The Malibu High softball team is in the midst of a youth movement a year after advancing to the CIF playoffs thanks to the bats and play of a senior-laden squad.
Now, with only two upperclassmen on the 15-member roster that includes nine freshmen, Malibu coach Geoff Stern said the burgeoning group is taking the season one base at a time.
“Progress every day and every game and get better as a unit,” said the first-year Sharks coach. “Being such a young team they just need to be on the dirt as much as much as they can.”
Heading into Tuesday’s home game against Frontier League opponent Villanova Prep, Malibu had a 2-3 record.
The Sharks grabbed their wins during the first week of the season. One was a March 1, 19-9 victory over Viewpoint; the other was an 11-9 win over Beverly Hills the next day.
The Sharks had nine hits and 10 RBIs in the first win. First baseman Amelia “Pip” Goudzwaard, a sophomore, led the way with two hits, two runs and three RBIs. One of her hits was a home run. Junior third baseman and pitcher Sydney Stern, the coach’s daughter, scored three runs, with two hits and one RBI, and freshman pitcher and third baseman Janet Ann Purtell registered one hit, one run and three RBIs.
In the second win, Malibu had nine hits and eight RBIs. The younger Stern had two RBIs and one hit and run, and Goudzwaard and Purtell each had two hits, a run and an RBI.
Purtell had 12 total strikeouts in the two wins. Her coach said the ninth grader really shined on the mound before hurting her ankle.
“Janet Ann throw a good pitching game against Beverly Hills,” the elder Stern said.
Malibu lost the opening game of the season on Feb. 28 to St. Genevieve, and last week lost a pair of contests by a combined score of 35-0 to Carpinteria and Nordoff.
Stern said the two recent losses were due to Malibu facing talented opposing pitchers that are en route to playing college softball one day.
“They were two teams that dropped down to our league with excellent pitchers,” Stern said. “It’s a young team so they have to get used to seeing that kind of pitching.”
The coach was still confident about the next time Malibu faces talented pitchers though.
“They have to see them and learn to recognize and adjust to them,” Stern said of his team. “We made some good contact against those pitchers. Next time, we will be more prepared.”
Stern said the team, which includes some members playing softball for the very first time, is getting better. The head Shark said the Sharks are very supportive of each other. He said he leans on his daughter and Goudzwaard, Malibu’s co-captains, to be leaders.
“They are both eager to help the newer girls and guide them — especially the girls who have never played — almost like second coaches,” Stern said.
Goudzwaard, the lone freshman on last season’s team, said she leads the team in stretches, gives playing tips and seeks to galvanize her teammates.
“If you are the leader of a team we want to be able to motivate your teammates,” she said. “If they don’t feel motivated, what’s the point of even playing?”
Goudzwaard said she tries to bring good energy to the team because it is a force that can push her and her roster mates to play better.
“We have to feed off each other’s positivity,” she said.
Stern, who coached 11 of the 15 Sharks in Malibu Little League, said he coaches with a positive outlook.
“Any youth sports — kids should enjoy the game, enjoy each other,” he said. “I can still coach and teach them and let them have fun. I believe more in positive coaching.”
Malibu hosts Grace Brethren on Friday at 3 p.m. The Sharks then play at Bishop Diego on March 21.
Stern said he expects Goudzwaard to lead the team in hitting and his daughter, junior infielder Harley Rader, freshman pitcher and shortstop Lauren Longo and freshman catcher Chloe Dyne to also excel on offense and defense.
Goudzwaard said the Sharks need to limit errors on defense, keep playing with energy and adjust to faster pitchers to have a good season. The 10th-grader said she and her teammates have improved their hitting a lot since opening day.
“A lot more progress can be made,” Goudzwaard said.
Stern said everyone one on his young team is improving.
“If every player is a little better by the end of the year, the team will be better,” he said.
