A home run by catcher Zara Mineo granted a 6-2 win for the 2025 SCC champs against San Diego Mesa (SDM) on Wednesday and capped off the Vikings’ last home game of the season on a high note.
SDM found initial success against the Vikings and made their first run in the first inning, and a second in the following inning.
Despite the starting troubles, coach Megan Martinez took a moment to convene with the team and advised that their play style should be more offensive.
“We got off to a slow start. Offensively, we didn’t make adjustments at the plate… I thought we needed to drive the ball,” said Martinez.
Sophomore Anaya Togia wears leis while holding a bouquet of flowers and balloons with her family as they walk the diamond to celebrate her and the other sophomores on sophomore night. (Bella Schultz)
The switch to an active playstyle culminated into an in the park home run by outfielder Sienna Rievley, who went for both pitches thrown her way.
“The moment when Sienna hit that first run, I just knew, either way, that I was running home. When I saw that ball get to the fence, I knew she was coming around the bases, and when she moves, she really moves,” said Mineo.
Left fielder Sienna Rievley, on third base in the game against San Diego Mesa, where the Vikings won 6-2. Rieveley hit a three-run inside-the-park home run to gain the lead after being down 2-0. (Bella Schultz)
The Vikings held onto the small lead of one run until the sixth inning, led by pitcher Hailey Harris with a first pitch swing, who switched out with Leila Rodriguez upon making it to first base.
Right fielder May Ramirez followed suit with another immediate swing, moved to first, and allowed Rodriguez to land on third base without interruption.
Mineo made the most of the occupied bases, and swung on the first pitch as her teammates did and succeeded with an out of the park left field home run.
“Zara was due. I love Zara, she works her butt off, so it was really cool to see her get her moment,” said Harris.
The game ended during the top of the seventh inning, and the Vikings wrapped the day up with a ceremony to spotlight the sophomore players of the team.
Regarding playoffs, the sentiment was clear, as the team exerted confidence for their next challenge.
“We’re ready, we’re ready. We went in, we won conference champs, that’s a small victory. That’s one thing under our belt, but we want the ring, and we’re ready to win state,” said Mineo.
LBCC’s softball team were at a 35-4 overall record after the win against SDM, and managed to bump up their record to 36-4 on Thursday after a win against Orange Coast College.
“We’re coming home with the state championship,” said Martinez.