Mills softball showcases its newfound pedigree with run-rule win over Sequoia, continues strong start to season
REDWOOD CITY — Mills softball was a good team last year.
The Vikings finished the season with a record of 14-7, losing in the quarterfinals of the Central Coast Section Division IV tournament to Aragon. But this season, Mills has taken things to another level.
Currently No. 6 in the Bay Area News Group rankings, the Vikings are now 9-2-1 after run-ruling Sequoia 13-3 on Friday. Mills has multiple impressive wins on its resume, including a signature 5-3 defeat of No. 5 Mitty, a perennial powerhouse in the Bay Area.
So what’s made the difference for the Vikings this year?
“The camaraderie with the team,” Mills coach Michelle Beauchemin said. “Most of the girls have been playing together since they were six. So when the freshmen came up, everyone was welcoming and already knew how they played, so they just molded back together from when they were playing rec ball and things like that.
“It really helps too that we have some really good leaders on the team. So when someone’s feeling down or not feeling like they’re doing their best right now, everyone’s really good at encouraging each other and making sure that they fill up again.”
The Vikings’ cup is brimming at the moment. They look like a strong contender in the Peninsula Athletic League’s Ocean Division, where they will do battle with Half Moon Bay, Menlo-Atherton, Sequoia, Terra Nova and Notre Dame-Belmont.
Mills took its second loss of the young season on Wednesday, falling 6-3 to Notre Dame-Belmont, the No. 7 squad in the BANG rankings. The road ahead won’t be easy, but the Vikings are better prepared for the gauntlet ahead thanks to the rigor of their nonleague slate.
“We are being challenged more this year,” Beauchemin said. “I made sure that we played a lot more A-league teams, teams that we wouldn’t see in our league, just so we can see that we have the ability to compete. That helps them stay motivated when they are successful against teams like that, and they realize, ‘Oh look, we can do things like this.’
“So it’s not a shocker when we go and play other teams and we get close or we beat them. The biggest challenge for them right now is keeping that momentum, because now they know all eyes are on them, and they feel this pressure. We coaches do too. We just want to come out here and play, but we know people are watching. So we want to make sure that the girls don’t forget to still have fun and not feel this pressure of, ‘We have to win.’”
Mills certainly had little trouble toppling Sequoia on Friday in Redwood City. The Vikings jumped all over the Ravens (3-6) with six runs in the top of the first inning, then added three more in the second to push the lead to 9-1.
Mills wasn’t threatened again the rest of the way. Senior leadoff hitter Sofia Kwan was an offensive standout for the Vikings with three hits, two doubles and three runs batted in.
Freshman Jolie Wong added a two-run triple in the lineup’s No. 3 spot. Sophomore Lucy Esquivel, junior Audrey Jang and sophomore Alyssa Penas each chipped in two hits.
Senior Jada Crockett ripped a two-run double for Sequoia to plate the majority of the Ravens’ runs.
“Obviously, it didn’t go like we wanted it to go,” said Sequoia coach Sha Crockett. “But I think the girls came out ready, came out to play. It’s a good team over there, but it’s a team we could compete with down the line. So I’m impressed. I’m happy.”