Spring sports have always been Freedom High's strength. Spearheaded by its nationally renowned softball program, which won six North Coast Section crowns including five straight starting in 2002, plus a mythical national crown in 2006, the Falcons have made a name for themselves in spring.

"There's definitely been a lot of pride spread around that time of year," said Freedom Athletic Director Steve Amaro.

Amaro will help lead an informational meeting for parents of Freedom spring athletes on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the school's multipurpose room.

Coaches for the spring sports, which include boys tennis, baseball, softball, boys golf, boys volleyball, swimming and diving, and track and field, will cover what is expected from the 2008 spring season. The coaches include Amaro (boys tennis), Gary Alexander (baseball), Jeff Jonas (softball), Sean Carey (boys volleyball), Neil Boden (boys golf), Robin Kaneer (swimming) and Rick Halberg (track and field).

Amaro believes his tennis team, led by one of the league's top singles players, Bob Harris, should compete at the top of the Bay Valley Athletic League.

It will be tough to defeat perennial tennis power De La Salle, which hasn't lost a league match since 2001. It was April 26, 2001, to be exact, and the reason Amaro knows was because Freedom was the team that knocked off the Spartans.

The score was 5-2; the place was Club Sport in Walnut Creek. "We swept the doubles and Andrew Schwartz won at No. 4 to clinch it," Amaro said proudly. "For good measure, Ryan Mollenhauer won at No. 3 singles to give us five games. Needless to say, I'll never forget it."

Jonas, also the school's girls basketball coach, is the new softball coach. He returns a ton of talent, including one of the Bay Area's top pitchers and batters in junior Hannah Williams, the reigning BVAL Most Valuable Player. Her dominance on the mound helped the Falcons allow just 16 runs in 23 regular-season games.

The Falcon baseball team is coming off a 13-11 season, an impressive showing for a squad whose roster featured five sophomores and six juniors.

The boys volleyball team, under Carey, could quite possibly be the best in school history. "All that I know is that Sean is very excited about this year's team," Amaro said.

"He says it's been three years in the making."

For more information on the informational meeting, call Amaro at 625-5900, ext. 3044.