Seven losses in a row.
After a devastating losing streak early in the season last year, Coronado High’s softball team fell to 3-10.
It is not often that a team that wins just three of their first 13 games is able to get back to the .500 mark, much less compete for anything of merit.
However, the Islanders did not pay any mind to their early record last year.
They followed up their seven game losing streak with 12 straight wins, including a perfect 10-0 record in league play.
City League Champs
The Islanders finished the 2022 campaign 16-12, winning the City League and making the playoffs, before falling to Academy of Our Lady of Peace 11-1 in the playoffs.
In 2023, head coach Tom Dull will look to lead the Islanders to another successful season, and potentially another league title.
Dull said that Coronado is a smaller Division III school, but the team purposefully plays a rigorous non-conference schedule to prepare them for league play, explaining the disparity between the team’s non-conference and league records last year.
“We will play anyone, anytime.”
-Softball Coach Tom Dull.
“We will play anyone, anytime. When we play better competition we get better,” Dull said, “We play a tough tournament and non-league schedule to prepare us for league play. That’s what we did last year and it really paid off for us.”
Although the Islanders graduated 10 seniors from last year, they will return junior All League shortstop Susan Pate and senior team captain and utility player Madison Cannon.
Pate led the team in multiple statistical categories last season including batting average (.532), on base percentage (.617), slugging percentage (.779), hits (41), and stolen bases (15).
Pate said she believes playing at an all league level comes with responsibilities, both to lead and to continue to perform.
“I have a responsibility to lead by example, share my knowledge of the game, and be a liaison between the coaches and players,” she said, “Although there is always pressure to perform, working hard in the off season allows me to focus on staying relaxed and having fun once the season begins.”
“X-factors”
Dull noted two more players as potential “X-factors” for Coronado: sophomore catcher Parker Thompson and freshman pitcher Tatum Munoz.
“Parker had some big time hits for us last year in our playoff run, and Tatum has great control and work ethic,” he said.
Thompson said that she has a special connection with both pitchers, but she has an extensive history with Munoz.
“I love catching for Ali. She is on my travel ball team and Tatum and I have played together since we were 8-years-old.” she said.
Although pitching on a successful varsity team such as Coronado can be daunting for a sophomore, Thompson said that honing the mental aspect of her game has been crucial.
“Working hard this off season with my travel ball team was the biggest thing. I have also been working a lot on mental preparation, whether it’s for a work out, practice, or game,” she said.
