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Jaylin, Angelina and Margeaux Talk About Girls All-Star Championship

A firsthand look inside the Castro Valley's decorated Synergy softball program.

Margeaux Jackson, a relief pitcher and outfielder for Castro Valley’s champion all-star team, reveals what went through her mind when a batter drove hard and deep into right field, with two outs and runners on second and third base at the recent Novato Softball Classic.

"‘I was thinking, 'Oh no,’ and I started running backwards," Margeaux said. "My arm was outstretched as far as it could go. It was definitely full extension. I didn’t know I could jump that high. I just gave it my all and luckily I managed to make the catch. I will remember it for the rest of my life."

Castro Valley’s Synergy 12U Black All-Star team, sponsored by the CV Girls Softball League, swept the Aug. 6-7 tournament. 

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I had the privilege of sitting down with three members of the team—Jaylin Palega (3B/SS), Angelina Parker (1B/CF), and Margeaux (P/OF)—in a conference room at the Castro Valley Library to discuss their experiences in Novato, as well as the influence and impact that Synergy softball has in their lives.

Synergy's 13 young ladies put up a whopping 59 runs on 63 hits while giving up just 12 runs on 27 hits through six games. It was a dominant string of victories from start to finish, both offensively and defensively. This is an impressive accomplishment by any measurement, however, there is more to the story. 

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The hard work and effort that went into last weekend’s tournament triumph underscores the mission statement of the entire Synergy program and the lessons that the athletes are taking away from it all. 

Dressed in their Synergy jerseys and warm-up clothes, the girls arrived at the library, along with the trophy they won last weekend in Novato. The friendship and admiration between the teammates I saw as they greeted one another was authentic and inspiring. We found our way to our conference room and began our discussion by focusing on what each player feels has been the most important things they’ve learned playing for Synergy. 

THE BIGGEST LESSON 

Angelina: Sportsmanship, making the right calls, not yelling at the other team, shaking people’s hands at the end of the game, and not yelling.

I hear what you're saying. You're right. This is not exactly rec league ball. This is an entirely more competitive style of play where the objective is clear: win. Tell me what you mean by “sportsmanship” when it comes to playing ball at a higher level. 

Angelina: Playing ball, right, but in a more competitive way. Teamwork. 

Jaylin: Cheering people on.  

Angelina: Working together. 

Margeaux: Trying new things and having fun with it. You know, not to put too much—give it your all—but you don’t want to overwork yourself. Have fun with it. Always give 100 percent when you’re on the field.

Jaylin: I think mostly sportsmanship, picking up a teammate when they’re down. After the game when you have to shake hands with the other team, you should have a cheerful attitude. 

I agree. It can make a big difference to your opponent after the game if you can look them in the eye as you shake hands and say, Good game." It reflects well on your coaches and the team in general. It cultivates respect and builds character when you have a good attitude in a competitive environment. That is very impressive. 

APPROACHING THE GAME 

This last weekend your team performed quite well, winning six straight games. Angelina, you scored 8 runs, which means you were on base a lot! What is your approach when you come to the plate? 

Angelina: I don’t crowd the plate. I leave it open wide. I was batting lead-off. I get walked a lot because I bat lefthanded. I looked at the whole field and I look for holes and I try to aim there. I try to get a hit and get on base. I don’t want to be the first out. 

And when you're on base? 

Angelina: Usually Gabby surprise bunts and I’ll run, and then Jaylin comes up and hits it really hard and I keep running and running. 

Obviously you are such a threat to score that the opposition is forced to throw you good pitches to try and keep you off the bases. It sounds like you have a real strategy to your approach and clearly it worked to your advantage last weekend. 

Jaylin provided the power for Synergy by going 11-for-18 in the Novato tournament which included five hits for extra bases (two doubles and three triples).

What’s the secret to your success at the plate with that extra pop in your bat, Jaylin? 

Jaylin: I always have to get on base, or at least try to hit the ball hard. I crowd the plate. Coach Charlie says to use your hips, and for me he says to use the upper half of my body more than my lower half. I can get more power if I use it all. 

