Logan coach Teri Johnson has won more than 550 games in her Colt career. Her teams have captured five section titles. She has coached a U.S. Olympian and in 2010 was named CalHiSports' state coach of the year.
And, yet, it's the relationships Johnson values most.
"I get the most satisfaction helping young ladies become women," Johnson said. "I love seeing the end result, like when they come back and visit and I go to their kids' games to watch them play football and softball and other sports."
Such was the case of Cheri Mowry, a shortstop on Logan's 1990 team. Mowry originally attended Cal, but suffered a blow when an aunt she was very close to died. She left Cal and eventually became a mother and now works at Livermore Laboratories.
"I just urged her to not give up, and to keep pushing forward," Johnson said. "She persevered and embraced motherhood and now has two great boys."
Human qualities aside, Johnson does have a tremendous record -- 556 victories and only 136 losses heading into the 2014 season in 29 years at Logan.
Her last two teams have won NCS titles, including the 2012 squad that beat Amador Valley superstar pitcher Johanna Grauer 1-0 in the title game.
Logan scored the only run in the seventh on a wind-blown double by Garza. Then it survived a harrowing bottom of the seventh when centerfielder Marissa Perez fielded a single on a clean bounce and threw home to catcher Caley Bonansea at the plate to cut down an Amador Valley runner trying to score from second. That touched off the celebration heard round the East Bay for the Colts.
"It was very exciting," Johnson said. "I think our most memorable were 1990 and 2012. Raeann Garza beating Johanna was way exciting. And 1990 was our first title."
Last season Logan topped Freedom-Oakley 4-1 in the section title game.
"That was exciting too," Johnson said. "It's very difficult repeating."
Johnson played volleyball, basketball and softball at Albany High. She then went on to play basketball at the College of Alameda. It was at COA that coach Wanda Aitch noticed Johnson's aptitude for the mental part of sports and suggested she pursue coaching and teaching. After graduating from San Francisco State, she did just that.
Obviously Johnson knew her stuff. As a player Johnson was a marvel, getting inducted into the Albany High sports Hall of Fame two years ago. As a coach she has become even more accomplished, first at Albany High where she won nearly 20 games in her only season as coach there, then at Logan where she's been since 1986.
Not that times haven't changed and presented challenges that didn't exist in the pre-I-phone era.
"You have to motivate the girls and push them," Johnson said. "Social media has gotten in the way of the game and girls are more apt to get on social media than they used to be to go out and practice and put in more time on their game."
Johnson, though, has always been ahead of the curve, instituting a weight lifting program in 1990, not much after some prep football programs were first doing the same.
"She is a bundle of energy," Logan principal Amy McNamara said. "Teri is passionate about her team, their performance on the field, and sets high expectations for them on and off the field. She's also always looking for ways to improve her program and her coaching. I've rarely seen a coach so dedicated to her athletes."
Johnson's diligence, attention to detail and drive has made the Colts, and she's gotten plenty back in return, such as seeing Logan grad Vicky Galindo win a silver medal while playing second base for the U.S. at the Beijing Olympics in 2006.
"I didn't get to attend, but I watched on TV and to see that smile of hers was very exciting," Johnson said.
TEAMS TO WATCH
--Alhambra (23-3-1) - Alhambra will be formidable, led by sisters Kylee and Briana Perez.
--Amador Valley (22-3) - Amador Valley returns UCLA-bound pitcher Johanna Grauer and Stanford-bound catcher Victoria Molina. Others who will shine are infielder Ashley Lotosynzki (UC Davis) and outfielders Nicole Yozzo (Lehigh) and outfielder Hanna Moreno (Colgate).
-- California (21-5) - Cal Poly San Luis Obispo-bound pitcher Lindsey Chalmers paces the Grizzlies who challenged Amador Valley last season for the East Bay Athletic League title.
--Clayton Valley Charter (22-4) - Has almost half its team back from a formidable squad in 2013.
--Concord (22-4) - Lost its opener, but still has Kelly Drake (18-3, 1.36) in the circle.
--Freedom (19-6-1) - Freedom averaged .313 at the plate as a team last season and returns Marissa Gasca (.300) and Raegan Ternes (.261).
--Heritage (14-10) - Has opened with victories against Castro Valley and Dougherty Valley and looks strong with Jasmina Cross, Hailey Caraveo, Madison Silay, Virgilia Lee and Kaylee James swinging the bats and freshman Morgan Balleci in the circle.
--Logan (26-1) - The Colts are led by senior shortstop Tayler Peters (.421, 30 RBI last season) and outfielder Alexis Mattos (.333, 16 RBI). They lost a lot to graduation, but are two-time defending NCS DI champions.
--Petaluma (26-2) - Petaluma looks solid, led by catcher/infielder Brianna Gerhardt and Joelle Krist, who homered three times Tuesday against Montgomery in a 21-1 victory.
--San Ramon Valley (15-12) - Doesn't have a huge roster, but has some talent and won its opener against College Park, 11-0.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
--Lindsey Chalmers, California, P, senior - Chalmers has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and had a victory against Johanna Grauer last season. She had 13 shutouts including five consecutive at one point and finished with a 15-4 record and 0.32 earned run average with 182 strikeouts. At the plate she hit nearly .300.
Johanna Grauer, Amador Valley, P, senior - Has made the pre-season MaxPreps All-America team. Grauer went 22-2 with a 0.08 earned run average, giving up just two earned runs all season. She struck out 274 in 152 innings. The Arizona State commit pitched a perfect game, three no-hitters and eight one-hitters and had a .328 batting average. She injured her ankle before the North Coast Section D1 playoffs, hindering her team's effort.
--Joelle Krist, Petaluma, Inf., Junior - An All-Sonoma County League first-team pick as a sophomore, she hit .500 with two home runs and 21 RBI. On Tuesday she homered over the fence three times in a 21-1 victory against Montgomery.
--Zoe Marrott, Campolindo, So. - Hit .484 last season with three home runs and 23 RBI.
--Brianna Gerhardt, Petaluma, catcher/infielder, junior - Good athlete with a superior arm and a good student, too. Hit .523 last season with 21 RBI and two homers.
--Alexis Mattos, Logan, outfielder, senior - Hit .333 last season for section champion Colts and went 2-for-4 in opening victory this season.
--Eliana Mello, Tennyson, outfielder/infielder, senior - Recovered from a torn labrum, she should be a big factor this season.
--Sierra Mello, Tennyson, infielder/outfielder, sophomore - Sister of Eliana Mello, she is a slap hitter who has some power and is an adept fielder.
--Victoria Molina, Amador Valley, catcher/outfielder, senior - Molina is a steady hand behind the plate and a clutch hitter.
--Briana Perez, Alhambra, infielder/outfielder, freshman - The sister of Kylee Perez, Briana has speed to burn and can also hit with power. She has already committed to UCLA.
Kylee Perez, Alhambra, Inf., Senior - Has made the pre-season MaxPrep All-America team. Perez hit .618 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI last season and will play at UCLA next season. She's a great fielder who can do it all at the plate including bunting, slap-hitting and hitting for power. She has done it all despite suffering from Type-1 Diabetes.
--Tayler Peters, Logan, outfielder, senior - Hit .421 with 30 RBI last season for NCS champs and went 3-for-4 in the Colts' opening win.
