By Pete Borello

Prep Softball Report

Other local action

It’s been a trying season for the Mountain View High softball team, which lost head coach Maurice Benetua to cancer two weeks ago.

No one would blame the Spartans and standout player Kathleen Benetua, Maurice’s daughter, for calling it a season.

But instead, Kathleen and her teammates are determined to persevere.

“They’re rallying around his death and have dedicated the season to him,” said new head coach Pio Puruggnan, who previously served as an assistant to his brother-in-law Maurice. “They’re a little more motivated and focused.”

Last week’s 2-1 home win over rival Los Altos upped the Spartans’ SCVAL De Anza Division record to 4-1 and their overall record to 8-6.

Although the team is young - composed of three freshmen, two sophomores, seven juniors and three seniors - it isn’t short on talent.

Puruggnan is confident that the Spartans have enough talent to make the Central Coast Section playoffs for the third straight year.

Mountain View is blessed with a pair of solid pitchers: senior Kristen Pritchard and sophomore Alyssa Robbins. Robbins earned the win against Los Altos, allowing six hits.

“Our defense is solid and the pitching has been really good,” Puruggnan said. “But we need more hitting.”

The Spartans’ top hitters have been center fielder Elisa Barrios, infielder Benetua, Pritchard and catcher Siobhan Hyde. Pritchard had two of Mountain View’s three hits in the Los Altos game.

Freshman shortstop Kerry Quistad has also done a nice job, according to Puruggnan.

But the coach said no one’s done a better job of providing leadership and inspiring teammates than Kathleen Benetua.

“She’s been tough out there every day and is keeping the team intact,” Puruggnan said. “She’s playing hard, like her dad would want her to do.”

Throughout his four-year battle with cancer, Puruggnan said Maurice never lost his passion for coaching softball - no matter how sick the disease and the chemotherapy treatments made him. Two days before succumbing to cancer, Maurice was advising Puruggnan on how to play defense against that day’s opponent.

“I miss him a lot,” Puruggnan said. “I sometimes still look for him on the field for advice.”

Despite getting outhit 4-3, St. Francis edged visiting Monta Vista 2-1 on April 4.

Val Pease had two of the Lancers’ hits, including a triple. Starting pitcher Christie Lavery earned the win, upping her record to 6-2.

The victory improved St. Francis’ record to 4-3 in the De Anza Division and 8-9 overall.

In the SCVAL El Camino Division, Gunn clobbered Cupertino 13-7 on April 3. The Titans outhit the Pioneers 13-4.