San Jose – Willow Glen’s softball team was a champion of northern California two years ago and Nortal finalist last year.
This season, the Rams, classified No. 2 in the top 20 of the news group of the Bay area, have a better start than in any of those two seasons, 13-0 after a 10-3 Tesday victory over No. 3 classified by Valley Christian.
“We are playing ball as we should be,” said Willow Glen coach Don Spingola. “We are taking a game at the same time, we are not too much ahead of ourselves.”
How does this compare this team with the last two?
“We are older, a little smarter,” Spingola said. “We have seven older people and want to go out with a winning note. Close their four years with a winning record and continue with another championship.”
Willow Glen’s rise in the Norcal preparation softball world coincided and was largely influenced by the arrival of Alanna Clincy to the campus. And the right corridor looks better than ever this season. On Tuesday he struck next to each of the first two tickets and ended with 13 strikeouts, allowing five hits, two balls per ball and one race in six innings.
“I feel safer of myself and I think that is what has really helped me improve this year,” said Clincy. “My speed has risen a little, but I put more emphasis on locating the ball.”
Still just a junior, Clincy has committed to lime.
“I am very grateful to be able to say that I committed to myself,” Clincy said. “It’s just an honor. My parents have made many sacrifices and I want to thank you.”
The Rams did a lot of damage with the day of the bats. Read Crawford and Haley Ocumen hit balls on the high fence of the left field for home runs. Clincy and Ocumen lined is doubled from the wall. Clincy had three promoted races, Ocumen and Katelynn Dilbeck two each. The initial battery Catalina Medina stole two bases and scored four races.
“Our team did not hit many home runs,” Spingola said. “We manufacture races, we play, we execute the bases, we execute. This is how we are built. Today we hit the long ball. Sometimes this is how it goes.”
Charlotte Coney had two hits for Valley Christian (15-4). Shyla Paredes hit a double two races. Makenna Blauman and Hannah Paquiz also hit doubles.