CYPRESS (CYPRESS) – SATURDAY, MAY 6

12 noon, #1 Cypress (46-4) vs. #16 Chaffey (38-10-1)
2 pm, #8 Canyons (26-16-1) vs. #9 Pasadena (29-11)

Coach Brad Pickler has guided the Cypress program to four state titles during his career. And, his 2006 team appears to have all the key parts for a run at championship No. 5.

An impressive 46-4 record means another top seed for Cypress, and a chance to play at home where the Chargers have lost only once this season.

“I think we’re three errors and one bad call from being undefeated,” Pickler said about his team’s four one-run losses – all against playoff qualifiers.

“Playing 50 games is a long season, and sometimes it’s tough to get your team up for every single game,” he said. “But now it’s time to raise our level off play here in the playoffs. We’re playing good, we’re healthy, and we’re ready to go.”

From April 1 through May 6, the Chargers put together a 25-game winning streak, thanks to a potent offensive line-up and plenty of great pitching (10 of the wins via shutout).

Cypress swept the top All-Orange Empire Conference awards: Alyssa Gutierrez (Player of the Year), Elisa Graves (Pitcher of the Year), and Pickler (Coach of the Year).

Gutierrez, a sophomore, made the move from third base to shortstop this season, and also has success as a pitcher. She led the state in hits (81) and finished third in runs scored (58). On the mound, she posted a 14-2 record (1.32 ERA) with 11 complete games.

Graves led the OEC in victories (22-2), ERA (1.30), and complete games (16). In 144 innings, she registered 113 strikeouts against only 11 walks.

The Charger pitching staff gets plenty of run support – more than seven runs per game.

Sophomore C Amanda Fernandez (signed to Cal State Fullerton) ranked among OEC leaders in most offensive categories, including: batting average (.393), hits (53), doubles (19), RBI (39), and steals (15).

All-OEC selections 1B Brooke Pefley (.417, 3 HR, 5 triples, 34 RBI) and OF Brainnon Mahr (OEC-leading .467, 10 doubles, 2 HR, 40 RBI) also helped lead a Cypress club that led the OEC in batting (.369), extra-base hits (140), and home runs (21).

Other than a 6-0 win against Canyons back on opening day, Pickler says Chaffey and Pasadena are two quality teams he hasn’t seen much this season.

“We’re familiar with Canyons; they’ve been to our regionals before,” Pickler said. “Chaffey worries me with those 38 wins, and Pasadena has a good No. 1 pitcher.”

QUICK NOTES: Cypress ended the regular season suffering its first OEC loss (17-1) of the season. Santa Ana upset the Chargers 1-0 on April 25 … Pasadena (10-5 South Coast, 2^nd) is making its 16^th postseason trip in 17 seasons under coach Sandi Iverson. The Lancers are led by 21-game winner Jessica Stewart (All-SoCal), SS Ashley Ludden (.402, 4 HR, 30 RBI) and C Valeria Calderon (.421, All-SoCal). Pasadena opened its season with a 3-2 win (8 inn) over Canyons, and beat Chaffey twice (9-1 and 4-3) … Canyons won the Western State Conference Blue Division with a 16-5 mark, yet didn’t land anyone on the All-State or All-SoCal teams. The Cougars’ top hitter was Janette Galindo (.353, 5 HR, 29 RBI) … Chaffey finished 17-4 in the Foothill Conference (2^nd). All-SoCal C Liz Bowden (.446, 15 doubles, 18 RBI). The Panthers have one of the top pitching tandems in the state in Ashley Beam (14-3, 1.73 ERA) and Christina Westerhoff (20-7, 2.02).  

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MT. SAN ANTONIO (WALNUT) – SATURDAY, MAY 6

12 noon, #2 Mt. San Antonio (43-5-1) vs. #15 Golden West (18-19)
2 pm, #7 Palomar (34-11) vs. Santa Ana (30-11-1)

The defending state champion Mt. San Antonio Mounties should feel right at home in more ways than one.

The same No. 2 spot took them right to the title in 2005.

Mt. SAC is deep and loaded again. The Mounties are coming off a 14-1 South Coast Conference championship season, and have several key returners.

