Mt. SAC Advances to State Championship Game for 8th Time

Live Broadcast of the 2014 CCCAA State Championship

By Andrew Wheeler, CCCFCA Sports Information

Bakersfield, CA  -- The Mt. San Antonio College Softball program advanced to the 2014 California Community College Athletic Association State Softball Championship game on Saturday night. The Mounties eliminated Santiago Canyon College 12-4 in five innings, advancing to the finals for the 8th time in program history.

Mt. SAC actually fell into an early hole Saturday evening, as Santiago Canyon came roaring out the gate with three runs in the top of the first. Tori Duquette got things going with an RBI single through the left side, followed by a two RBI single to left-center from Sydney Abounassar that made it 3-0.

After the hit from Abounassar, the Mounties turned the ball over to Sabrina Garcia who came in and immediately made an impact. With the Hawks still threatening and only one out, Garcia induced a pop up and ground out to settle Mt. SAC down immediately and over the life of the game.

The Mounties didn't take long to respond to the Hawk top half explosion. In the bottom half of the first, Alyssa James quickly tied the game with a bases loaded bases clearing RBI triple down the right field line. In the very next at bat, Mountie Brianna Gonzalez gave Mt. SAC the lead back for good with an RBI infield single. 

Mt. SAC padded their lead with a run via a solo home run from Ayrika Simmons in the bottom of the second, and then three more in the third thanks to a solo home run from James and a two RBI double to right-center from Celina Felix. 

Santiago would scratch out a score in the top of the third when Duquette lifted a sacrifice fly in foul territory to left field, but Garcia (21-3) was dominant, scattering three hits, that one run, and no walks over five innings of work. 

The Mounties would end the game in the bottom of the fifth when they exploded for four more scores. Felix hit a three run shot to left field, and James drove in the games winning run with a single back to the pitcher. 

For Mt. SAC, Felix was 2 for 4 with 5 RBI's, a total James matched by going 3 for 4. For Santiago, McRae Cayton finished an outstanding season going 2 for 3 with a pair of runs, while Abounassar was 2 for 2 with those two RBI's. 

The Mounties will take on Sierra College in the championship game tomorrow at 12:00 PM. Mt. SAC will need to win twice on Sunday to claim it's fifth State Championship, while the Wolverines need just one victory to claim it's first.

State Championship Bracket