After avoiding pitching to Cerritos College softball freshman Jessica Navarro (South Gate HS) in their Southern California Regional Softball Playoff game on Saturday, Riverside Community College pitcher Brianna Olivas took her chances in the first inning on Sunday at Nancy Kelly Field. With a runner on first base in the bottom of the first inning, Navarro blasted a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for an early 2-0 Falcon lead. Freshman second baseman Vanezza Martin Del Campo (St. Joseph HS) added a grand slam in the third inning, as Cerritos earned a trip to the state championship after their 7-2 win over the Tigers (35-18). The Falcons (34-9-1), the #4-seeded team in the playoffs, swept Riverside in two games and out-scored them, 15-4, while the team has outscored their opponents, 34-5 in their four post-season games. The team will now play next Friday through Sunday at Big League Dreams Park in Chino Hills for a shot at their second state championship in school history. Cerritos won their lone state championship back in 1978.
Just as they did in their first game, the Falcons scored early and rode that momentum into the latter innings on the arm of Navarro, who shut down the Tigers for the second day in a row. Throwing a one-hitter into the seventh inning, she surrendered two hits and hit a batter, while a wild pitch an error led to both runs on the same play. It was the same scenario that allowed Cerritos to score twice on Saturday. With the bases loaded, Navarro uncorked a wild pitch past freshman catcher Nadine Garcia (Mayfair HS). After getting the ball, Garcia's throw to the plate was wild, which allowed the second run to score. However, Navarro was able to get the final out of the game without any more damage and the team celebrated their trip to the state championship.
The power the Falcons have displayed did not waver at all in this game, as the team hit two more home runs and several other balls were hit very hard. After Garcia drew a walk in the first, Olivas tried to throw an off-speed pitch to Navarro, who sat back and waited for it before depositing it over the fence for her 12th home run of the season. That total ties the school record for most career home runs, set by Nicole Deel in 2004-05.
In the third inning, freshman outfielder Amber Cardona (Schurr HS) drew a walk to lead off the inning before freshman shortstop Jenel Guadagno (Warren HS) doubled her home with a line drive inside the third base bag. Garcia then singled up the middle and stole second base, which forced Olivas to walk Navarro and load the bases. Martin Del Campo then lined the first pitch over the centerfield fence for a grand slam and a 7-0 Falcon lead. Lost in all of Navarro's power numbers are those of Martin Del Campo, who also broke the single-season home run record with her 10th round-tripper, while she has also driven in 34 runs.
The offense was enough for Navarro, whose 29th pitching wins improves her new school record. In addition, her two RBI on the home run now give Navarro 46 on the year, which ties Suzy Liufau, who set the record in 2002.
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