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Santa Ana College players and coaches celebrate after winning the title. (Photo courtesy Santa Ana College sports information).
The No. 9 ranked Santa Ana College softball team held off the No. 6 Cypress Chargers (31-11,19-5) to win 3-2 in the 2022 Orange Empire Conference Championship game on Wednesday afternoon.
With the season on the line, Santa Ana (33-7, 20-4) came to play as it jumped out to an early 3-0 lead to set the tone.
With two outs, freshman outfielder Alexis Rangel singled to right field to drive in freshman designated player Sarah Casey for the first run of the game.
The Dons starting pitcher, Emily Rosas, then helped herself with an infield single to third to bring another run home before Vinnie Robles scored on a wild pitch to cap the inning.
But the Chargers would not go away easy as they slowly climbed back in the game a few innings later.
In the third inning, freshman center fielder Cameron Curiel put Cypress on the board as she ran out an
inside the park home run to left field to cut the SAC lead to 3-1.
Cypress struck again in the next inning as shortstop Camryn Addimando singled through the left side, making it a one run game (3-2) with three innings left to play.
With the pressure on, the Dons then locked in and followed the lead of Emily Rosas, who showed why she’s the reigning OEC MVP.
Rosas went the distance once again and retired the last nine Chargers to hold onto the one run lead and secure the championship for the Dons.
With the win, Santa Ana earned its first Orange Empire Conference Softball Championship since 2001 and its fifth in school history with the win. It also marks the first OEC Tournament championship in school history.
SAC will now await seeding to be released for the CCCAA Southern Regional Playoffs that will
take place on May 6-7.
—Courtesy Santa Ana College sports information