It isn’t really a matter then of whether or not you’re going to make contact, it sounds like it’s more a matter of where, and how far you’re going to hit the ball. That requires a great deal of confidence and the rest of your team obviously benefits from the extra base hits and runs batted in. 

Margeaux: I just go up there and to think that I'm going to hit. Coach says to always have a plan, give it your all when you’re swinging. Find the right pitch and hit it as hard as you can and sprint to the base. 

This team has been expertly coached to deal with the offensive side of the game. Each player has a plan when they step into the batter’s box and they follow through by listening to instruction, remembering their technique, and making decisions about how they want to impact the game by making contact. 

TOURNAMENT TIME

Tournaments require a lot of preparation. Describe some of the ways in which you have to be ready for a tournament. 

Jaylin: It's tiring. A lot of hard work and effort go into it. You really don’t get a break. You have to be at the field at least an hour earlier, and for me—I’m the coach’s daughter—at least two hours earlier, or on time. You have to run all the time. 

Margeaux: Be ready to play. 

Jaylin: We have to go to sleep very early. Sometimes we’re up at 4:30 a.m. or 5 a.m.

Are you familiar with most of the teams you face in tournaments in the area? Or are you always facing a new set of teams? 

Margeaux:  Most of the time it’s the same group with different players, so like we’ll play the Alameda Blaze but they will have different players. 

NOVATO SOFTBALL CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 

Synergy entered the Novato tournament on the heels of a 5-3 loss to the San Ramon Stompers on July 24 in Union City. They went 3-2 in that tournament.

They quickly got the taste of that defeat out of their mouths with an 8-2 win over the San Bruno Storm. This was followed up by two shutout victories on the same day, 12-0 and 13-0, respectively, over Novato Heat and the Petaluma Steel Breeze-Kenyon. 

On Sunday, Synergy opened with a 9-3 win over the Marin Blue Angels and defeated the other Petaluma Steel Breeze No. 2 team, 7-2. 

That brings us to the tournament final where they squared off against the Pacifica Fusion. 

Angelina: Before this, on Saturday, we saw them play. We thought they were good. We didn’t think we could beat them. But then we kept winning and winning our games, and then we had to face them. It was like, wow. They scored 2 runs in the first inning and we thought they were going to keep scoring, [however] we kept scoring and scoring. 

THE CATCH 

In the championship game, seldom-used outfielder Margeaux Jackson, who typically pitches in relief for Synergy, made an outstanding play that helped her team to victory. The team was down a player, so Margeaux was inserted into the line-up to help out. 

With runners on second and third, Pacifica Fusion was rallying and ready to break the game open. They were leading 5-3 in the fourth inning of a seven-inning game.

The batter drove a pitch deep into right field. 

Margeaux:  My heart was racing. I was scared out of my mind. At first, I thought I missed it. I was like, ‘Oh wait.’ I was just shocked. Everyone was cheering. It was a good feeling. Without my teammates and coaches, I wouldn’t have done it. 

There were two outs, there was a runner on second and third, and this girl comes up and then I think that it’s not going to be that big of a hit, and it’s coming closer and closer and I’m thinking, "Oh no," and I started running backwards. My arm was outstretched as far as it could go. It was definitely full extension. I didn’t know I could jump that high. I just gave it my all and luckily I managed to make the catch. I will remember it for the rest of my life. 

Angelina: The timing, the jump, the angle.  

Margeaux: Everyone probably figured that I wasn’t going to catch it. 

Jaylin: I knew she caught it! 

Because Margeaux is usually pitching relief for Synergy, her outstanding catch stole the momentum for her team and was a factor in the resulting offensive outburst, no doubt. Synergy rallied for seven runs in the final three innings to win the tournament championship, 10-5.

One of the major keys that ignited the big rally came at the hands of Jaylin who doubled in her first plate appearance, and later hit a 2-RBI double. 

Jaylin: My first at-bat it hit the fence and it rolled under the fence for a ground-rule double.  I doubled on my next at-bat with two runners on base. 

How about defensively? You are holding down the hot corner at third base. What was that like against a tough opponent like Pacifica in the championship game? 

