comprised mainly of players from last year’s 10A club that won the NorCal Metro Tournament and advanced to the ASA Nationals in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Remaining schedule: July 9-10 at Stockton Tournament; July 16-17 at Stockton Tournament; July 30-31 at Davis Tournament.

Coach Eric Crandall’s comments: “As a younger team in the 12-and-under division, the goal of this team is to get them ready to compete with the best 12's teams next year when they are one of the older teams in the division. We are playing in tournaments that include some of the best teams in Northern California, and taking some lumps while learning what it takes to compete in this age division.”

14-and-under

Roster: Nicole Anacker, Jesse Andros, Cheyenne Cooper, Hayley Gazdik, Emma Goodwin, Chase Hollander, Zoe Hoover, Lani Kaleikini, Genevieve Nielsen, Hannah Politzer, Nikki See, Katie Yee.

Results: Third place in Memorial Day Shootout in Stockton; third place in Nicole Mattson Memorial Tournament in Rohnert Park.

Highlights to date: One of the best moments of this season so far was in the Nicole Mattson Memorial Tournament. In the first game on elimination Sunday, the Smackers were down 4-0 after three innings. Then in the bottom of the fourth, the Smackers started getting hit after hit, and tied the game. The club didn't let up after that, winning the game 8-4. The Smackers didn't let up in the next game, scoring seven runs in the first inning en route to a 7-4 win.

Another highlight was in the Memorial Day Shootout. The Smackers didn’t play well Saturday and Sunday, but then after losing their first game Monday, they followed by winning three straight to take third place.

Remaining schedule: July 9-10 at Davis Tournament; July 16-17 at Nationals Tune-Up, Stockton; July 23-24 at Napa Tournament; Aug. 1-8 at ASA Western Nationals, Roseville.

Coach Don Hoover’s comments: “So far this season, what I am truly impressed with is how well our team gets along. The girls act like they have known each other since they were 7, and it shows when we go to tournaments. The whole team will go out to lunch together in between games and cheer each other up in the dugout. Our team gets along together so well that they spend just as much time together off the field as they do on it, texting each other all day before practice, and until they go to sleep after. 

“This season, our goal is to make as many finals and be competitive as possible in every game.  We are a team with a lot of heart, and a team with a lot of passion for the game.”

16-and-under

Roster: Faye Carlsen, Meg Costella, Tess Feyling, Rebecca Fong, Rebecca Gisslow, Bethany Hernandez, Mari Kawano, Shannon Lee, Madison Lilien, Ally Lucchi, Brittany Nielsen, Teddi Pasion, Erin Reid, Maddy Rinn.

Highlights to date: Won the Nicole Mattson Memorial Tournament in Rohnert Park behind the pitching of Sami Mericle, who went 5-0 in the tournament. Faye Carlsen knocked in the only runs in a tough 2-0 win over Los Altos.

Remaining schedule: July 9-10 at Stockton; July 16-17 at Napa; July 23-24 at Incline Village; July 30-Aug. 7 at Western Nationals.