This past weekend the 2023 CCAA Softball Tournament was held at Cal State Dominguez Hills’ Toro Diamond. The tournament featured a modified format that mirrored the baseball championship tournament. The first day (Wednesday) saw four lowest-seeded teams compete in a single elimination game. The remaining teams were reseeded for a double-elimination tournament that took place from Thursday to Saturday.

Despite the challenges, the Sonoma State Softball Team showed great sportsmanship, determination and resilience throughout the tournament. Winning one game and losing three, they fought hard against tough competition, making their fans proud.

On Thursday May 4, the No. 1 seed Seawolves first faced off against the No. 4 seed Chico State. The Wildcats came out swinging, scoring all their runs in the first inning. A string of hits would put the Wildcats up 3-0, allowing them to keep control throughout the game and secure the win 3-0.

Sonoma fought tooth and nail in game two to stay alive in the tournament. The game against the No. 2 seed San Bernardino would last for eight innings. The Yotes’ offense was moving from the start, scoring one in the first and three in the third. The bats came alive for the Seawolves in the third inning as Cassidy Romano homered in Giana Hays making the game 4-2. San Bernardino answered back with a run, but first baseman Skylar Linnane hit a home run the following inning to keep the fight alive. That momentum would carry the game on as Romano hit her second home run of the game tying it up 5-5. In the bottom of the eighth Sonoma started off with a walk. Lauren Mirtoni pinch hit for Regan Hunt and layed down a sacrifice bunt moving Maddy Martinez into scoring position. With two outs Rylee Nishimoto hit a double to right center field, scoring the winning run and taking the game 6-5.

On Friday, the Seawolves went on to play No. 3 seed Cal State Dominguez Hills. A slow start for both teams until the fourth inning, where the Toros offense livened up. A homerun would make it 1-0 then in the fifth inning, Dominguez Hills strung some hits together to put up four runs, making the game 5-0. In the sixth inning, Sonoma showed some life, Anna Zoia-Buescher hit a single, Hays walked, both advanced on a wild pitch and then scored on an error by the third baseman. The Toros tightened up, securing the victory with the final score 5-1.

Romano finished the tournament with three hits, two home runs and four RBIs. Romano had great success this year on and off the field. Romano said this year as a senior has been incredible. “Having such a strong team and being able to watch my teammates grow and do amazing things has been something I can appreciate.”

Senior Jordyn Martinez believes that this team was one of the hardest working teams she’s played for and that her squad motivates her everyday. “I know how much work my teammates are putting in, and I want to be a good captain for them and lead by example. That is my motivation when I come to the field every single day.”