Santiago Canyons Forces Seventh and Deciding Game

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by Andrew Wheeler, CCCSIA

Bakersfield, CA - For the fifth straight year, the California Community College Athletic Association State Softball Championship will be decided on a seventh and final game. SoCal #2 Santiago Canyon College outhit NorCal #3 Sacramento City College 13-9, and used a huge four-run fourth to send the championships to that final contest with a 7-4 victory over the Panthers.

Sacramento City came out of the gate with their bats blazing. Freshman Catie Gravel got the cavalcade rolling with a one out infield single to second base. Freshman Gabby Ortiz followed that up, by stroking a single to center field, followed by a single to left-center by sophomore Kaitlin Leffle that gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.

Santiago would return the favor in the top of the second. Freshman Alyssa Sojka hit a single to center that plated freshman Manoa Weijgertse, and a few plays later sophomore Krista Carranza legged out a squeeze bunt that brought home Sojka and put the Hawks up 2-1. The Hawks would add to their lead in the top of the third when sophomore Brittney Howe drew a walk with the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the third, Sacramento City roared back scoring three runs and going back on top 4-3. Ortiz was responsible for two of those runs, hitting a two-run bomb to center field to knot the game up at three runs a piece. Three at bats later, freshman Katie Lopez gave the Panthers a one run advantage with an RBI double to left-center that brought in Leffle.

The Panthers lead wouldn't last for very long as the Hawks put up a four spot in the top of the fourth. Weijgertse, Sojka, sophomore Ashley Clark-Johnson, and Howe all picked up RBIs in the inning to put Santiago Canyon back in front 7-4.

That's where the score would stay for the remainder of the game. Sacramento managed just two hits over the final four innings, while Santiago stranded five base runners in their final three innings.

In the win, Nahrwold (19-7) scattered nine hits and four runs over the course of the seven innings. She walked just one batter and fanned four. At the plate, Weijgertse was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs and an RBI. Olgue was 2 for 4 with a run. For Sacramento Ortiz was 2 for 3 with a run and a pair of RBIs. Gravel was 2 for 4 and scored twice.

The win by Santiago Canyon forces a seventh and deciding game for the 2016 CCCAA State Championships. The final tilt is scheduled for a 3:30 PM first pitch.