Top-Ranked Softball Advances to State Semi-Final

Top-Ranked Softball Advances to State Semi-Final

By Robert Nilsen

BAKERSFIELD, CA - No. 1 Cypress softball (46-0) opened up the CCCAA State Championships with an 8-0 mercy rule victory over San Joaquin Delta College (39-7) on Friday evening.

Destiny Vasquez (27-0) got the start and the victory for the Chargers as she threw a 5-inning shutout while allowing just 5 hits. Jenny Vasquez (3-for-3, 2 RBI) and Nicole Wise (2-for-3, RBI) led the Chargers offense. Wise was great on defense as well as she made an outstanding diving catch and threw out two runners trying to advance to second on base hits.

Peyton Rose (34-5) received the loss for the Mustangs after allowing 8 runs on 13 hits over 4.1 innings pitched.

The Chargers jumped on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. With 2 outs Sydney McCollum (2-for-3, RBI) stole home to put the Chargers up 1-0 and then Wise followed by smashing a base hit to left field to make it 2-0 after just one inning of play.

The Chargers offense continued to pound out hits as they produced 2 more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Melanie Okazaki (2-for-3) led off with a double to center field and McCollum follwed by driving an RBI double to left field to put the Chargers up 3-0. Later in the inning McCollum stole home for the second time to make it 4-0.

Cypress continued to pour it on in the fifth inning as Jenny Vasquez crushed a 2-run home run to left field to put the Chargers up by 6. After a hit batter and a single put two more runners on Emma Walker (2-for-3, RBI) ripped a double down the left field line to make it 7-0. Destiny Vasquez (2-for-3, RBI) got in on the action as she delivered a base hit to centerfield to end the game with an 8-0 victory.

"We came in knowing we were going to stick to our game plan, and do what it is, that we've been doing all year long. We just want to run and go," said Head Coach Brad Pickler. "Normally we're a little more patient at the plate, but we saw that we were getting first pitch strikes, and so we told them to go after it. She [San Joaquin Delta College pitcher Peyton Rose] is a good pitcher, but we were just hot tonight.'' 

With the win, Cypress will take on Mt. San Antonio College at 3:00 PM tomorrow with a berth in the State Championship game on the line. 

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