This is a story that encompasses two magnificent feats.
Primarily, it’s about a group of young — as in under 10 — softball players who achieved a first in Marin softball history. The Nor-Cal Smackers 10U softball team traveled to Sunnyvale, went undefeated in four games over a three-day tournament, and earned the right to participate in the Amateur Softball Association Class A National 10U tournament. The Smackers are the first 10U team representing Marin to earn a berth in the national tournament, paving the way for future young teams to find their way into national competition.
But this story is also about the organization which they represent. The Smackers are only in their second full year of operation. To have brought a team along to the point of qualifying for an ASA national tournament is a real tribute to the coaching and management of the Smackers.
The team will be competing August 1-7 in Chattanooga, TN. They’ll be among more than 100 teams vying for the national championship. It’s a daunting challenge. But consider what these girls have already done.
On a Friday in Sunnyvale, they struck down the San Jose Lady Sharks 16-3. On Saturday, the Smackers edged the North Valley Rapids 6-5, then romped past the Nor Cal Legends 9-3. They concluded their tourney run Sunday, nipping the North Valley Legend 4-3 to earn the qualification to the Nationals.
The Smackers also roared undefeated through a tournament in Rohnert Park and will tune up for the Nationals by playing in a tourney in Stockton on July 24-25.
The Smackers draw players from Mill Valley, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Novato and San Francisco.
In the qualifying tournament, the Smackers showed strength on the mound with excellent starting pitching from Ellie Bauer (San Rafael) and Carmel Gisslow (San Francisco) and relief pitching by Nicole Reilly (San Rafael). Catching is a critical component of success in girls softball and Riley Seigel (San Anselmo) was up to the challenge. She caught every inning and her strong throwing discouraged opposing teams from attempting to steal bases.
The Smackers had plenty of punch at the plate. Savannah Jones (San Rafael) led the offense with several extra base hits. Other players who wielded dangerous bats were Jonquil Sekula (Mill Valley) and Jo van Hasselt (San Francisco).
Speed can be a devastating weapon in girls softball and that was epitomized by Anna Reichenbach’s (Mill Valley) efforts. She stole at least one base in every game, keeping the opposing fielders off balance. Defensively, Kianna Ahlstrom (San Rafael) was almost flawless and Sophia Lin (San Anselmo) made a game-winning catch for the last out on Saturday.
Players who provided depth and contributed to the team’s victories were Maddie Augusto (Novato), Mikayla Gaito (San Rafael), Isabella Incaviglia (Novato), and Marissa Noonan (Mill Valley).
The girls are amazing for visualizing a possibility that had never been achieved by a Marin 10U team and then attaining it.
Equally amazing is the success of the Smackers organization. Two years ago, the Smackers suited up only one team. Last year, they fielded teams in several age groups. Their first full year was commemorated in this nifty video.
Putting a team in a national tournament in their second full year of competition is truly noteworthy. Think of all the expansion teams that have joined the four major professional sports in the U.S. Now count the number that made post-season play in their second year. If you counted to one, you already counted too high.
President John Jones has recruited some top-notch coaches. Coach Emily Atkinson is the assistant coach of the Redwood High School team. That credential gains a lot more credibility when you know that Redwood is the five-time defending champion of the Marin County Athletic League. Atkinson is joined by Laura DeMartini, a former Marin Catholic High School player who earned All-MCAL pitcher of the year honors. Add to the mix veteran travel-ball coaches Eric Crandall and Bill Gaito, who have taken three older teams to ASA Nationals since 2001 and you have the ingredients for the success of this 10U team and the Smackers organization.
You can follow the Smackers exploits at their website.
Nor Cal Smackers 10U team headed for the ASA National A Tournament
A picture of champions Front Row (l-r): Carmel Gisslow, Riley Siegel, Savannah Jones, Nicole Reilly
Middle Row (l-r): Isabella Incaviglia, Jonquil Sekula, Mikayla Gaito, Jo van Hasselt, Kianna Ahlstrom
Back Row (l-r): John Jones, Eric Crandall, Sophia Lin, Marissa Noonan, Ellie Bauer, Ann Reichenbach, Madison Augusto, Emily Atkinson, Bill Gaito
Note that the adults bookending the back row are wearing their hats such that their faces are unrecognizable in the shadows. It could well be that they are Jones and Gaito, as purported, but for all we know, they could be Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. Stay tuned for further developments.
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