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Sports

Palihi Softball Wins First Western League Crown

Eleven players score and all but two get hits as the Dolphins crush archrival Venice 18-4.

History was made Monday afternoon at Stadium by the Sea, as the routed Venice 18-4 to clinch its first-ever Western League championship. The fact that the Dolphins wrapped up the title on their home field and against their archrivals made it that much sweeter.

"This is huge for our program," Coach said. "I'm really proud of all the girls. They put everything together. pitched a gem, 11 different girls scored--which I've never had happen--and everybody got to play. Everyone got hits except for two girls. I couldn't ask for more."

It was only fitting that senior captain and second baseman fielded a ground ball and flipped it to first baseman for the game's final out. As the only 12th-grader on varsity, Farahdel will be honored along with team managers Tina Farahdel and Lauren Dunn before Wednesday's final home game against Hamilton.

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"It's Senior Day, so Tara will start [at second base] and she's done well whenever she's gotten the chance to play," Marsden said. "We're playing with house money now, so I'm going to let the girls enjoy the occasion and hopefully we can finish off league strong."

Hamilton handed Palisades its only league defeat back on March 31, but even if the Yankees win Wednesday's rematch, the Dolphins have assured themselves first place because they own the tiebreaker over three-time defending champion Westchester, having won both head-to-head meetings with the Comets.

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"Westchester was much better the second time we played them and yet we still handled them decisively," Marsden recalled. "That was the game where the girls realized how good they are and that the [league] title was attainable."

On Monday, the Gondoliers were determined to turn the tables, having suffered a 14-3 loss in the first league meeting April 8. Instead, it was more of the same, as Palisades pounded out 13 hits and drew 10 walks. had a double, two singles and three RBIs, went two-for-three with three runs scored and Muir and each scored three times.

After spotting Venice a run on a fielder's choice in the top of the first inning, the Dolphins responded with three of their own in the bottom half and tacked on five in the second to build a commanding 8-1 lead.

That was more than enough for Muir, who mixed up her pitches brilliantly to keep Venice hitters guessing and the Gondoliers offense was stymied in five of the last six innings.

Junior ended any chance of a Venice comeback with her bases-loaded triple to highlight a seven-run fourth inning for the Dolphins (12-5-2 overall, 10-1 in league), who added three runs in the sixth to cap the scoring.

Muir pitched a nine-hitter with four strikeouts, improving to 10-2 overall in 13 appearances, with six complete games, 35 strikeouts, 24 walks and one shutout. A sophomore who moved to the area from Arizona last year, Muir is also one of the team's most productive hitters.

"She went five-for-five twice and reached base safely 12 straight times a few weeks ago, so she's been terrific with the bat too," Marsden said of Muir. "She isn't overpowering, but she doesn't walk anyone, she's real good at locating her pitches and she let's her defense do the work."

Freshman has 35 hits and 31 RBIs and has struck out only once in 66 at-bats, Brando leads the team in RBIs (32) and doubles (9) while Cortez is slugging a team-best .875 and has hit five of the Dolphins' nine home runs.

Joining in the post-game celebration Monday was the softball squad, which was treated to quite a show. A few of its players will one day be Dolphins and Marsden was delighted to see them witness his team's landmark victory.

"We've built a bridge to Revere, so I have a pulse on who's coming here," Marsden said. "We're really deep now and that's made our practices 100 percent better because there's more competition for positions."

The Dolphins' junior varsity team is also having quite a season. Palisades is 15-0 behind freshman pitcher , a former standout at . Marsden will likely bring her up to varsity, but only after the JV playoffs are over. 

"They have a great shot to win the whole thing," said Marsden, now in his third season with the Dolphins. "[Courtney] would probably be our No. 2 pitcher on varsity right now and she and Alexis are going to be a scary one-two punch next year."

Palisades wraps up the regular season Saturday with games against West Adams and Verdugo Hills in the Spring Fling Tournament at West Adams Prep. Then, it's on to the City Section playoffs. As a league champion, the Dolphins are assured a postseason berth. The only question is which bracket they'll play in.

"Yes, I do think we deserve [championship] consideration, I'm just not sure that we're ready for it," Marsden said. "We're starting two freshmen, five sophomores and not one senior, so any playoff experience will help us in the long run. If we're in the Invitational, we should be a high seed and get some home games. We'll give our all no matter where they put us."

The City seeding meeting is Monday, May 9. The 24-team Invitational playoffs start May 11 and the 16-team championship division begins May 12.

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