Tarah Connolly, Freshman
NOVATO HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
- What she did: Connolly pitched Novato (6-6, 5-4) to a 2-0 week with wins against Branson and San Rafael. In an 8-5 win over the Bulls on Monday, Connolly went the distance and was 2-for-4 at the plate to help the Hornets get their league record above .500. She did even better her next time out, limiting the Bulldogs to one run on four hits in another complete game effort that netted Novato a 6-1 victory.
- What she said: "The San Rafael games was one of my best games this season. Each inning I was trying to keep track of how many strikeouts I had thrown. That was a really cool feeling. ... Coming out with a winning record this season has been a real change for the Novato softball program, so I feel honored to be such a big part of that."
- What's next: The Hornets travel to face Tam, one of the MCAL's top teams, on Thursday looking to stay in the top half of the league standings. "We know that we have a couple tough weeks ahead of us against some big opponents, but there's no team we can't beat," Connolly said. After softball season, Connolly will turn her attention to marching band, where she is a bass drummer in the Marin troop heading to Washington D.C. to perform in a Memorial Day parade on Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Off the field: Away from the volleyball court and softball diamond, Connolly spends most of her time dancing. She has done Irish dance for 10 years and competes in solo and group competitions at the regional level, with hopes of qualifying for the national competition in July. She is enrolled at Marin School of the Arts on Novato's campus and takes two dance classes a day, along with a creative writing class.
- Trivial matter: When Connolly has a free day, she enjoys baking cakes to practice decorating them. The cakes are not only artistic - they're healthy, too. "They're usually gluten-free because my mom is allergic to wheat," Connolly said.
- Coach Kelly Cattaneo: "Being a freshman, she is so poised on the mound and she just has composure, which is so nice. She's completely reliable for just being a freshman. If she sticks with softball for the next four years, she's going to be one of the best pitchers in the league."