Jaylin: Defensively I had to crowd shortstop. I had to make a lot of plays because I had to kind of like cheat over to shortstop because most of the balls are going there and they’re going slow. There were a lot of line drives on the foul line that I had to catch. 

Margeaux:  Jaylin is definitely amazing with everything that comes her way. I can only think of one time it might have passed her. But she stops everything. To have someone that dedicated and sufficient is a great feeling. 

Angelina: I remember one time when our shortstop, Gabby, went to field a groundball and it got past her, but Jaylin got it and threw her out at first base. 

Kiddingly, Angelina continued … 

Angelina: I usually yell at her because her throws are low. 

It’s easy to feel the respect and admiration these teammates have for one another. 

OTHER TEAMMATES 

Who else on your team made a big difference last weekend in Novato? Who else do you want to recognize on your team that’s not here? 

Jaylin: I have to say Tina [Maldonado], Maggie, and Kelsey the most, because Maggie and Kelsey do a great job pitching and Maggie knows how to frame the ball. 

Maggie Del Grande and Kelsey Nelson handled all the pitching duties throughout the tournament, displaying incredible control and endurance against quality opposition. 

Jaylin: No one can say that Tina’s not a good catcher. Even though she wants to play other positions, Tina belongs at catcher. 

Margeaux: Maggie had an injury earlier this season and she pitched the entire game and did really well. 

Jaylin: Kelsey can move the ball like no one else. Gabby [Galvin] can slap righty and left. 

Angelina:  She just lays it down in the gap. I would also have to say Amanda “Mama Longlegs” [Huerta]. 

Margeaux: Amanda boosts everyone. She definitely knows what she’s talking about and, everything she says, she has a reason. She’s a great outfielder. Yazmine [Romero] runs really fast! 

Angelina:  Yazmine’s a slap hitter. She never puts anybody down. She played outfield at the beginning of the year and she told the coaches she’d be better at second base, but she hurt her finger and was out during the last tournament and couldn’t play. She pinch-ran for us. 

Margeaux:  Ashley Williams is a very big hitter. Her dad is Coach Charlie and so that makes sense. He’s our hitting coach. Her hitting is fantastic! She always hits it out there. 

Jaylin: Allie Curtis is a good outfielder. She played second base when Yazmine was hurt and we had to pick her up on it and teach her while we were playing the game, so she learned fast. 

They named just about everybody on the roster, which blew me away. It was very inspiring to hear such selfless, candid praise of so many others that make their team a success. It’s an indication to me of the depth of their conversion to their coaches’ philosophies about approaching the game and most importantly, working together, which is precisely what “synergy” means. 

NICKNAMES

As noted, the teammates like to have fun on top of all the hard work, and that’s where the nicknames come in. Softball players are notorious for coming up with nicknames that often wind up on the jerseys in lieu of their last names. Synergy clearly has that personal touch and some terrific anecdotes to help explain the background to the sometimes odd choices for nicknames. 

Angelina:  I’m “Hercules.” 

Jaylin: Tina and I were messing with Angelina’s glove and we were like, "What should her nickname be?" We were like "Hercules" because she has a big old hand. 

Angelina: It’s not that big! 

Of course, it helps that Angelina’s dad stands a lofty 6-foot-4-inches. 

Angelina: Jaylin is Willis. 

Jaylin: Coach Mike and Coach Mark were hitting us ground balls. Tina was like, "Good job, Willis." She said, "That’s going to be your new name." I said, "Well, you’re going to be ‘Tommy.’" It’s from Secret Life of an American Teenager. There’s a character on the show named Tom, and I just thought about calling her Tommy. 

Angelina: Gabby is Pepé. 

Jaylin: In Tahoe she always says ‘¡Ay, Papi!’ and we said, ‘OK, you’re name is going to be Papi.’ 

So far, Margeaux seems to have escaped the attention of her teammates and their nicknaming tradition. Perhaps after the amazing catch last weekend, they might be inspired to come up with something. 

Margeaux:  I don’t have one yet. 

Margeaux, Angelina, and Jaylin also have a lengthy history of playing ball with one another, so the closeness and camaraderie is no surprise, I guess. 

