Comeback Kids; Sierra Wins First State Softball Title

By Andrew Wheeler, CCCFCA Sports Information

State Championship Bracket

Bakersfield, CA -- The Sierra College Softball program did what they had done all weekend. With their backs against the wall, the Wolverines came back for the third time in four games, and shocked Mt. San Antonio College with a 6-5 eight inning win on Sunday afternoon, to claim their first ever California Community College Athletic Association Softball State Championships. It's the first State Championship for a Northern California school since 2004.

Through the first four innings, it was a pitching dominant game. For the Mounties, Sabrina Garcia (23-3) made her fifth appearance of the weekend and fourth start, while the Wolverines countered with Jordan Becker (6-4), who was making her second appearance of the weekend and just her 13^th of the year. Both gave up just two hits in that stretch, and both were in command.

Things began to turn around in the top of the fifth. The Mounties' Alyssa James started the big inning off with a single through the left side of the field. Brianna Gonzalez followed that up with a bunt single, and then the duo moved to second on third on a bunt from Yumiko Hiroto. In the very next at bat Aryika Simmons laid down a picture perfect bunt that split the charging pitcher and first baseman, and allowed both James and Gonzalez to score making it 2-0. Two at bats later, Celina Felix made it 4-0 with a two run blast to center field, her fifth bomb of the weekend.

The score would stay at 4-0 until late in the game. The Mounties would have that four run cushion with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, when the Wolverines got the life line of the century. Tayana Mata would get on base with a bunt single and then advance to second on a fielder's choice E6. With runners on first and second, Kaitlyn Garcia roped a double to right field, scoring Mata and Carly Evans. Trailing now 4-2, the Wolverines would get a single back up the middle of the field from Gabby Gonzalez, and then a three run round tripper from Alexis Johnson to go on top for the first time on the day 5-4.

In the top of the seventh, the Wolverines would then move to within an out of claiming the State Title, but the Mounties weren't ready to give up just yet. With two outs and facing an 0-1, hole Charlotte Foster tied the game back up at 5-5 with a solo home run that cleared the scoreboard in center field.

Sierra would go quietly in the bottom of the seventh, and the Mounties would threaten with runners on first and second and just one out in the top of the eighth. Kalyn Paque, who came in for Becker in the top of the eighth, settled down and got a pop up to short and a fly out to center field to end the Mt. SAC threat.

That brought the Wolverines up the plate with the heart of the order in the bottom of the eighth. Garcia got the first batter to fly out to center field, but Evans came up big again for Sierra with a double down the left field line. Four pitches later, Garcia would drive in the game's winning run with a single to right-center.

For Sierra, Paque got the win improving to 22-2 on the season, and earning the tournament's Most Valuable Pitcher Award. Garcia was named the Most Valuable Player, wrapping up a wonderful weekend at the plate, going 2 for 3 with three RBI's. For Mt. SAC Felix finished 2 for 3 with a run and a pair of RBI's, and was named the weekend's Best Hitter award recipient. Mountie centerfielder Ayrika Simmons was named the Golden Glove honoree.

2014 CCCAA Softball State Championships Awards