Softball dominates at Santa Barbara Tournament

The Saddleback softball team has suffered a number of setbacks to injury this season and some wondered how that would affect them heading into a four-game tournament at Santa Barbara over the weekend.  The Gauchos responded with a vengeance, winning all four games and blowing out all four opponents.

Saddleback entered the tournament riding a three-game winning streak and improved its overall record to 17-8 with the four wins.  The Gauchos used the long ball in dominating the tournament, hitting 10 home runs in four games.  The most impressive display of power came against East Los Angeles College in game three on Sunday morning when Saddleback hit five home runs in turning back the Huskies 15-6 in five innings. 

Saddleback opened the tournament with a 15-9 win over Chaffey College, a program battling with the Gauchos for a playoff spot at the end of next month.  Chaffey currently sits at 17-11 on the season and in third place in the Foothill Conference, so a win over the Panthers gives the Gauchos some much-needed head-to-head bragging rights.

Saddleback then made quick work of Los Angeles Valley with a five-inning, 8-0 win on Saturday afternoon.  The Gauchos finished the tournament with a 8-3 win over host Santa Barbara on Sunday afternoon. 

Saddleback hit 10 total home runs in the tournament, with five different players hitting home runs against East LA.  Sarah DiTommaso (pictured) led the Gauchos with three home runs on the weekend, including two in the final game against Santa Barbara.

Saddleback will play again on Wednesday when they travel to Cypress College for a 3:00 PM game against the Chargers.  Cypress enters the week at 20-4 overall, winning 13 of its past 14 games.