COACHING STAFF 

Coach Jeff Palega has coached Margeaux, Angelina, and Jaylin since there were 4 years old. 

Margeaux: He’s been our coach every time we’ve played rec. Since I was like 4, he’s taught me so, so much. It would take days, months, and years to tell you everything he’s taught me. We’re like a family. 

Angelina: He’s just amazing. He’s taught me so much. I think that he’s probably one of the best coaches I’ve had. He knows what he’s talking about. He has a daughter that played and she turned out amazing, too, and she’s one of our coaches. For him to teach us all the stuff he knows, it’s pretty amazing. 

Jaylin: I learn so much from him. He’s like one of the best coaches. He pushes you to do better, to do your best. He’s like a really good coach. He knows what he’s talking about. He treats us like we’re in high school and college instead of middle school. 

Angelina: But it’s not just like there’s one coach. There are five coaches. They are all good. We have Amanda, our pitching coach.

Jaylin: Every coach is useful for something. Coach Mike knows everything about the rule book. 

Margeaux: Coach Jeff coaches first base and third base and is also our outfield coach. Without Coach Jeff’s instructions, that part of my catch —

Angelina: the drop step 

Margeaux:  — I wouldn’t have caught it. 

Angelina: Coach Charlie is our hitting coach. He’s all about having an idea when you get up to the plate. Coach Marc has helped me through so much. I remember one time when I was throwing balls into the pitching machine and I was standing right in front of it in a hole. Jaylin hit the ball back at me and it hit me. Coach Marc started laughing at me. When he would ask every day after that what we learned, I would say, "Don’t stand in the hole.’"

SYNERGY – THE PROGRAM 

I spoke on the phone earlier in the day with Coach Larry Lee who works with the 16 team that recently won the Western National tournament championship about Synergy, and what the big picture is for all age-groups involved with their teams and coaching. 

Coach Lee: I think what Synergy is all about, if you look at our definition is working together as team, not as an individual. 

What you learn in softball you’re going to take away in your adulthood regarding teamwork, honesty, competing, and working hard. That’s what we’re trying to teach. It’s not all about softball. 

What you learn on the field in athletics is what you take away when you become an adult and in the business world. 

We have two programs. The 12s is our B program. We have a rec league from March to the end of May. We have tryouts for a travel team in May. Only girls from Castro Valley Softball League within the rec league can tryout for the B team. They travel from June to August. 

I coach the A team, recruiting in Castro Valley and anywhere within the United States. My girls come from Alameda, San Leandro, Livermore and Pleasanton. They are from seven different high schools: CV, Arroyo, Encinal, Alameda, Bishop O’Dowd, Amador Valley, and Livermore. 

Coach Lee’s team qualified for the Western Nationals by winning the local Metro tournament

Coach Lee: There was a double-elimination in the Western Nationals. Our record was 9-1. 

The final game pitted Synergy against the Hurricanes. Earlier in the tournament, the Hurricanes defeated Synergy and put them into the losers’ bracket. 

Coach Lee: In softball it’s a game of certain bounces here and then. We felt that if we could beat the Renegades we had a good opportunity to beat the Hurricanes. We felt we were on par with them and we felt we could play. 

And beat them Synergy did. It wasn’t easy. 

Coach Lee: We beat them 6-5 in extra innings. The game was tied 5-5 after 7 innings and went to International rules, which means you start the extra inning with a runner on second base. We hit a double to score in the top half of the eight inning and then we held them in the bottom half to win. 

To clinch the tournament, Synergy had to defeat the Hurricanes one more time. Having gained all the momentum from the extra-inning victory, Synergy put the hurt on the Hurricanes to the tune of 8-1 in the title game. 

Coach Lee:  What really came through for the girls—we really pride ourselves on defense, but our hitting really came during this team. 

At every level of Synergy the message that resonates is clear: Work together as one team. Since 1995, when founder Sam Marra introduced Synergy to the community, “working together” has been and continues to be the primary philosophy of the program. 

As a result of the hard work that goes into coaching these outstanding athletes, our community will be better served as a result of their contributions, and they will be on a path to greater success thanks to the lessons taught and learned.

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