Hornets' playoff run begins withMoorpark

The Fullerton College softball team lost its season finale, 2-0, to Cypress College last Wednesday.

Rather than concentrate on the loss, the Hornets are excited and focused because they know that the end of one season means the beginning of another - the playoffs.

In her 20th season as head coach, Lisa Bassi leads her team to the Southern California Regional Championship for the 20th consecutive time.

"We are playing good softball right now," Bassi said. "The postseason is a new beginning. You start off with a clean slate and have to prove yourself all over again."

Fullerton (30-8) enters the 16-team tournament as the No. 4 overall seed. In the first round of play, the Hornets will host Moorpark College (31-12), firstplace finishers of the Western State-Gold Conference.

The Raiders enter the playoffs as winners of eight of their last 10 and boast one of the better offensive clubs in Southern California.

"We have been peaking at this time and that is what you want from your team," said Kelly Lovato, Moorpark head coach.

"We are coming together and are working well as a team, and it is because of our experience."

Over their past 10 games, Moorpark has outslugged opponents, scoring 71 runs over that span.

"We have been really strong offensively this season," Lavato said. "The last third of the season it has been our offense that has carried us to victories."

The series will be a classic matchup between a shut-down pitching staff and a high-powered offensive lineup.

First baseman Bryanne Schwartz, second baseman Kristen Torres and third baseman Michelle Zakosek solidify the Raider lineup.

Each bats over .400 and has driven in over 20 runs a piece.

"I think our pitching matches up with anyone in the state," Bassi said. "There has not been a single dominant pitcher in the state this year. So it's a matter of getting hot."

There is no one arguably hotter right now in the circle than Hornet pitcher Sierra Gallego. The freshman hurler has lost only a single game since a Feb. 27 meeting with Riverside College. Gallego concluded the season with a 15-3 overall record and tallied four shutout performances.

Although Fullerton has succeeded because of their pitching and defense, their offense is no slouch by any means. The top of the order has paced the offense for this season's entirety. Shortstop Diana Payan had more than 50 hits on her way to a .427 average.

Second baseman Natalie DeLeese led not only Fullerton, but the entire Orange Empire Conference with a .522 average.

Both DeLeese and Payan were named to the OEC first team, DeLeese earning the Most Valuable Player award.

"I give the credit to my team," said the sophomore transfer from Santa Ana College. "The transition from Santa Ana was fine. It was just getting used to the girls [at Fullerton]."

DeLeese is one of 16 Hornet players to be experiencing their first postseason.

"We haven't seen Moorpark, but we are so excited to just get out on the field and play," DeLeese said.

In addition to being awarded the MVP, Bassi was named OEC co-coach of the year along with Brad Pickler of Cypress.

"That is a coaching staff of the year award," Bassi said. "The reason we have all come together this year is because of our coaching staff."

Bassi and company are one of the four OEC teams to qualify for the field of 16, all of whom are the higher-seeded team. Coincidentally, these four teams are on the same side of the bracket and the quarterfinals could be an all-OEC affair.

"The competition in the OEC is much like that we see in the postseason," Bassi said. "It is an added bonus to prepare all season long for this type of competition."

Before Fullerton can have the opportunity to possibly play Riverside College in the quarterfinals, they must first get past Moorpark.

The Hornets will likely face the Raider's Bonnie Ward and Taylor Neumann. Ward is Moorpark's ace, finishing the season with a 21-7 record and has given up two earned runs in her last two starts.

Although both teams have succeeded on different skill sets, they both share the belief on how to win the series - minimizing the number of mistakes on defense.

Lovato and Bassi both cited the importance of limiting their opponent's scoring opportunities.

If that is the case, the Hornets have the advantage as they believe they are the best defensive team in the state.

Regardless, Bassi is looking at the postseason one game at a time.

"It's all about keeping your poise in the postseason," Bassi said. "Homefield advantage is going to be huge for us.We just have to have an inner aggression to advance."

The Hornets host Moorpark Saturday in a best of three series at 2 p.m. at Hornet Field. Because they are the higher seed, Fullerton has home field for its entire first round matchup and with a series victory, would again host a second round matchup against the winner of the Riverside-Palomar series.