2008 season was ‘disappointing’
MORGAN HILL — Brooke Willis and her teammates talked in great length Monday about the aberration that was the 2008 Live Oak softball season.
There is no championship banner or playoff patch to commemorate it — just hard-luck memories.
After winning the CIF-Central Coast Section Division III title in 2005 and sacking the Blossom Valley Athletic League ‘A’ Division in 2007, the Lady Acorns ambled to a 14-16 record in 2008.
They missed the postseason for the first time in several years — none of the current players could recall exactly how many.
“To go from winning league by (sophomore) year to not even being close my junior year, that was a pretty big disappointment,” said Willis, one of seven seniors on the team. “It’s a tough league. It’s not easy to win. But it has to be your goal every year.”
In case you can’t guess, the Acorns are out to restore order this spring. That was the first thing Sutton, who coached at Castilleja and played for UC Berkeley and was part of several section-championship winning teams at Archbishop Mitty. “They’re very disappointed and very hungry after last season. The girls want change. They told me their expectations right away. They want to go back to CCS and win it. They’ve been training for that and taking it one step at a time.”
Aside from mechanics, the biggest step is getting their confidence back. The Acorns admitted they lost some of that last year while struggling to a 4-10 finish in league.
“We got down on ourselves and didn’t pick each other up,” Willis said. “As long as we work together this year, we’ll be fine.”
Live Oak returns eight veterans, including most of its infield. Ace pitcher Kelly Hillman is back, plus Kourtney Kientzy (catcher), Jenna Robertson (second base) and Willis, who earned second-team all-league honors at third base in 2008. Sophomore Priscilla Orona is working at shortstop and could replace Sarah Locarnini, who now plays for Purdue. Stephanie Doting, a multisport standout, will likely start in center field, flanking Mary Luna in right.
The old guard is tested — and learning even more from Sutton.
“Most of us have been playing softball since day one, but Alex has already taught us so much more,” said Hillman, whose arsenal includes a screwball, drop and rise. “We’re learning more about what to do in certain situations and about hitting. There’s always something to work on and improve.”
The Acorns are breaking in a promising group of newcomers. They have a slap-bunt specialist in junior Erin Leggette, a blossoming pitcher/outfielder in freshman Katie Obbema and a utility option in freshman Kirsten Doting, Stephanie’s sister.
“We have a lot of young girls that have a lot of talent,” Robertson said.
“This year, we’re fighting for positions,” Willis added. “Nothing is a given.”
Live Oak’s chief concern is hitting, which was absent in scoreless opening losses to Gilroy and Aragon. Those came in the daunting Circle of Champions tournament — hosted by the Acorns.
“We kind of had a rough first weekend. Defense is our strength right now,” Sutton said with a smile. “But it’s nonleague play. We’re adjusting at the plate and we made a lot of errors. It goes with being a young team. The girls are just kind of nervous.”
That should dissipate by the Acorns’ March 26 division opener at Piedmont Hills. Along with Gilroy, which played for the Division I championship last year, Live Oak has several top-tier programs included in its nonleague slate.
“It’s going to be a good test for us,” Hillman said. “It’s not going to get any easier in league. Teams like Gilroy are going to show us what we’re up against. Making CCS won’t be easy.”
Although punishing, the Mount Hamilton awards at least three playoff spots based on records and strength of schedules. Backed by the energy of their 23-year-old coach, plus their challenging preseason and disappointing finish last year, the Acorns have to be considered one of the most dangerous teams in the division.
If not dangerous, then determined.
