Chargers Knock Off Mt. SAC, 1-0; Become First Ever Undefeated CCCAA State Champions
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Cypress College Softball team capped off a perfect 48-0 season, by becoming the first ever undefeated Softball State Champions in CCCAA history.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
By Wes McCurtis
BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Cypress College Softball team capped off a perfect 48-0 season, by becoming the first ever undefeated Softball State Champions in CCCAA history. Sophomore Emma Walker scored the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in wild fashion, when she scored from second base on a Val Romano groundout, in Cypress' 1-0 win over Mt. San Antonio College on Sunday.
"I saw no one covering home, and I just went," Walker said. "The catcher was up the line, the pitcher wasn't paying attention to me, and I just saw the opportunity and took it."
Despite tremendous hitters on each team, Sunday's Championship game was a duel between two of the top pitchers in the state. State Pitcher of the Year Destiny Vasquez (W, 29-0) pitched a complete game shutout in the circle. Vasquez allowed just three hits, while notching five strikeouts. Mounties ace Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings (L, 18-3) received just her third loss of the season, all coming against the Chargers. Kennedy-Cummings allowed just the one run on two hits with 11 strikeouts.
"Kennedy-Cummings, was dealing, and so was Lulu [Vasquez]," said Head Coach Brad Pickler. "They both pitched unbelievable games."
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with a state title on the line, the Chargers knew they had to make a play. "After we got out of a couple of jams late in the game, it was just going to take something like what happened, where someone had to clutch up," said Pickler.
State Tournament MVP Nicole Wise began the inning with a fly out to centerfield before Walker reached on a single to right field. Vasquez was patient during her at-bat and reached on a walk. Romano stepped to the plate with two on and one out. She topped a pitch from Kennedy-Cummings that sent the ball just a few feet up the first base line. Mt. SAC catcher Taylor Jaurique made a play on the ball to throw out Romano at first. Walker took advantage of the situation, and as nobody was covering home plate, she sped around third base to score the game winning run.
The victory marks the ninth State Championship for the Cypress College Softball Program, the most in CCCAA history, all coming under Head Coach Brad Pickler who took over the program in 1987.
"The most special thing is the 48-0," Pickler said. "Our college president said, 'no one's going to beat it' and he was right. No one else can claim this, they're the first team to do it. It's not UCONN basketball but it's pretty close."
Cypress College State Tournament Award Winners
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Most Valuable Player |
Cypress College |
SO |
LF |
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Most Valuable Pitcher |
Cypress College |
FR |
P |
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Best Hitter |
Cypress College |
SO |
LF |
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Gold Glove |
Cypress College |
FR |
SS |
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All-Tournament Team |
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Cypress College |
FR |
P |
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Cypress College |
FR |
SS |
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Cypress College |
SO |
2B |
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Cypress College |
SO |
CF |
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Cypress College |
SO |
LF |
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Cypress College |
SO |
RF |
Stay connected with the Chargers through social media. Follow Cypress College Athletics on Twitter @CypressChargers. Check in with the Chargers on Facebook/CypressChargers and on Instagram @CypressChargers.
