There’s one more item for the Dos Pueblos softball team to check off its list of goals: win a CIF championship.
The Chargers are one victory away from going 3-for-3 on their list of accomplishments in 2011. They’ll go after it on Saturday against Fontana-Kaiser in the Division 4 title game at 12:30 p.m. at Deanna Manning Stadium at Irvine’s Barber Memorial Park.
(Presidiosports.com will be providing updates throughout the game).
DP coaches Lee Harris and Donn Roberts said the team set three goals at the beginning of the season: win the CIF Scholar Team Award, win the Channel League title and win CIF.
The Chargers last won the title in 2005.
“If you don’t dream the dream, you will never achieve it,” said Harris about the team’s lofty aspirations for the season.
The Chargers (21-9) have allowed only one run in their four playoff wins. They’ve defeated Garden Grove-La Quinta 3-0, Whittier Christian 3-0, Ocean 1-0 in 11 innings and top-seeded Aquinas 4-1. The last three wins have been on the road.
“This CIF run has been fast and furious,” said Harris, who credits a tough preseason schedule for preparing the Chargers for the postseason.
“We have played in some of the toughest tournaments and fared well in all of them. We have been lucky with no injuries this year, and have seen this great camraderie created on this team.
“The DP family has been great supporting this run,” he added. “We are going to go out and represent DP, Goleta and Santa Barbara the best we can, and bring home the championship.”
Kaiser is making history, becoming the first Fontana school to reach the softball finals.
“We’ve done some good things,” Kaiser coach John Stevens told the Fontana Herald News after the Cats beat La Quinta 2-1 in the semifinals. “We’ve made a little history, and what else can you ask for? We get to live to play one more game.”
The Cats (20-10) are led by underclassmen, with junior pitcher Krystel Gabbard being the catalyst. She’s come through in the clutch, winning a 10-inning second-round game over Segerstrom, 5-2, an 8-inning quarterfinal win over Garden Grove, 3-2, and a 2-1 semifinal victory over La Quinta.
“For as young as we are, we didn’t panic,” Stevens said after the semifinal win. “It’s a total team effort. We’ve had kids come off the bench and contribute big plays for us.”
Gabbard allowed three hits and struck out 10 against La Quinta.
Gabbard also contributes on offense with a .459 batting average, with four homers and 35 RBIs.
Junior Jesslene Contreras is the Cats’ leading hitter at .489 with eight doubles and 35 RBIs. Freshman Destiney Henderson is batting .400.
“They have to be good to be here,” said Harris. “They beat two good, quality teams to get here. They are fast and play solid defense.”
Dos Pueblos is playing at the top of its game, and Harris said it’s been a product of years of playing together.
“The cohesiveness has been built through the years,” he said. “This is a true team, all the girls are having fun. Also, if one girl is not playing so well, another girl steps up and shines.”
Junior Hannah Harris has shone brightly during the playoffs. She’s allowed only one run in 38 innings.
“She’s been nothing less than spectacular.” said coach Harris. “She has been hitting her spots and, when the heat isn’t working, the spins and change of speeds are. I am confident she will put it all together for one of her better performances. She thrives on this type of spotlight. That’s one of the reasons Margie Wright from Fresno State was so interested in recruiting her. She has been the consumate competitor and team leader.”
Harris has a 1.07 ERA and 223 strikeouts. At the plate, she leads the team with a .340 average.
Marisa Radeke ranks second in hitting at .321, with 14 RBIs. Jordan Roberts is batting .291, with a team-high 20 RBIs.
