Rapoza Collects 300th Win as Warriors Eliminate Cypress

SAN JOSE, Calif. --- Head coach Jessica Rapoza recorded her 300th win at El Camino College as the Warriors defeated Cypress, 7-0, in an elimination game at the 3C2A State Championships at San Jose City College.

With the win, the Warriors advance to face Orange Coast in another elimination game tonight at 8 p.m. at West Valley College.

Rapoza became just the second softball coach to ever reach the 300-win mark at ECC, joining Julie Feenstra who coached the Warriors from 1982-2000. Rapoza has reached the mark in half the time as she is currently in her 10th season at the helm with the Warriors.

It is Rapoza's second major coaching milestone this year as she collected her 400th career win on Jan. 30 at the ECC Softball Field. She now has 435 career wins in her 15th year as a coach going back to her stint at Santa Ana College from 2010-14.

On Friday afternoon, the Warriors defeated Cypress, the No. 2 seed from the South, for the third time this season. Pitcher Lexi Ramirez was flawless as she allowed just two hits to the potent Chargers lineup. One day after walking seven batters, Ramirez also rectified that by issuing just two free passes while striking out six to earn her 29th win of the season in the circle.

The Warriors used a six-run third inning to take control of the game. They sent 11 batters to the plate and collected six of their 10 hits in the inning to take the big lead.

They would add another run in the sixth and Ramirez took care of the rest as she allowed just two baserunners to advance to second base in the game. She also retired the final 12 batters she faced in a row after allowing the first two to reach in the fourth inning.

The Warriors will head back to West Valley College tonight to face the Pirates, a team they have already played twice this season. The Warriors defeated the Pirates 8-3 on Feb. 6 at OCC while the Pirates returned the favor on Feb. 25, handing the Warriors a 2-1 loss at the ECC Softball Field.