Coach Marsden Sets Lofty Goals for Pali High Softball

Softball season doesn't pick up again until next spring but Palisades High varsity coach Ray Marsden probably wishes that it was beginning tomorrow. That's how optimistic he is about his team and the direction the program is heading.

The Dolphins are coming off their best season, having gone 14-8 and stumbling just once in 12 games on the way to their first Western League championship. Despite losing in the quarterfinals of the City Division II playoffs, they lost only one senior--Tarah Farahdel--to graduation.

In short, the future looks bright for a team that only a few years ago was mired in mediocrity.

"I am very excited about next year," Marsden said. "We have both varsity pitchers returning and with junior varsity having so much talent, the future looks really good."

The starting pitcher Marsden was referring to are Alexis Muir, who will be a junior next season, and Mei Mei Freedman, who will only be a sophomore. Then, add JV phenom Courtney Carswell to the mix and Palisades has three quality throwers.

Muir was voted Western League Player of the Year this past spring after posting an 11-3 record in the circle with 48 strikeouts in 101 innings and pitching all 16 innings in the postseason. She was equally impressive at the plate, batting .439, with a .553 on base percentage and 18 walks. She went 5-for-5 twice and in one stretch reached base by hit or walk in 15 consecutive at-bats.

"Our three pitchers are all very different, which gives us a great one-two-three punch--especially on tournament days where we play multiple games," Marsden said. "The best part is that they each has her own unique style so if we use them all in a game, opposing batters will be off balance the entire time."

Freedman was a solid backup to Muir all season long while Carswell, a former multi-sport standout at St. Matthew's Parish School, went 18-2 for the Dolphins' league champion JV squad, which finished fourth in the City tournament.

"Alexis was a junk ball pitcher who could dial it up when needed and was really good at hitting her spots," Marsden said, describing his three pitchers. "Mei Mei is a control pitcher and once she puts a little muscle on her, she will dominate. Courtney is a power pitcher. Once she gains a little confidence and also develops a little more strength, it is scary to think what she's capable of."

In addition to all of the pitching depth, Palisades also returns second team All-City shortstop Taleigh Williams, first team All-League center fielder Amber Flores and second team All-Leaguers Prudence Brando (first base), Jenna Paul (second base) and Shannon Dunn (catcher).

Then there is Selma Cortez, who will be a senior next spring. She made second team All-City and first team All-League this past spring, starting primarily at third base but also playing first base and catcher. She started all 25 games for the Dolphins, batted third in the lineup and hit .458, with a .795 slugging percentage, 40 runs scored, 38 base hits, 29 RBIs, eight doubles and a league-leading six home runs.

Expectations are high for next season and Marsden has set both short-term and long-term goals for his fourth season.

"My short-term goal is to win the City Invitational (Division II) next year, and my long-term goal is to never lose the Western League again," Marsden said. "In two years I want us to be in the City Section's championship bracket (Division I) permanently."