CCS is Robertson, Acorns’ only goal for 2010
SAN JOSE — Before she takes off to begin her Division II collegiate softball career, Jenna Robertson would like to lead her Live Oak High School team back to where it was her freshman year.
The Lady Acorns’ goal each spring is to qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs, though they have not done so since Robertson’s rookie season in 2007. The first-team all-league second baseman is the only active player who has playoff experience with LOHS.
“It’d be nice to see us go back in my final year. I’m focusing on getting better every way I can, but I also want to see us have fun and improve together,” Robertson, who last fall signed a Letter of Intent to play on a partial scholarship at San Francisco State, said after Tuesday’s 4-1 loss at Presentation High School. “I think we have a good chance. We have a lot of new faces and a lot of kinks to work out after we lost so many seniors, but we’re working together. That’s the most important thing we need to do.”
The biggest obstacle each spring is surviving the rugged Mount Hamilton Division. The Acorns fielded quality clubs the past two seasons only to place seventh. In 2009, they finished 8-15 overall and 4-10 in league with six seniors on their roster.
The Mount Hamilton is less kind to rebuilding teams — so LOHS coach Alex Sutton and her staff have been getting the Acorns ready early. Five of their nonleague opponents hail from ‘A’-league private schools, including Castilleja, Valley Christian, California, Presentation and reigning Division II champion Archbishop Mitty.
“We wanted our girls to be challenged,” assistant coach Fred Cisneroz said. “It’s not good when you lose, but it’s OK if it’s against good teams. It helps with playoff points and gets us ready for league teams like Westmont and Leland.”
For a team as young as Live Oak, a strong season could go a long way.
“The biggest thing, I think, is getting these girls to believe in themselves and believe what they’re capable of doing,” Cisneroz said. “If we can take it all the way to CCS, we’ll get their confidence going for the future.”
The Acorns are going to find out quickly where they measure up in the Mount Hamilton. Their first league game is a 3:30 p.m. road contest today against defending champ Westmont.
“Whoever we play, we just want to progress each game,” second-year starting shortstop Priscilla Orona said. “I think every team is younger this year, so we have every reason to be confident.”
By the time their lineup is finalized, each player could be confident at multiple positions. A select few had their roster spot finalized Tuesday: veterans Robertson, Orona, Katie Obbema (pitcher) and Kayla Cisneroz, who switches with Jacey Turay at catcher on top of starting in center field. Didi Lopez has taken over for longtime starter Brooke Willis.
Robertson likes what she’s seen from Obbema, her volleyball teammate who will handle most of the pitching. The sophomore has improved her movement.
“She’s throwing hard right now,” Robertson said. “You need pitching to win in this league, so Katie’s going to be huge for us.”
Expect Sam Bejarano, Kiersten Doting, Erin Leggett and Hailey Nelson also to start at various positions this spring.
“It’s nice knowing we’re versatile. We can play anywhere,” Turay said. “We trust each other at every position, though, and when it comes to hitting. We know we just need to bond together to be successful.”