“On paper things look good,” said Ford, who also guided Mt. SAC the crown in 2003.

“But, ‘on paper’ doesn’t mean much right now. These are some good teams coming here that can hit.”

The Mounties fared well against their three regional visitors, posting a 3-1 record against Golden West (W, 3-0), Palomar (W, 8-3), and Santa Ana (L, 0-2 and W, 2-1).

If it comes down to hitting and scoring runs, the Mounties can play with anyone.

Offense, once again, is the strength of Mt. SAC softball. During the regular season, Mt. SAC hit .390 as a team, pounded 38 homers, and averaged nearly 7.5 runs per game. The Mounties scored 10 or more runs in a game 14 times.

Four players were selected to the All-State team: OF Michelle Palazuelos (.471 and 51 runs led the conference), 1B Danielle Linke (.471 led the conference, 45 R, 45 RBI), UT Vanesa Flores (.511 in 88 at-bats, 42 RBI), and UT/P Heather Slettvet (.406, 3 HR, 50 RBI led the conference). All-SoCal SS Whitney Radcliff (.393, 37 R, 28 SB) is another one of Ford’s “contact” hitters.

Slettvet, a two-time South Coast MVP, went 19-2 in the circle with an ERA of 1.50.

Tawni Baker (12-1) ranked second in conference ERA (1.45). She struck out 122 batters in 82 innings.

Vanessa Valdez (6-1, 3.27) and Michelle Parsley (6-1, 3.30) add to perhaps the best four-pitcher staff in the state.

“It’s a different team from last year,” said Ford. “We have a good mix of power and speed, plus we always put the ball in play which can make great things happen. We’re aggressive.”

Ford is concerned about the two Orange Empire Conference teams in her bracket, and equally worried about a visiting powerhouse.

“Golden West and Santa Ana can hit,” she said. “And, Palomar reaching the postseason – this is when they excel.”

QUICK HITS: Palomar freshman P Melissa Lerno (SC Pitcher of the Year, 16-7, 0.96) and sophomore C Clarissa Maldonado (SC Player of the Year, .431, 8 HR, 60 RBI) were voted All-State. Janielle Nickels (15-3, 0.96) earned First Team All-SC honors … Golden West is the only team to qualify for the playoffs with a losing record: 18-19 against a tough schedule. Aleena Vasquez ranked third in OEC hitting (.419), to go with 13 extra-base hits, 30 R, 30 RBI, and 13 SB … Santa Ana handed Cypress its only OEC loss of the season (1-0 in the season finale). Freshman 1B Autumn Gray is the Dons’ top hitter (.357, 23 RBI, 17 R). Freshman C Heather Hamilton (.345, 18 RBI, 27 R) was voted All-SoCal. Freshman UT Diana Quezada (.344, 44 R) stands 4-foot-11; she led the OEC with 26 stolen bases and earned First Team honors. 

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CUESTA (SAN LUIS OBISPO) – SATURDAY, MAY 6

12 noon, #3 Cuesta (30-14-1) vs. #14 San Diego Mesa (28-19)
2 pm, #6 Fullerton (27-12) vs. Santa Barbara (25-15)

Is this the year Cuesta breaks through a regional and vaults into the state Final 8?

A lot of softball observers are pulling for Cuesta and, namely, coach Allison Merzon, who notched her 300^th win earlier this season.

The popular coach has enjoyed plenty of success building the Cougar softball program, but has yet to win the big one.

“Hopefully, hosting a regional and winning this weekend will put Cuesta softball on the map,” said Cougars’ assistant coach Sara Clarin.

“Earning a top seed is a testament for the program coach Merzon has built here. It’s extremely exciting.”

The Cougars have three components that make them a favorite: great pitching, good hitting, and solid defense.

All-State freshman pitcher Lindsay Campana led conference division in wins (26-14), ERA (0.91), and strikeouts (228 in 247 innings).

All-SoCal sophomores 2B Julie Moses (.369, 6 HR, 21 RBI) and C Kristen Rasmussen (.344, 31 RBI) lead a team that batted .314 during the season.

