She’s been in the program since she played as a freshman in 1997. Five years later, she was an assistant coach, then acting head coach in 2003 when Suzy Mathieson had to leave the team for a year.
Rosales was all of 20 years old.
“I had a huge, huge learning curve,” she said.
Mathieson returned the next year, but Rosales again took over as head coach in 2006. This year, she has her first four-year graduating class. Senior third baseman Jessica Hall and first baseman Stephanie Engle have been on varsity since they were freshmen.
Edison made the playoffs last year, but this year the aim was higher.
They wanted to be Sunset League champs and got it done, even after a 1-2 start in league that included a 4-0 loss to Marina, who also shares the league title.
Rosales made the team run sprints after that game, embarrassing to do on the Vikings’ field. But her team hasn’t lost since. They have focused on three words beginning with the letter “F” the whole season.
“Focus, finish and family,” said Rosales, who teaches math at Edison. “That’s our approach to our team.”
Sophomore pitcher Allyson Hecht, who got the win last week against Los Al, said she has definitely noticed the family aspect. An assistant coach, Brittany Hyams, was a senior on that 2002 team. Several of the lower-level coaches are also Edison alumni.
“We’re a family out there,” Hecht said. “Everyone knows each other, everyone hangs out together. We all play together. Once we bring that on the field, it’s just unbeatable ... It feels amazing to be a part of [a league championship]. Being co-champions with Marina is something that was never imaginable at this school, and we totally brought it to life.”
