It was a magical season,” says Girls Softball Coach Zack Torrey. “I was lucky enough to have that combination of team chemistry, talent, and coaching staff.” It was just his 2nd season as Northgate’s softball coach, and he has helped the girls reach new heights.
They finished the regular season with a record of 14-4 and 8-0 in the DAL Valley Conference, which landed them an automatic spot in the playoffs. But the moment when Torrey knew he had “that magic” came earlier in the season when they beat Las Lomas, the cross town rival, at Las Lomas and all three of his captains hit home runs for the the first time. “That’s when I knew we had something really special. It was a storybook moment,” added Torrey. They won their first playoff game, but then fell to number one seed Redwood High School in round 2. All three captains and many other players went on to earn league honors. The team is young, with most of them returning next year with high hopes.
Captain and pitcher Makenna Choi was named MVP Pitcher of the League and was also presented with the Octavia Bond Bronco Award for “Most Outstanding Player on and off the field.” 1st team All-League honors went to Captain Mariana Johnsen, Katelyn Takahashi, and Taelyn Jriyasetapong. 2nd team All-League honors went to Captain Liliana Canefield, Katrina Irvin, Ashley Herman and Jillian Neil.
Liliana shared, “This team was so special because we were more than teammates, we were friends. We had a trust and bond off the field which translated to on the field when we were playing games. We know how to play loose and have fun, but also knew how to take care of business. Our coaches helped keep our eyes on the goal and pushed us to be our very best.”
“Torrey was a finalist for West Coast Preps Bay Area Softball Coach of the Year. Best of luck to the Broncos Softball team in 2024!
By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991