By Pete Borello
 Photo by Monique Schoenfeld, Town Crier |
Prep Softball Report
LAHS softball team filled with young talent
Spartans blank Bruins
Mountain View opened its De Anza Division season with a 6-0 home win over Santa Clara on March 21.
Alyssa Robbins earned the win for the Spartans, upping her pitching record to 3-1. She allowed just two hits over seven innings.
Siobhan Hyde and Elisa Barrios each hit triples for Mountain View (4-4 overall). Hyde had four hits in all.
Wilcox whips Lancers
Although seven of his 12 players are freshmen, Los Altos High coach Bernie Quintero expects the Eagles to be competitive this season.
“I think we’re going to be a surprise team, with freshmen or not,” he said.
Quintero’s optimism has a lot to do with the abilities of these freshmen, who are complimented by some solid returning players.
“We have a talented group of freshmen,” the coach said. “With the veterans helping them out, we could finish in the top three in the league.”
A top three finish in the tough SCVAL De Anza Division - which features front-runners St. Francis and Milpitas - would likely land the Eagles in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
“I have a good feeling,” Quintero said about his team’s postseason chances. “But even if we don’t make it, we’ll finish strong.”
The strongest player in the freshman class is Alyce Jorgensen, who plays either first or third base when she’s not pitching.
After eight games, Jorgensen was leading the Eagles in batting with a .375 average and had a 2-2 pitching record.
“She’s the best freshmen pitcher I’ve had since my daughter Sabrina,” Quintero said.
That’s high praise, considering what Sabrina accomplished during her prep career. She owns every Los Altos pitching record, led the team to a CCS championship and now stars at San Jose State University.
One of Jorgensen’s best efforts of the young season came March 21 in a 5-3 home loss to Monta Vista. In the opening inning, Jorgensen relieved starter Chrissy Sommer - who had allowed five runs - and gave up just one hit the rest of the way.
Quintero, in his 17th year as coach, has also been impressed with the play of freshmen Lisa Serventi and Jessica Cruz.
Outfielder Serventi is “coming along very well,” the coach said, and Cruz is “coming through in the DH (designated hitter) department.”
Rounding out the freshman group are Sara Bird, Sandra Clark, Ashley Mateo and Lacey Sandborn.
The Eagles’ top returning players include sisters Jennifer and Kristin Herrera, dependable hitters who can play the infield and outfield, and pitcher Sommer, who got off to a 3-1 start.
The team also features infielder Denise Law and catcher Julie Wilson.
Quintero considers pitching Los Altos’ greatest strength, with team chemistry not far behind.
“They’re all athletes and they’re very coachable,” he said. “They’re really good kids.”
Los Altos (1-1 division, 5-3 overall) hosts Milpitas at 3:30 p.m. today.
St. Francis dropped a 5-1 decision to visiting Wilcox on Thursday in the De Anza Division opener for both teams.
The Lancers made five errors, which didn’t help losing pitcher Christie Lavery, who allowed only five hits. St. Francis also had five hits, including doubles by Steph Grejtak, Mere McKinley and Mei Sausa.
