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University’s softball team after Saturday’s CIF semifinal playoff victory. (Photo courtesy University athletics).
University High School’s softball team is out to make more history Friday morning at Deanna Manning Stadium.
The Trojans (15-10) will take on Rio Hondo Prep in the CIF Division 6 final Friday at 10 a.m. It will be the first time a University softball team has competed in the CIF finals, athletic officials said.
“It’s the first time ever,” said second-year Trojans Coach Merissa Guzman. “It’s definitely something super exciting not only for us as coaches, the girls but for our whole school. There has been so much support from our staff, it’s so nice. I’m a special ed teacher, so the whole department has been so supportive after every single game …. they’re asking if they can make us posters and they’re asking if they can do T-shirts.
“The whole school has been so supportive and the boosters have been amazing. It is really whole team effort, not just the whole team itself but all of our supporters and families as well.”
The University program has struggled for many years.
School officials said they believe it’s been more than 20 years since a Uni softball team advanced to the playoffs. But the Trojans made strides last year going 7-14 overall. University was 2-8 this season season finishing fifth in the Pacific Coast League and earned an at-large berth in the CIF playoffs.
“It’s the same group of girls that came out last year, I definitely saw they wanted to improve,” Guzman said. “We have three freshmen this year who are starters and I think they were the missing puzzle piece that definitely have helped us be successful this season,” the coach said.
The freshmen are Maiko Shiraiwa, Jessica Hu and Sienna Gillen.
Junior pitcher Carson Cruz, who has 15 wins including all four in the playoffs has led the team during the season and in the post-season.
“She’s been amazing,” Guzman said.
Top hitters for University have been Sophia Weinberg who is batting .605 with 24 RBI; Cruz, who is batting .576 with 50 RBI; Amela Hoang, who is batting .500 with 27 RBI; and Hu, who is batting .484 with 28 RBI and Alexandra McBride, who is batting .429 with 26 RBI.
“I think they realized they have a lot of potential when they play together as a team,” Guzman said. “The new freshmen definitely helped us improve our starting nine.”
But a trip to the CIF finals?
“Obviously, that’s every coach’s goal. But league was a struggle, we were 2-8, there is a lot of really good competition in our league, but we were definitely striving toward that .500 to make it to CIF,” Guzman said. “I knew we could make it to CIF (playoffs) by how well we were playing against other teams as well as other teams in our league and once we made CIF, that was definitely our end goal after playing our first CIF game, we said, ‘we can win it all.’ I knew they could do it.”
University has rolled through the playoffs with victories over Monrovia (21-1), Coastal Christian (10-2), Cantwell Sacred Heart (7-5) and Ramona Convent (10-2) in the semifinals.
“It’s been so much fun, there have been tough games and we’ve played some really great teams,” Guzman said. “But our girls have just been fighting the whole game and that’s something I congratulate them on often.”
Rio Hondo Prep (20-5) advanced with wins over Southlands Christian (8-6), St. Monica Prep (16-6), Katella (12-11) and Adelanto (22-11) in the semifinals. Rio Prep was a co-champion in the Prep League.
“Their team looks good, also a lefty pitcher, so similar to Carson, they look like a solid team so I know they’re going to bring a great game and it looks like it will be a good competition,” Guzman said.
Since the game starts at 10 a.m. on a school day it appears that most University students and teachers won’t be able to attend the game, but students are expected to follow the game on social media and a live stream.
Seniors are taking finals on Friday and classes are winding down for the school before the summer break.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com