Three cats named all-conference
The Saddleback softball team is ready to make its first appearance in the regional playoffs in a decade but first the coaches from the Orange Empire Conference convened to determine an All-Orange Empire Conference Team this past weekend. Three Bobcats were named to the second team.
Saddleback finished fifth in the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) standings in 2025 and with the playoffs on tap for this weekend had a hugely successful regular season. McKenzie Lombard, Ka'ui Garcia and Macy Smith were named to the All-OEC Team after guiding the team to a 23-14 record overall.
Lombard played in all 37 games, batting .342 for the season and leading the team with 32 runs scored. She had an eight-game hitting streak twice this season and three hits in a game on two occasions. Lombard had one of her biggest games this season against Los Angeles Mission College when she reached base four times, finishing 3-for-3 with a walk.
Garcia finished second on the team, batting .365 for the season while playing in all 37 games. She was also second on the team in RBI (25), doubles (9) and hits (42) while finishing third in stolen bases (7), bases-on-balls (11), home runs (2) and at-bats (115). Garcia had a monster game against Palomar College to open the season when she went 4-for-4 with three doubles and two RBI in a win over the Comets.
Smith was a consistent leader all season both at the plate and in the field. She led the team in six major offensive categories while playing in every game. Smith finished with a .393 batting average, also leading the team with six home runs, 36 RBI, 13 doubles, 46 hits and 117 at-bats. In addition, Smith was 12-6 on the mound with a team-leading 1.79 ERA, committing just one error all season in the field. She had three hits in a game on five occasions and had her biggest game at the plate when she finished 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI against Grossmont College.
Saddleback opens the playoffs on Friday when it hosts Antelope Valley College in a best-of-three series. The opening game is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Friday at Bobcats Field.