Novato freshman enjoys a big week at the plate
Spring sports are in full swing now and there were a handful of big performances in the past week when the weather cooperated enough for games to be played.
The week in baseball saw a Novato freshman announce himself with a three-homer, 10-week RBI. Redwood had a strong week as well, posting a 3-0 record against perennial playoff contenders.
The San Rafael softball team got a rare win against Marin Catholic as part of a 3-0 week. Tam won a pair of MCAL games as well with a freshman pitcher piling up the strikeouts.
Tam's top swimmer had another record-setting week in the pool and the San Marin girls lacrosse team remain undefeated on the season.
COHEN GARCIA, NOVATO BASEBALL >> The freshman had himself a monster week to lead the Hornets to a pair of victories against Branson. Garcia crushed two home runs in the first game to drive in four runs and picked up the win on top of that, pitching three innings of one-run relief. Garcia homered again in the second game, — part of a three-hit, six-RBI effort that helped Novato roll to a 16-4 victory. All told, Garcia went 5 for 8 with 10 RBIs, a walk and four runs scored in the two-game series.
MEGAN MURPHY, SAN RAFAEL SOFTBALL >>
Murphy excelled at the plate and in the circle as the Bulldogs completed a 3-0 week. Murphy pitched against Novato and Santa Rosa, going 9.2 innings with 4 hits, one earned run and 17 strikeouts. As a hitter, Murphy put together a 7-for-10 week with 5 RBIs and four runs scored across the three games. Murphy singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh in a 6-2 victory against Marin Catholic.
ABIGAIL BRACKETT, SAN MARIN GIRLS LACROSSE >> The Mustangs ran their record to 8-0 on the season with three wins this past week. Brackett was the team's leading scorer in all three contests, scoring 10 goals against Casa Grade, eight times against San Rafael and then five more times against Clayton Valley Charter. Brackett is averaging just over seven goals a game, having scored 57 of San Marin's 134 goals so far this season.
DANIL WELLS, REDWOOD BASEBALL >>
Redwood picked up three wins last week with a victory against San Marin followed by a two-game sweep against Tam. Wells was a key factor in two of those victories. Against San Marin, Wells hit an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to start a four-run rally that saw the Giants come back from a 2-0 deficit. Wells came up clutch again the following day against Tam, hitting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh that ultimately forced extra innings. Wells came back up to bat in the ninth, with Redwood trailing by a run, and knocked in the tying run with a single. The winning run came around to score on the same play following an error by the Red-tailed Hawks.
MARRE GATTNAR, TAM BOYS SWIMMING >>
Tam's top swimmer spent most of last season setting school school records then besting his own marks as the season progressed. Gattnar held Tam records in the 50yard free, the 100 back and the 100 butterfly at the end of last season. Gattnar broke his own record for the 100 fly this past week in a meet against Terra Linda, turning in a time of 49.14 seconds. He also set a new record in the 200 free — a mark that had stood for nine years — with a time of 1:39.02.
AVA LEE, TAM SOFTBALL >> The Red-tailed Hawks' freshman pitcher was strong in the circle and at the plate to help Tam pick up a pair of MCAL wins as part of a 2-1 week. Lee had her best game in a comefrom-behind, 9-8 victory against San Marin. Lee had two hits and drove in a four runs, including a tworun double in the sixth inning to pull the Red-tailed Hawks within 8-7. Lee went the distance — as she did in every game this week — allowing four hits, seven walks and striking out 10. Only one of the eight runs was earned. Lee was better in the circle against Archie Williams, allowing six hits, one walk, one earned run and striking out 10 more hitters. Lee ran her strikeout total for the week to 26 with six more in a 3-1 loss against McKinleyville.