Softball talent spread evenly throughout Bay

Burlingame may be a bit down after a CCS title last season and Capuchino is poised to make a run at the title this season with a core of players that have been together for the past three seasons. Half Moon Bay is traditionally one of the top teams in the league while Aragon is hoping to get over the hump and qualify for a CCS berth that eluded the Dons by a game last season.

Hillsdale will be young but could surprise some teams while Mills is essentially starting over with a new coach but a fairly veteran team.

The following is a look at the local teams and how they should fair this season.

Aragon

The Dons missed the CCS playoffs last season by one game so coach Dave DiMatteo has made a Joe Namath-esque prediction: "We're going to CCS this year. I've got to say that," DiMatteo said. "The girls are already talking about that."

The Dons will need to get strong pitching performances out of Nina Campos and Kelly Potter. Both can be equally effective but Campos, a junior, has the inside track because of a stronger mental makeup. Potter, a sophomore, has just as much talent but lacks consistency and mental toughness.

"Nina's good, not real dominant," DiMatteo said. "Both are pretty even. Potter is young."

Not only is Potter young but she is still coming back from a leg injury.

Diana DiMatteo will move over from second base to take over the shortstop position. The change should go smoothly as the senior plays shortstop during the club season in the summer. Taking over second base will be sophomore Amanda Ryder.

"We're going to be tough on the infield," Dave DiMatteo said.

Taylor Lynn, only a freshman, has all but locked up the center field position.

Burlingame

The Panthers are the defending CCS Division III champions after finishing second in the Bay last season behind Carlmont.

Burlingame will be hard-pressed to repeat that feat this season as they have almost a whole new starting lineup this season.

"I think we'll be competitive in the Bay," said coach Frank Firpo, adding he hoped this wasn't a rebuilding year.

With seniors Allison Smith and Kristen Carranza, the Panthers have one of the most potent one-two punches in the league. Both are four-year varsity starters and both are going to college of softball scholarships next fall. Smith, the starting shortstop and cleanup hitter, and Carranza, a first baseman and No. 3 hitter, will have to carry the team until the rest of the players get into a comfort zone.

Amanda Zelnik at second and catcher Blythe Davis are players that were on the varsity squad last season but saw limited action. Third baseman Callie Byrne started for the frosh-soph team last season and will reprise that starting role for the varsity team.

Gina Lenardon will take over the pitching duties as the Panthers' ace. An outfielder last season, Lenardon will have some big shoes to fill in replacing Jen Chamberlin, who pitched every inning of every game for three seasons.

"[Lenardon] is very competitive. She's very smart. She doesn't get rattled," Firpo said.

Lenardon won't have to be the workhorse Chamberlin was. Sophomore Britney Boardman will help lighten the load. She already has compiled a 1-1 record.

Juniors Alicia Perdue and Linnea Sauer will man center and right fields, respectively. Kim Donellan and Leanna Bottarini will platoon in left until someone earns the full-time starter's position.

Ashley Behravesh and Loren Tordsen give the Panthers some versatility.

"I don't think we'll be quite as strong as last year," Firpo said. "But I would say we're a CCS contender."

Capuchino

The Mustangs, although finishing fourth in the Bay last season, nonetheless advanced to the semifinals of the CCS playoffs.

Capuchino returns a solid core from a team that has been together for the last two seasons. If the Mustangs are to make a run at the Bay Division title, this could be the year.

"We want to go all the way," said Capuchino coach Marty Jenkins. "We have a very solid team, a very solid core. We should be in the top of the league and hopefully win CCS."

Roxanne Hannan, a junior, should be one of the top pitchers in the league. A two-year varsity starter already, Hannan has shown that she can compete with anyone at any time.

"She's staying very consistent," Jenkins said. "She can throw anything. She picked up a few pitches over the summer that she'll surprise some people with."

The corners of the infield are manned by two players who have played at the varsity level since their freshmen seasons. Kim Welch, a senior, will anchor the defense at first base while junior Chelsea Martin will take on the hot corner at third. She can also play catcher in a pinch.

"[Welch] is probably one of the best first basemen we've had," Jenkins said.

Phyllis Lucero is a junior who will take over at shortstop. She sat out most of last season.

Players to watch for include sophomore center fielder Brittany Santos who Jenkins believes could become one of the best outfielders in the league. Jen Brock, also a sophomore, will give Hannan a breather in the pitcher's circle from time to time but will also be the Mustangs' probable starting right fielder.

