The Le Grand Bulldogs claimed the CIF NorCal Softball Championship title on Saturday, June 6th, by defeating Moreau Catholic by a score of 5-3. Le Grand entered the matchup with a 22-7 overall record, a perfect 12-0 in league play, and the program’s first NorCal championship appearance. Standing in the Bulldogs’ way was a Moreau Catholic team who closed out their league season with a 11-3 record. With the top prize on the line and a packed crowd filling the stands, the pressure was high from the opening pitch.
The home team Bulldogs wasted no time setting the tone for the game. In the bottom of the first inning, after Elisa Angel reached base by being hit by a pitch, Aaliyah Ceja delivered the first big swing of the afternoon, launching a two-run home run and giving the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead.
The game slowed down with strong defense on both sides after that, limiting further scoring until the top of the fifth. Moreau Catholic opened the fifth inning with a flyball to right field, but an error by the outfielder allowed Lexi Mejia to reach third base. Olivia Ritchie followed with an RBI single to trim the deficit in half. Later, a bases-loaded walk by Le Grand tied the game before Sofia Mascorro delivered an RBI single that brought in Sienna Rios and gave Moreau Catholic their first lead of the game at 3-2.
With no outs recorded in the inning and the bases still loaded, Le Grand needed to respond. Bulldog’s pitcher Ava Avila responded with three consecutive strikeouts to limit the damage and keep the Bulldogs within one run. After that, Avila responded with her bat. With a runner on first base, Avila stepped into the batter’s box and delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon. The junior crushed a two-run home run, bringing energy to the stands and putting Le Grand back on top, 4-3.
Le Grand added an important run in the bottom of the sixth. Elisa Angel singled and later scored when Aaliyah Ceja drove a double into left field, extending the Bulldogs’ advantage to 5-3 heading into the final inning.
Avila continued to dominate in the circle. She struck out the first batter of the seventh before the Bulldogs recorded another out on a ground ball. With the crowd on its feet, Avila recorded her 13th strikeout of the game to end it, sealing the 5-3 victory and sending Le Grand players rushing onto the field to celebrate the NorCal title.
“This is what we wanted,” senior Aaliyah Ceja said. “This is how we wanted it to end. We wanted to end on a good note, and that’s exactly what we did. I’m glad as a senior that I ended it on a great note.”
Le Grand head coach Adrian Angel credited the team’s work ethic and close-knit culture for helping the Bulldogs reach the top. “These girls worked so hard on and off the field,” Angel said. “We have solid pitching in Ava Avila, who’s one of those kids that never gives up. They play for each other. Not only are they teammates on the softball field, but they’re friends off the softball field. Our community support and the bond these girls have is what helps them stay together through everything.”
Powered by home runs from Ceja and Avila, and a complete-game effort from Avila in the circle, Le Grand finished the job Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs overcame adversity, responded when they lost the lead, and delivered in the biggest moments to defeat Moreau Catholic 5-3 and bring the CIF NorCal Division 5 Championship to Le Grand.
- Photos by Grace Gallegos ↩︎
