Head Coach: Mike Davey

Last year’s record: 14-7

Recap: The team finished third in the El Camino league and moved onto CCS, where they lost in the first round.

Key Matchups: Cupertino and Gunn

Star Players: Seniors first baseman Lily Guzman and catcher Irene Fraizer, juniors third baseman Vivienne Brooks and pitcher Saira Ramakrishnan

Key losses to graduation: Pitcher Morgan Curtis, centerfielder Erin Wu and right fielder Arya Taymuree

League: El Camino 

Prognosis:

Following a CCS qualification last year, the softball team features many returning players and a similar roster, especially after seeing lower freshmen participation during tryouts on Jan. 30. 

With some of their athletes occupied with winter sports, the team currently only has 17 available players attending practices. Additionally, because head coach Mike Davey also coaches boys’ basketball, softball practices are currently run by assistant coach Barry Mills. 

Senior co-captain Lily Guzman said that there currently aren’t enough players to fill both a varsity and JV team, and they are trying to get at least 22 players for that purpose: 11 for each team. If they are unable to fill the JV team, Guzman said there may be a chance that a few players will be cut.

“If we have around 20 people in varsity, a lot of them will just be sitting out on the benches and we don’t want that,” she said.

Despite a lack of newcomers, Guzman is still confident in the team’s performance, especially due to many of the returning, experienced players.

Currently, the team practices mainly consist of drills, conditioning and going over the rules and basics of the softball. To get back into the sport, the athletes will be practicing fundamentals such as hitting, base running and fielding. The team will play their first game on March 7 against Leigh.

After making it to CCS last year, senior co-captain Irene Fraizer said one of their goals is to repeat that this year, though she “has no doubt in [her] mind that they will.” Throughout the season, she aims to build a strong team bond and sisterhood environment for the newer and returning players. 

“It’s high school and the main goal I want for these girls is to have fun and fall in love with the game like I did,” she said. “If the girls enjoy the game, they will naturally want to get better.”