Softball Squad Aims for League Title

When it comes to high school softball, Westchester has been the team to beat in the Western League for years. This year, however, the Comets are in a rebuilding phase and the door is open for other teams to take control of the league race.

One such team is Palisades, which is off to a 4-1-1 start under third-year head coach and, more importantly, has won its first two league games--including an 11-3 victory over defending champion Westchester last week. 

"Given that we're such a young team I'm really pleased with where we are right now," Marsden said. "Tara [Farahdel] is our only senior and seven players are freshmen or sophomores."

Marsden has reason to be optimistic about the season ahead, especially after witnessing his team's 22-12 rout of University on Thursday night at Stadium by the Sea. The Dolphins had 10 hits and drew 20 walks and freshman had a game she'll never forget, driving in six runs--four of them on a grand slam to right field in the bottom  of the sixth inning.

"Before that, she hit two missiles right at the second baseman, so before that at-bat I told her just do what you've been doing and take it to right field," Marsden said of his advice to Williams. 

Most coaches consider themselves fortunate to have two reliable pitchers, but Marsden has three. Sophomore , who moved from Arizona last year but didn't play as a freshman, has emerged as the Dolphins' No. 1 pitcher but they also have junior and freshman , who was called up from junior varsity.

"We have five doubleheaders this year so we're going to need more than one pitcher," Marsden said. "Alexis [Muir] has really impressed me and has earned her spot."

This is a busy week for Palisades, which has already played four games and will play two more Saturday afternoon--against South East and Taft--in the Lincoln Classic at Hawthorne High. 

"The league is more wide open than it's been in a while, but I think it's going to come down to us, Fairfax and Hamilton," Marsden predicted. "They've already played each other once and Hamilton won by a run so they seem pretty equal."

After spotting the visiting Wildcats three runs in the top of the first inning, the Dolphins tied it on 's RBI double to the center field fence that was initially ruled a home run but corrected by the umpires a few moments later.

Palisades took advantage of control problems by the University pitcher to load the bases in each of the next three innings, scoring seven runs to take a 10-4 lead. 

Junior caught a lazy fly ball to end Thursday's game and Muir went the distance for her fourth victory. Palisades hosts Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies next Tuesday and hosts Fairfax next Wednesday, both at 3 p.m.