Mizzou commit Danielle Williams steps up for Pleasanton Amador Valley
Mizzou commit Danielle Williams steps up for Pleasanton Amador Valley
Danielle Williams had massive shoes to fill when she arrived at Pleasanton Amador Valley for her freshman year last season. We're talking Bigfoot-sized shoe
Danielle Williams had massive shoes to fill when she arrived at Pleasanton Amador Valley for her freshman year last season. We're talking Bigfoot-sized shoes.
Star pitcher Joanna Grauer had graduated and moved on to UCLA after being named the 2014 CalHiSports.com Ms. Sofball Player of the Year and leading the Dons to their second CIF North Coast Section Division 1 championship and third finals appearances in four years.
In the winter before her freshman season, Williams, who had already been making a name for herself with Northern California travel ball powerhouse Sorcerer, verbally committed to Missouri, so Dons coach Teresa Borchard knew Williams had the potential to be something special. Plus, Borchard had also coached Williams and her older sister, Krista Williams, a decorated former Amador Valley star currently playing at Northwestern, since they were little girls, so she knew she Danielle came from good bloodlines. But replacing Grauer in the circle remained a Herculean task.
"I guess it was a lot of pressure to step in and be the next pitcher after Johanna, because she did amazing," Williams said.
Williams pitched with the cool confidence of a senior, going 24-3 with a 0.79 ERA, batting .532 and leading the Dons to a CIF North Coast section Division 1 title last season. She was named the East Bay Player of the Year by the San Jose Mercury News and the Freshman Player of the Year by CalHiSports.com.
"I had my team behind me," Williams said. "They would pick me up and I would pick them up. I think everyone just supporting me really helped."
Once again, Amador Valley is considered the team to beat in Nor Cal. Williams has picked up right where she left off last season. Williams is 14-2 with a 0.49 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 128 innings for the Dons (18-2), who are ranked No. 5 in the state and expected to be top contenders for a third consecutive CIF North Coast Section Division 1 championship. The Dons have a bullseye on their backs every time they step on the field.
See the FAB 50 National High School Rankings
"I guess that makes me work even harder," Williams said. "We know teams are practicing just to beat us. I think that's what's cool, to be a team like that. It makes our team want to get better and work harder."
Williams said she didn't look up to pro athletes when she was growing up. Why would she? She had her older sister, Krista, who could do anything on the softball field.
"I grew up watching my sister play softball, so I wanted to be just like her," Williams said. "We played the same positions. Up till we were 12 (years old) we played shortstop. We knew we couldn't keep playing shortstop because we were left-handed. Then she pitched and I wanted to pitch. Every lesson I would imitate her. Without her playing softball, I don't think I'd be where I am."
So Danielle was Krista's little clone and Krista didn't mind.
"I hope not," said Danielle, who is five years younger than Krista.
"She wasn't involved in all of our practices an stuff, because of the age, but she was at every game," Krista said. " I never thought ofher as a nuisance because she was always in the stands. I think she paid attention more than I thought she did because, I mean, she was young and running around with all the little kids and stuff, but at games she was always there. If I was at practice, she would always be out there."
"We're a lot closer now than we were when we were younger," Danielle said. 'Last year, she actually surprised me and came for the CIF championship game. It was very exciting."
Williams loves country music, camping and hiking, which was one of the reasons she was attracted to Missouri when she decided to make her verbal commitment. She also really liked Tigers coach Ehren Earlywine's coaching style.
"I think the atmosphere on the team and the coach is all about family," Williams said. "That was something I was looking for in college. Also, the location of the school ... It's kind of in the middle of nowhere and that's kind of what I wanted. I'm not a big fan of the city."
Williams might not be a fan of the big city, but she doesn't mind the spotlight, which will be on her and Amador Valley when the playoffs begin in a couple of weeks.
Written by Carlos Arias
Related:
Hot 100 2018s #30-21
Sorcerer 16U with two top 2018’s
Star pitcher Joanna Grauer had graduated and moved on to UCLA after being named the 2014 CalHiSports.com Ms. Sofball Player of the Year and leading the Dons to their second CIF North Coast Section Division 1 championship and third finals appearances in four years.
In the winter before her freshman season, Williams, who had already been making a name for herself with Northern California travel ball powerhouse Sorcerer, verbally committed to Missouri, so Dons coach Teresa Borchard knew Williams had the potential to be something special. Plus, Borchard had also coached Williams and her older sister, Krista Williams, a decorated former Amador Valley star currently playing at Northwestern, since they were little girls, so she knew she Danielle came from good bloodlines. But replacing Grauer in the circle remained a Herculean task."I guess it was a lot of pressure to step in and be the next pitcher after Johanna, because she did amazing," Williams said.
Williams pitched with the cool confidence of a senior, going 24-3 with a 0.79 ERA, batting .532 and leading the Dons to a CIF North Coast section Division 1 title last season. She was named the East Bay Player of the Year by the San Jose Mercury News and the Freshman Player of the Year by CalHiSports.com.
"I had my team behind me," Williams said. "They would pick me up and I would pick them up. I think everyone just supporting me really helped."
Once again, Amador Valley is considered the team to beat in Nor Cal. Williams has picked up right where she left off last season. Williams is 14-2 with a 0.49 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 128 innings for the Dons (18-2), who are ranked No. 5 in the state and expected to be top contenders for a third consecutive CIF North Coast Section Division 1 championship. The Dons have a bullseye on their backs every time they step on the field.
See the FAB 50 National High School Rankings
"I guess that makes me work even harder," Williams said. "We know teams are practicing just to beat us. I think that's what's cool, to be a team like that. It makes our team want to get better and work harder."
Williams said she didn't look up to pro athletes when she was growing up. Why would she? She had her older sister, Krista, who could do anything on the softball field.
"I grew up watching my sister play softball, so I wanted to be just like her," Williams said. "We played the same positions. Up till we were 12 (years old) we played shortstop. We knew we couldn't keep playing shortstop because we were left-handed. Then she pitched and I wanted to pitch. Every lesson I would imitate her. Without her playing softball, I don't think I'd be where I am."
So Danielle was Krista's little clone and Krista didn't mind.
"I hope not," said Danielle, who is five years younger than Krista.
"She wasn't involved in all of our practices an stuff, because of the age, but she was at every game," Krista said. " I never thought ofher as a nuisance because she was always in the stands. I think she paid attention more than I thought she did because, I mean, she was young and running around with all the little kids and stuff, but at games she was always there. If I was at practice, she would always be out there."
"We're a lot closer now than we were when we were younger," Danielle said. 'Last year, she actually surprised me and came for the CIF championship game. It was very exciting."
Williams loves country music, camping and hiking, which was one of the reasons she was attracted to Missouri when she decided to make her verbal commitment. She also really liked Tigers coach Ehren Earlywine's coaching style.
"I think the atmosphere on the team and the coach is all about family," Williams said. "That was something I was looking for in college. Also, the location of the school ... It's kind of in the middle of nowhere and that's kind of what I wanted. I'm not a big fan of the city."
Williams might not be a fan of the big city, but she doesn't mind the spotlight, which will be on her and Amador Valley when the playoffs begin in a couple of weeks.
Written by Carlos Arias
Related:
Hot 100 2018s #30-21
Sorcerer 16U with two top 2018’s