Wolverines Are Off to Championship Sunday

Live Broadcast of the 2014 CCCAA State Championship

By Andrew Wheeler, CCCFCA Sports Information

Bakersfield, CA -- The Sierra College Softball team advanced to the State Championship Game for just the second time in program history on Saturday afternoon. The Wolverines overcame an early 6-0 deficit, and scored the game winning run via a Mt. San Antonio College error in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Mounties jumped all over the Wolverines in the top of the first inning. Charlotte Foster hit her second home run of the weekend on the very first pitch of the game. Bash sister Celina Felix followed that up two pitches later with a solo shot to left-center field. Unfortunately for Sierra, things didn't stop there. Mt. SAC got a bunt single from Alexandrea Simmons, who then moved to second and eventually third both on stolen bases. Simmons would score shortly thereafter when they drew a Sierra miscue thanks to an attempted double steal.

Up 3-0, Mt. SAC kept it going in the top of the second with three more scores. Foster and Felix each drove in another RBI. Niaraye Ceasar added the other, with an RBI single to right field scoring Simmons and putting the Mounties up 6-0.  

After Ceasar's second inning RBI, Sierra turned to their third pitcher of the game Jordan Becker. Becker, who made just 11 appearances and pitched only 44 innings prior to the State Tournament, was electric. Becker sat down the Mounties through the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, giving up just one hit in that stretch. Becker's time in the circle allowed the Wolverines to right the ship and bide their time on the offensive end.

Sierra slowly chipped away at the Mt. SAC lead. The Wolverines grabbed a pair of scores in the bottom of the second inning when Kaitlyn Garcia followed up Carly Evans single with a home run to center field to cut their deficit to four. Sierra would take a little while to get those bats going again, but when they did, they made it worth their while.

The Wolverines made their big move in the bottom of the fifth. Becker got the rally going with a single that the next batter Sydni Scott answered. With runners on first and second base Sierra watched as the next two batters popped up. That brought All-American Tayana Mata to the plate, who came through in a big way, hitting a moon shot to straight away center field, pulling the Wolverines to within one. Fortunately for Sierra, they weren't done yet as back to back doubles by Evans and Garcia knotted the game up at six runs each.

Sierra would have a golden opportunity in the bottom of the seventh to end the game. Kaycie Trezona led the inning off with an RBI double up the left field line, but the Wolverines were unable to cash it in. Mt. SAC likewise had a good chance to go back on top in the top of the eighth, but the Mounties couldn't come through with runners on second and third and two outs.

The Wolverines would get that elusive winning run in the bottom of the eighth. Garcia would lead the inning off for Sierra with a double up the left field line, and then advance to third on a throwing error when the Mounties tried to get the ball back into second base. With the runner on third, pinch runner Aleena Willard scored the game winning run on a botched throw to first by Mt. SAC.

With the win, Sierra advances to the Championship Game, and will take of the late game this evening. Tomorrow's championship game is set for 12:00 PM. Mt. San Antonio will be relegated that elimination contest this evening against the winner of College of San Mateo and Santiago Canyon College. 

State Championship Bracket

Photo by Nick Ellis