Amanda Muller (.331, 34 RBI) leads the team with eight homers; Chessi Brehm (.355, 14 SB), Krista Simko (.320, 3 HR, 26 RBI), and Campana (.319, 3 HR, 19 RBI) all ranked among the Western State Conference leaders.

The Cougars won their final nine games of the regular season to wrap-up the Western State Gold Division (20-1) – six games ahead of runner-up Santa Barbara.

Cuesta won all three meeting against SBC (7-3, 2-0, 7-1), beat San Diego Mesa (4-3), but lost to Fullerton (4-2).

“We’ve played one of the toughest schedules, right off the bat. That helped us elevate our level of play.”

“We have a very competitive bracket,” Clarin said. “All of these teams bring something different. San Diego Mesa is very competitive and athletic; Santa Barbara has good hitters and experience pitching; and Fullerton is well-coached and has all of the tools to beat anyone.”

QUICK HITS: Fullerton, OEC runners-up, started the season 8-8. Coach Lisa Bassi’s Hornets closed the regular season with 10 straight wins, including victories over No. 8 Canyons (7-0), No. 3 Cuesta (4-2), No. 15 Golden West (6-0), No. 10 Santa Ana (6-3), and No. 2 Mt. San Antonio (4-2). Last season, Fullerton won the No. 3 bracket as the No. 14 seed, and finished fifth at the state finals. Freshman UT/P Jackie Cervantes (10-4, 1.80 ERA; .413, 4 HR, 36 RBI) was voted First Team All-State, while freshman SS Joneese Knight (.363, 5 HR, 30 RBI) earned All-SoCal honors … Santa Barbara sophomore SS Bria Wilson (WSC triple crown winner: .523, 15 HR, 39 RBI) earned All-State honors, while freshman UT Katie McCormack (.424 ranked second, 6 HR, 37 RBI) made the All-SoCal Team … San Diego Mesa freshman 1B Lindsey Fleet (Pacific Coast triple crown: .466, 15 HR, 63 RBI) as voted All-SoCal. Freshman RHP Michelle Goff ranked among the PC leaders in wins (14-5) and ERA (1.90).

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ANTELOPE VALLEY (LANCASTER) – SATURDAY, MAY 6.

12 noon, #4 Antelope Valley (36-5) vs. #13 Bakersfield (27-15)
2 pm, #5 Long Beach (30-12) vs. #12 Citrus (29-15)

A record campaign for Antelope Valley softball has everyone excited around the program in Lancaster.

The Marauders are coming off back-to-back undefeated Foothill Conference championships, and earned the school’s highest seed since fastpitch moved to the 16-team regional format in 1993.

Since a March 9 loss (6-5) at Fullerton, the Marauders have reeled-off 24 consecutive wins. Nothing like home-field advantage either – AVC is a perfect 15-0 at Marauder Softball Field this season.

“Our team is thrilled to be playing in our backyard,” said AVC head coach Cindy Vargas. “We also love being part of history; our school has never reached the state championships.”

Vargas knows it won’t be easy advancing to Redding, site of the Final Eight. Even though AVC is a combined 5-0 vs. Bakersfield, Long Beach, and Citrus this season, they all pose formidable threats.

“Those teams are all well-coached,” said Vargas, the 2006 Foothill Conference and State Coach of the Year. “It’s going to be tough.”

The Marauders (.373 team BA, 25 HR) have momentum on their side, and plenty of star-power heading into Saturday’s opener with Bakersfield.

State Pitcher of the Year Nickie Perez is one of four players to earn All-State honors – the most in AVC history.

Perez (16-2, 0.70 ERA) tossed two no-hitters in a three-start span her freshman season. She recorded 168 strikeouts in 110 innings.

Also earning All-State: 1B Katie Cornelison (.443, 6 HR, 38 RBI), 2B Erica Ricker (.455, 10 doubles, 6 triples, 20 RBI), and SS Tayler Wilson.

Wilson led the state in hitting (.573), collecting 59 hits (20 for extra bases), to go with 37 RBI.

“We are unique in a sense that a lot of our players have played softball together since they were young,” Vargas added. “We have the unity, and things seem to be coming together for us. Hopefully, we’re peeking at the right time.”