Congratulations to the 2010, 2011, and now 2012 California Community Colleges Athletics Association softball champions!
The Chargers defeated College of the Siskiyous twice on Sunday afternoon to earn the title — Cypress College's third consecutive and eighth overall.
The Chargers opened the tournament with a 9-7 victory on Friday evening over Sierra College (41-6), the north's second seed.
But a loss to Siskiyous (40-2) on Saturday evening pushed Cypress to the elimination bracket, where the team played three consecutive must-win games en route to the championship.
The first was a 7-0 victory on Saturday night over Riverside Community College (33-13), the south's second seed.
That set up the first of two potential games on Sunday vs. Siskiyous.
The Chargers held on for an 8-7 victory in the noon contest, delivering Siskiyous their first loss in 20 games.
Immediately following the win, the two teams took the field again. Cypress surrendered a run in the top of the first, but went on to plate runs in each of the first three innings. The Chargers also sandwiched a 5th-inning run between 4th- and 6th-inning scores by Siskiyous to secure a 4-3 victory and the college's third consecutive state title.
Tiffany Fox was named tournament Most Valuable Player, while individual honors also went to Chargers Stephanie Luhmann (Most Valuable Pitcher), Jessica Reichner (Golden Glove), and All-Tournament selections for: Luhmann and Courtney McGee (pitchers); Mallory Campbell and Morgan Wheeler (infielders); Tiffany Fox and Chelsea Jewett (outfielders); and Arren Nunez (1B).
Notes: This is the 23rd consecutive season Coach Brad Pickler has taken a team to the California Final Four. The Chargers have also won the championship each of the three years it has been held in Bakersfield. No other college has won more California State Championships in softball than Cypress College (8). The Chargers are also the only team to win three consecutive CA titles, having now done it twice.
May 5, 2013
Citrus dethroned Chargers 9-0
May 4, 2013
Chargers ' rally fell short in first game
April 28, 2013
Third-seeded Chargers host Citrus to open Regionals
April 26, 2013
Conference honored Chargers
April 25, 2013
Chargers mercied Orange Coast 13-0 in season finale
April 19, 2013
Chargers beat Saddleback in regular season home finale 6-5
April 17, 2013
Chargers won a close one over Santa Ana 8-6
April 5, 2013
Cypress defeat Golden West 7-0
April 3, 2013
Chargers' bats defeated Santiago 11-2
March 27, 2013
Cypress trounced Saddleback 8-2
March 26, 2013
Chargers mercied Pirates again
March 24, 2013
Chargers defeat Cerritos 6-3
March 22, 2013
Chargers back on winning trail
March 20, 2013
Cypress dropped one at Riverside
March 15, 2013
Chargers trounced Hornets 14-0
March 13, 2013
Chargers mercied Golden West
March 7, 2013
Chargers no-mercy OCC
March 3, 2013
Chargers swept a DH at Canyons
March 2, 2013
Chargers swept DH over ELAC and Desert
March 1, 2013
Chargers rally from 2-run deficit to beat Saddleback 5-4
February 27, 2013
Santa Ana beat Chargers on a walk-off run
February 24, 2013
Chargers split 2-2 at Bakersfield Tourney
February 22, 2013
Chargers dethroned Riverside from undefeated rank
February 20, 2013
Chargers defeat Fullerton 3-1 to win 4 straight
February 13, 2013
Chargers won pitching dual 1-0 over GWC
February 12, 2013
Chargers won one at Santiago 8-6
February 6, 2013
Top-ranked Chargers top Long Beach 10-2 to open season
January 29, 2013
Defending Champs taking the challenge
April 21, 2012
Cypress Outlast Hawks at Home
April 12, 2012
Cypress Blanks Fullerton 9-0
March 14, 2012
Chargers Fall to Tigers 2-1 in Eight Innings