The Marina softball team’s second-round CIF playoff loss on May 22 at Canyon didn’t just mark the end of a successful 2014 season.
It marked the end of an era.
The game was the last for longtime coach Shelly Luth, who led Marina to 14 league titles and a trio of CIF championships during her tenure. Luth was at Marina for more than 30 years, the last 23 as coach and was recently inducted into the Orange County Softball Hall of Fame last June.
“It’s the end,” a teary Luth said. “I had a good career.”
It was hardly the sendoff Luth or the Vikings (22-5) were looking for. Marina jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning against Canyon by way of an Emili Olague home run. Tera Blanco, who pitched her last game for Marina, was in control for the majority of the contest.
But in the bottom of the ninth inning, with Marina up 2-1 and two outs with a pair of runners on base, Rachel DeHart hit a walk-off double into left field, sending the Comanches to the quarterfinals and Luth off into the sunset.
“Both teams battled it out all day long,” Luth said. “The girl hit a ball, and what can you say? They have a good hitting team.”
With many moments to look back upon in her storied career, the 2014 Vikings are the type of team that Luth said she wants to be remembered for, even though the team wasn’t a CIF champion.
“They’re awesome kids. They played hard all year,” Luth said. “I don’t think we left one stone unturned today. We had our chances, and it was a great game. If we’re going to end the season, it’s going to be with the best pitcher that I’ve ever coached on the mound.”
Luth hasn’t completely planned what her future holds now that her coaching career has come to an end.
She did, though, give one hint as to how she could spend her days.
“Golf,” Luth said with a slight grin after a long pause. “(I’m going to) just take some time and enjoy it.”
Contact the writer: mkatz@ocregister.com
