Late Comeback Falls Short as Warriors Season Ends in Slugfest

WALNUT, Calif. – El Camino College fell behind early, rallied late and eventually came up just short in its final game of the season, falling 14-10 to Cypress Friday afternoon in an elimination game at the California Community College Softball State Championships at Mount San Antonio College.

The game saw both teams combine for 24 runs and 36 hits on the day with six home runs getting launched out of the Mt. SAC Softball Stadium. Unfortunately for the Warriors (36-12), it was the Chargers (39-8) power surge that accounted for five of the homers including three with runners on base.

Despite the offensive barrage from Cypress, the Warriors fought back valiantly, overcoming a 7-1 deficit after two-and-a-half innings to tie things up when down to their last four outs.

Kassidy Robinson went 1-for-4 on the day but got the rally started with a three-run bomb over the center-field wall to trim the deficit to three at 7-4.

The Chargers would add a run in the fifth and the Warriors continued to come up empty at the dish against reliever Hailey Hoffman. But that changed in the sixth inning with two outs and two runners on base.

Annie Adamos singled up the middle to score Alyssa Wing from second and make it 8-5. Ashley Machado then followed with a two-run double to right-center to clear the bases and bring the Warriors within one.

Ronni Silas completed the comeback as she chopped a single over the third baseman's head, scoring Machado from second and knotting things up at 8-8 going into the seventh.

Unfortunately, the joy was short lived as Kellee Ross led off the seventh with a solo home run to left to give the Chargers back the lead. They would go on to score six times in the inning, capped off by Infinity Laufou's three-run home run.

The Warriors scored twice in their half of the seventh but they could get no more as their season came to an end with a 36-12 overall record and the team's first trip to the CCCAA State Championships and first win at state.

Adamos, Calderon and Lewis each went 3-for-5 on the day with Machado, Jasmine Krauss and Wing tallying two hits on the day.