 Media Credit: Armando Morales Coach Nicole Hartfeild (right) heads to the dugout as Amanda Hoj takes the field.
|
|
 Contact. COM's Kayla Tate connects with a pitch against Taft College. Tate and 11 other freshmen make up the College of Marin's softball roster.
|
|
tball team opened their season, Nicole Hartfield got out of bed, only to discover she had assumed the program's head coaching position. The team's original coach, Dianna Albini, had just been appointed a judge in San Francisco.
Having signed on as assistant coach for the Mariners' first season since the 1990s, Hartfield was not familiar with the junior college level and unsure of what to expect from COM's first softball team in over a decade.
"It's kind of shocking to wake up as head coach one day, amazing really. And I'm proud of myself for it," said Hartfield. "I don't stress out about being head coach, I think heck yeah - this is rad!"
Certianly, Hartfield would not feel anxious from lack of experience. From high school, she went to San Francisco State University, where she played third base for the Gators, setting records along the way. "Softball has always been with me, I've been playing since I was five years old. It's my life," said Hartfield. "I'm passionate about it and have grown up with softball. It's family and it comes natural to be part of a team like this."
Assembling this team was no easy task. This past fall the college was uncertain if it would have enough players to play games during the season, as only three or four girls coming to softball practice said Hartfield. But she and assistant coach Monica Amburgey persevered, ultimately managing to scout out enough girls for the necessary 11-player roster.
"It's starting to come together," said Hartfield. "We are having fun now."
Players range in age from 18 to 37 years old, but the disparity in skill level may be even greater as a good portion of the team is completely new to the game. Yet, Hartfield said, the team's diversity has had positive effects. "Everyone is together now," she said. "It doesn't matter the [various] levels of play, because we can learn from each other."
COM softball lost its home opener February 17 against Taft College, but Hartfield was pleased with the community's enthusiasm.
"I was surprised at the turnout," said Hartfield. "I came from a college where most people didn't realize we actually had athletics because they were so consumed with all the cuts. To see such support-it's a great feeling coming from somewhere that didn't have that. I appreciate it so much more for my girls."
Many of the softball home opener attendees were from other athletic teams at COM said Hartfield. "Our team supports the other teams and they come to support us," she added. "Sports do this for each other, I don't know where it comes from, but it's awesome!"
Only a few games into the season, COM pitcher and shortstop, freshman Amanda Hoj, has emerged as a potential star, according to Hartfield. "So far she has gotten several colleges that are interested in her and I totally have faith that she could play at a four-year school," she said
While Hartfield hopes Hoj and others will provide a core for the team, she is constantly looking out for new players to join the team next fall. Junior college players, she said, "are only here for a year or two and then transfer on, so we will always need new girls. Softball is open to anyone who wants to play, no experience needed."
The team's next home game is Friday, February 26, against the College of Redwoods at 2 p.m.
"We're going to have a great team. I'm going to work hard with these girls," said Hartfield. "Come out and support us."
Be the first to comment on this story