Return to softball form: Why confident James Logan says it is ready to compete with section’s elite

NEWARK – Danger was all around James Logan pitcher Anastasia Marquez in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday. Baserunners ready to spring into action crouched to the right, left and directly behind the senior with two outs.

But in front of her was a familiar face in catcher Makayla Villapando, who had a simple message for her childhood friend.

“Take your time and take control of the game,’” Villapando told the senior pitcher. “You control the tempo, so slow it down and go at your own pace.”

In a situation where one hit could turn a five-run lead into a close game, Marquez took her catcher’s advice and a deep breath before striking out the next batter to wipe away the threat. 

James Logan’s ace pitcher struck out 12 in a complete game as the Colts beat host Newark Memorial 5-0, improving the Union City school’s record to 16-1 overall and 9-0 in the Mission Valley Athletic League. 

It was a typically superb performance by James Logan, which has allowed six runs during its 14-game winning streak and is batting .458 as a team.

Malia Athey had two hits and EJ Delgadillo drove in a pair of runs for James Logan, which gained a game on second-place Newark Memorial (8-7, 6-3). 

But while a league title is nice, what the Colts truly aspire for is North Coast Section hardware. 

“Logan ball has always been about going far in and winning NCS,” coach Mandy Camuso said. “Winning league has always been secondary.”

That section-or-bust standard was set by legendary coach Teri Johnson. who won five NCS Division I titles, including three in a four year stretch between 2010 and 2013.

None of the current players played for Johnson, who ended a 33-year run with the program in 2018, but they all acknowledge and embrace the expectations she set for the team.

Logan has had a winning season every year since Johnson’s departure, including a 20-4-1 last year.

But the team’s leaders see this year’s version as capable of far more than last year’s first-round NCS exit.

“Logan softball has always been good,” Marquez said. “And to have this group of girls, who know how to work together and are good at doing that, it’s special to have.”

Logan looked every bit like a special team ready to compete for a sixth section title early in Tuesday’s game. While Marquez tossed a no-hitter through four innings, her offense put up at least one run in each of those first four frames. 

Senior left fielder EJ Delgadillo got the scoring started when she poked a ball into center field, driving in Janessa Parras and Ava Medellin. 

Medellin got on base three times without putting the ball in play, twice hit by pitch and once by a walk, but she made her biggest impact with her glove at third base. She had four putouts and two assists on the hot corner.

“It feels good to have a defense behind me, to have people I can rely on so I don’t feel pressure,” Marquez said. 

Newark Memorial was able to hang around though, with pitcher Grace Veloza getting many of Logan’s potent bats to pull her breaking pitches right into the waiting gloves of shortstop Andrea Tall and outfielder Nouvelle Bennett on the left side of the field.

Tall and Kayla Presley each had a hit, and Newark Memorial was able to get five runners in scoring position after its slow start. The Cougars just couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities, to the chagrin of coach Rachel Kahoalii.

“We started slow, but we competed.” Kohoalii said. “When you get kids on, you have to execute offensively when you need to. We just weren’t able to execute today.”

James Logan hasn’t had any issue getting runs on the board this season, scoring an average of nine per game. The Colts are poised to continue their high-scoring ways against the rest of their league as the program prepares for a playoff run. 

But if the Colts are to make a section championship push, they’ll need their senior ace to be in top form.

They’re confident Marquez will be.

“She’s been a beast on the mound,” Villapando said. “She’s been starting every single game … and shutting down everybody we face.”