Todd Freitas can barely contain himself when talking about his
Hollister Heat 12-and under ‘B’ travel softball team. Freitas’
group of 13 players are off to the ASA ‘B’ Western National’s this
Sunday where they will take place in the opening ceremonies. The
tournament is to be held in Roseville.
”
I’ll be surprised if we’re not there the final day,
”
said Freitas.
”
We have to bring our ‘A’ game.
”
Todd Freitas can barely contain himself when talking about his Hollister Heat 12-and under ‘B’ travel softball team. Freitas’ group of 13 players are off to the ASA ‘B’ Western National’s this Sunday where they will take place in the opening ceremonies. The tournament is to be held in Roseville.
“I’ll be surprised if we’re not there the final day,” said Freitas. “We have to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Freitas has a great deal to be excited about. This Heat 12-u team captured the NorCal championship at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale, plus placed first in three other tournaments. For the summer, the Heat 12’s, which placed second twice, are 23-6-2.
“That team is good enough to play ‘A’,” said Heat 14-and under ‘A’ coach Steve Grimsley. “They have an All-Star infield and more than enough pitching.”
When Freitas talks personnel, he mentions four returning players from last year’s 12-and under team which took fifth at the NSA Westerns in Las Vegas.
“We go as these four go,” said Freitas.
The four comprise the five infield positions, not counting pitcher.
-Brenna Carrillo-Zazueta is rock solid behind the plate and bats cleanup.
-Bri Romero bats second and plays second.
-Rachel Maheu is the leadoff hitter and plays shortstop.
-Elena Fata is the third place hitter and anchors third.
“Elena is phenomenal,” said Grimsley of Fata, who will be entering the eighth grade in the fall. “She’s so smart. She might be able to play varsity when she is a freshman.”
-Chelsea Freitas rounds out the infield, playing first base and batting sixth.
-Katie O’Brien and Kelsey Russell, one of five 11 year-olds on the team, share time in left field.
-Liz Gatto catches most everything in center field and bats fifth.
-Hailey Macfarlane is the right fielder and bats seventh.
Freitas often uses someone as a designated player, very much like a designated hitter. That role usually goes to Amanda Frey.
The pitching staff bodes well for the future, if it doesn’t already bode well for the present. Four of Freitas’ top five pitchers are 11 year-olds. The top two hurlers are 11 – Mary Hernandez and Sarah Solis – with the 12 year-old Frey, joining 11 year-olds Stacy Filice and Chelsea Freitas as the remainder of the corps.
“We have good defense, good offense, team speed and good pitching,” said Todd Freitas, which pretty much covers all the bases.
Freitas has an All-Star coaching staff, which includes assistants Vince Fata, Ono Solis, Joey Hernandez and Kim Frey.
