On Thursday, May 8, the Archie Williams girls varsity softball team (9-5) played the Marin Catholic High School Wildcats (9-5) in their final MCAL league game. Despite a long, hard-fought game on the Falcon’s Senior Day, Archie Williams ultimately lost 1-12, placing them fourth in the Marin County Athletic League (MCAL).
For the Falcons’ Senior Day, family, friends, and fans in the stands celebrated and showed support. Players shared fond memories of their soon-graduating senior teammates, catcher Kennedy Dunsing and pitcher Paige Murphy, and freshman outfielder Maggie Pierce performed the national anthem.
Paige served as the first pitcher for the Falcons, and the first inning started off slow as the Wildcats hit multiple singles and a walk, loading up the bases and gaining three runs. The Falcons did not give up however, with Paige first up to bat. She hit a double, allowing junior third baseman Chase Unger to score the Falcons’ first and only run of the game. The Falcons remained down; the score stayed put due to attentive defense from both teams’ outfielders, and the first inning ended with a score of 1-3 in favor of Marin Catholic.
“[Today’s game was] definitely a little tough, but we still fought hard… I know that we can use it as motivation for our first playoff game. We made sure to be positive and communicate with one another [by] being loud, cheerful, and there for one another… We’re not just a team, but a family,” Kennedy said.
During the fifth inning, the Falcons chose to swap their pitcher to freshman left fielder Isla Fisk, who delivered multiple sliders and fastballs. The Wildcats bumped up their offense and loaded up their bases with successful hits throughout the fifth and sixth innings. Although the game didn’t end in the Falcons’ favor, throws and catches from freshman first baseman Parker Conrad, sophomore center fielder Lydia Battaglia, and sophomore second baseman Sam Singer prevented multiple Wildcats from stealing home, finishing the sixth inning 1-9.
“I’m proud of us because we had high energy, [which] is something we’ve been working on this entire season. We always go to the middle with Paige, and she says something positive like, ‘Let’s have a clean game, stay focused, [and] play loose.’ I know that we’re going to come back strong on Monday and for the playoffs,” said freshman shortstop Lila James.
The seventh inning held the same results as the previous ones for the Falcons, with the Wildcats gaining three more runs, finalizing the Senior Day game with an unfortunate loss of 1-12.
The Falcons’ next game is a home game Monday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m. against the Tamalpais High School Hawks in the first MCAL playoff game.
“Our [senior] starter pitcher and catcher [have played] since they were freshmen, it’s gonna be pretty hard to ever replace these two and it’s gonna be quite sad to see them go. I just want to say thank you to the fans for all the support they’ve given us throughout the whole season, [and that] this team is the best that we’ve had since I’ve been [coaching] here,” said head coach Joe Bell.
