Preps of the week: Trio of softball teams unbeaten as MCAL play begins

Four softball teams survived the first week of MCAL without taking a loss with a couple of the usual suspects — Redwood and Archie Williams — joining Terra Linda and Tam.

The Giants, Peregrine Falcons, and Trojans maintained their perfect starts through Monday night’s games.

A pair of Marin Catholic pitchers and a pair of San Rafael hitters provided some of the highlights in baseball.

Redwood and San Marin standouts were among the big-time performers in track.

Kait Christensen, Redwood softball

Christensen had a huge week at the plate as the Giants rolled to a 3-0 record with wins against Marin Catholic, San Rafael, and Napa. Christensen had nine hits in 12 plate appearances, driving in seven runs and scoring four times. Christensen’s best stat line came against Napa with four hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored.

Eleanor Johnson and Sofia Gonzalez, Terra Linda softball

Johnson pitched a complete-game four-hitter as TL opened league play with a 2-1 victory against San Marin on Wednesday — the Trojans’ first win against the Mustangs in more than a decade. Johnson was dominant with her bat in a 13-3 victory against Justin-Siena, with a home run among her two hits. Johnson drove in four runs and scored three times. Gonzalez, batting cleanup right behind Johnson, also had a big day against the Braves with two doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Gonzalez also scored the winning run against San Marin as TL manufactured some offense in the top of the sixth inning.

Paige Murphy, Archie Williams softball

Murphy tossed her fourth one-hitter of the season as Archie Williams picked up an 8-0 victory against Novato on Monday. Murphy, who had pitched in nine games coming into this week, also has a two-hitter and a three-hitter on her resume. All told, Murphy had thrown 56 innings prior to this week while allowing just four earned runs.

Ava Lee and Eden Clark, Tam softball

Lee and Clark took turns tossing one-hitters last week. Lee accomplished the feat in a 7-0 win against Novato then Clark did it to beat St. Vincent de Paul 3-0. Lee had 13 strikeouts and walked six against Novato. Both Lee and Clark had a hit and drove in two runs against the Hornets. Lee’s hit was a two-run homer. Clark struck out 15 batters against no walks against St. Vincent.

Aedan Bardoul and Cruz Wexler, San Rafael baseball

Bardoul and Wexler had huge offensive games to lead San Rafael to a 20-2 victory against Terra Linda on Friday. Bardoul had four hits — including two home runs — drove in six and scored twice. Wexler had a homer among his three hits, three RBIs, and scored twice. Wexler was also the starting pitcher, working five innings while allowing two hits and two unearned runs.

Colt Crum and Carson Davis, Marin Catholic baseball

Crum and Davis turned in back-to-back strong outings on the mound as Marin Catholic posted an 8-0 victory against Tam on Friday followed by a 5-0 win against Archbishop Riordan at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Saturday. Crum limited the Red-tailed Hawks to a pair of hits over seven innings just three days after Tam’s offense had roughed MC up for 17 runs. Davis had a big day at the plate in Friday’s win with three hits — including a homer — two RBIs, and two runs scored. Davis took the hill at Oracle the next day, pitching 4.1 innings while allowing two hits. Davis also led the way offensively for MC with two hits and two RBIs.

Trenton Jepma, San Marin track

Jepma registered a trio of personal bests while winning three events in a tri-meet against Marin Catholic and Tam last week. Jepma won the shot put with a distance of 40 feet, 11.25 inches, the discus with a mark of 170’4″, and the triple jump with a distance of 41’6″. Jepma is the defending MCAL champion in the discus and finished second in the shot put last season.

Marco Cleary and Holden Turner, Redwood boys track

Cleary won both sprints and participated on two winning relay teams for the Giants in a tri-meet against San Rafael and Novato. Cleary won the 100 meters in 11.31 seconds and won the 200 with a personal record of 23.26. Turner picked up wins in the shot put and the discus, notably posting a PR of 52″0.75′ in the shot put. Turner is the defending MCAL champion in that event, winning last year with a mark of 47’6.75″.

Sicily Grasso, San Marin girls track

Grasso came out on top as two of the league’s top sprinters battled it out on Thursday. Grasso won the 100 meters in 12.49 and the 200 in 25.82, finishing ahead of MC’s Angelique Addae in second on both occasions. Grasso is the MCAL defending champion in both events. Addae placed second in both events back in 2023.

Hayden Thill, Tam boys golf

Thill started his week by posting the best score of any Marin golfer with a 73 over 18 holes to take second place at the Silverado tournament hosted by Justin-Siena in Napa on Monday. Thill helped lead Tam to a second-place team finish at the event, held at Silverado Resort. Thill followed that up by taking medalist honors with a 33 at Meadow Club to lead the Red-tailed Hawks to a 178-187 win against Redwood on Thursday.