Carlmont

There is a number that proves just how long the Scots have sustained excellence: 695. That would be the number of wins coach Jim Liggett has amassed since becoming head coach in 1976.

This year should be no exception. Carlmont should contend for not only a Bay Division title but also for another CCS title. The Scots have won six CCS titles, the most recent of which came in 2002.

"Potential-wise, this team is probably as good a team as we've had," Liggett said. "But potential has to turn into reality."

The Scots field a virtual all-star lineup. Senior pitcher Jerrica Castagno was the Bay Division's Pitcher of the Year while Celina Castillo, who played catcher last year, was the Player of the Year. Lindsey Garehime was an all-county selection at shortstop and second baseman Kelli Leong was named first-team all league.

Carlmont has one of the most versatile teams, as well. A number of players have moved around the past couple of years to make up for injuries, but everyone is now in their more normal positions. Castillo, was an all-league shortstop two years ago before moving behind the plate for Bridgette Mason, who was injured and could not put up with the rigors of catching every game. Liggett is still trying to figure out who will play shortstop and third base. Both Castillo and Garehime have been productive at both positions and both will be in the lineup.

Bernadette Pisani, a senior and three-year varsity starter, along with senior Celeste Cabral, give the Scots an experienced outfield.

Newcomer Ashley Nicholes will hold down the centerfield spot while Ashley Chinn should see some time in the pitchers' circle as well as at first base. Liggett has been impressed with the freshman Chinn thus far in the preseason.

"She's seen a lot of pitching as a freshman," Liggett said. "She's pitched some big games for us. I would not hesitate to go to her is something's wrong with Jerrica."

The Scots also have plenty of depth with junior outfielder Andrea Carrara, senior outfielder/first baseman Lesa Fortney, who was hurt most of last year, and sophomore outfielder Kristina Kazakoff.

"We have the pitching and the defense is as good as any in the league," Liggett said. "We're one of the top teams in CCS. Of course you have go out and prove that game after game."

Hillsdale

The Knights will probably take their lumps this season, but the future looks bright for this program.

"We have a really young team," said coach John Taylor. "They're going to grow into anything they get this year."

Hillsdale will rely heavily on the arm of sophomore pitcher Bridget Majoulet early on. Taylor said Majoulet can play anywhere on the field, but will need her in the pitchers' circle while last year's No. 1 starter, Heidi Kielty, completes her recovery from an elbow injury.

"Right now, [Majoulet] will be our No.1 pitcher. We have three pitchers and I expect them all the get some innings," Taylor said. "She's learning quite a bit. She has some good speed and movement. I expect this year will be a learning experience for her."

First baseman Lauren Rosaia could develop into one of the league's premiere power hitters. A middle hitter on the volleyball team and a center on the basketball squad, Rosaia, a sophomore, has the size and strength to pound the ball. Her one weakness is off-speed stuff.

"She's a great hitter, but she tends to get off timing on the slower pitches," Taylor said. "But she's mechanically correct on her swing."

Michelle Kunz gives the Knights some senior leadership at second base. Lauren Robbins and Jessica Harrington, both sophomores, give the Knights some flexibility and depth. Both can play a number of positions.

"We're probably going to struggle a little. We're looking a couple of years down the road," Taylor said. "We could be surprising. If we can hit, we might be able to sneak out a .500 league season."

Mills

First-year coach Dan Salvemini is just looking to develop some continuity for a team that has its third coach in as many years. Salvemini is hoping that the coaching turnover has brought the team closer together as they have been together for the past couple of seasons. Of 12 players on the team, 10 are returners.

"We just want to be competitive and be in the upper echelon of the league," Salvemini said.

The Vikings will mix a core of seniors along with a nice group of underclassmen to hope and challenge for an automatic CCS berth. Center fielder Stacey Devincenzi and first baseman Chelsea Bolla, give the Vikings some much-needed starting leadership. Devincenzi, a standout for the Mills soccer team, will use her speed to chase down balls in the outfield.

Junior Lavinia Fanaika, the PAL South's basketball player of the year, gives the Vikings a versatile athlete and a solid middle infield as she can play either shortstop or catch.

A bulk of the pitching responsibility will fall on the shoulders of sophomore Laura Woodall who Salvemini described as a finesse pitcher.

"She pitches a lot of innings and is very efficient," Salvemini said. "It's great to have someone so young to play so consistently."