BY DAVID LASSEN
IRVINE — The Hemet High softball team held an extended session of batting practice Saturday at Irvine’s Barber Park, site of its CIF-Southern Section Division 4 championship game with Santa Monica. Since it occurred within the game, it was both legal and decisive. Hemet hammered out 20 hits — 17 of them singles — and conquered the Vikings 16-2 for the first softball title in school history. “I’m so thrilled that we did it like this,” said winning pitcher Cheyenne Gandara. “I’m so proud to be a part of this team.” The emphatic victory capped a playoff run in which the Bulldogs outscored opponents 48-9, scoring at least seven runs in every game. “We had confidence in ourselves,” said sophomore outfielder Jade Gandara, who went 4 for 5 with a double and two RBIs, “just because of how we’ve played as a team so well.” Every starter had at least one hit for the Bulldogs (27-5), who rolled out a pair of seven-run innings en route to Hemet’s third CIFSS girls title of the school year. The softball title follows a Division 4AA volleyball championship in the fall and a Division 7 water polo crown in the winter. “That is a perfect example of a team, right there,” said an elated Jeff Galloway, the Bulldogs’ coach. “You can’t ask for any better. … They kept working together, pushing each other, and believing in each other, and that was a perfect example of what a team does when it sticks together and works hard.” Almost overshadowed in the offensive attack was Cheyenne Gandara’s fourhitter She struck out nine, walked none and pitched for the cycle, as it were, giving up one single, one double, one triple and one home run. On the offensive side, she contributed two hits and an RBI. “I just wanted to get out there and pitch my game, and make sure I had the right spin,” she said. “And the defense was behind my back.” Hemet cranked up its offensive merry-go-round with seven runs on eight hits in the third — an output it matched in the sixth — and finished the day an outlandish 13 of 17 with runners in scoring position. They also stole 10 bases, mostly uncontested when Hemet found itself with runners at first and third. “Our philosophy, when we have runners at first and third, is that I’m going to make you throw a ball,” Galloway said. “If you’re not going to throw the ball, I’m going to get something — either take a base, or score. “So they didn’t want to give up a run, so they gave us a base. And I’m very confident with our hitters, that when we have runners in scoring position, we’re going to bring in a run.” Junior shortstop Taylor Van Zee was 3 for 4, doubled and drove in three runs, and junior outfielder Amanda Izzo also had three hits. “Our team is good in all aspects,” Van Zee said, “and we go with whatever is working that day. Today, it was our speed and our small ball.” The Bulldogs have the plaque to prove it. “What a show,” Galloway said. “What a show.”