Mt. SAC Wins Third State Championship in Shutout over Cerritos
May 20 , 2007

Chino Hills, Calif. – Mt. SAC found themselves backed into a corner after an upset loss to Cerritos earlier in the day. The Mounties collected themselves to finish off their season on top with a 4-0 shutout for their third Softball State Championship. Mt. SAC head coach Kelly Ford earned her third ring with the Mounties finishing the tournament 4-1 and the season 53-5. Freshman pitcher Mandy Pongs led the Mounties striking out seven batters and allowing just three hits for the shutout win.

Cerritos threatened early with freshman shortstop Jenel Guadagno reached third after two errors and a failed pick off. Pongs stopped the Falcons from there with a foul out and two ground outs to keep the game scoreless. Mt. SAC got it going in the third. Freshman center fielder Lucia Rodriguez started it off with a double to right and then hit third on a passed ball. Freshman left fielder Randie Baldwin brought Rodriguez home with an RBI single to take the early 1-0 lead. After Baldwin was caught stealing, her sister Kadie Rodriguez got the offense going again with a single to right, advanced to second off a walk from Francesca Gonzales and then hit third on an error. A single from sophomore third baseman Ursula Lopez brought in two runs as Rodriguez scored and Gonzales scored on an error giving the Mounties a 3-0 lead.

Mt. SAC extended their lead by one in the fourth taking advantage of another Cerritos error. Sophomore second baseman Jessica Meza reached second on an outfield error and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. An error later and Meza was home for the fourth and final run. Cerritos had another shot in the fourth with a two out double to left center by freshman first baseman Stephanie Lomeli and then reached third on an error. Pongs shut the door with a foul out to maintain the shut out.

Falcons pitcher Jessica Navarro suffered the loss falling to 34-7 to finish the season. Navarro allowed seven hits and two earned runs and earned the tournament Most Valuable Pitcher. Pongs improved to 24-2 to finish the season and earned Tournament Most Valuable Player.

Cerritos finishes their season with a club record 39-11-1 record after an underdog run through the state tournament in the Falcon’s return to the State Championship tournament after a nineteen year absence. Mt. SAC earns their third championship finishing the season 53-5.