If her last swing of this past season is indicative of what’s coming next year, the pitchers in the Marin County Athletic League and anyone else that faces Julia Scardina better beware.

With her team trailing 8-3 in the bottom of the seventh of the North Coast Section Division III title game against Moreau Catholic, Scardina launched a shot to direct center that cleared the fence by over 10 feet and it was not on its way down as it disappeared into the trees.

By estimate of assembled media and local softball aficionados at San Marin High, where the game was played, it is believed the ball would have easily traveled 240-250 feet if the trees were not in its path. The funny thing is Scardina thinks she can hit one even further.

“It’s close to the hardest ball I’ve ever hit and I didn’t even get all of it. My hips didn’t get all the way around,” Scardina said with a bit of a giggle.

Marin Catholic lost 8-6, but the long tater sent the Wildcats' faithful home with a glimmer of joy and hope for next season, when the big bat of Scardina will be leading the team once again.

The long home run is not what has earned Scardina the Prep2Prep Junior of the Year award. It’s what she did all season that has gotten her the honor.

“Julia is everything to our offense,” said Marin Catholic coach David Albini. “She’s our offensive MVP by far and makes things click. My biggest challenge this season was finding the right hitter to bat in front of her so she could drive them in. Plus, her defense at first base and catcher has been stellar.”

Her performance in the Moreau loss was almost like a day at the office for Scardina. She was 2-for-4 with the home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.

On the season, Scardina - who committed to North Carolina State as a freshman - led a pretty good hitting team in every statistical category except triples. She hit .571 with nine home runs, two triples, an NCS-leading 16 doubles, and NCS third-best 39 RBIs, plus she was among the NCS leaders with 38 runs scored. Her slugging and OPS percentages were an astronomical 1.181 and 1.855, respectively. She walked 26 times but amazingly only had two strikeouts in 104 plate appearances.

“It feels great to be honored by Prep2Prep. It was on my goal list this season,” Scardina said. “I worked so hard, and it’s nice to see that someone saw all my hard work and rewarded me for it.”

So what’s in store for next season with respect to goals?

“Winning MCAL and NCS for my team in my senior year,” Scardina said without hesitation. “We’ll have a great chance to go all the way.”

The Wildcats were the bridesmaids this year to San Marin in league and Moreau Catholic in the NCS, but Julia Scardina is no runner-up. For her efforts throughout the season, we are pleased to honor Scardina as the Prep2Prep North Coast Section Junior of the Year.

Other players considered for this award include Foothill's Hope Alley, Bishop O'Dowd's Nicole Hammoude, Newark Memorial's Viviana Gamez, and Campolindo's Katelyn Poole.

NOTE: We would like to thank our media partners, coaches, parents, players and fans for contributing photos for our all-section features. We salute all of the players that have made this a wonderful season of NCS softball.