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1992 Softball Division II CIF Champion
1992 Softball Division II CIF Champion
A Perfect Storm: Cypress Claims CIF Glory
The year was 1992, and the Cypress High School softball team was poised to make history. Led by the formidable Monica Jimenez, the Centurions were a force to be reckoned with. Under the shrewd guidance of Head Coach Janelle Frese, the team had not only honed their skills but also forged an unshakeable team chemistry.
In a pivotal Southern Section 5-A semifinal matchup against Kennedy High School, the Centurions secured a thrilling 1-0 victory thanks to a truly unforgettable moment. It wasn't a defensive lapse that sealed their fate, but rather a colossal solo home run belted by their tough, scrappy second baseman, Christa Saindon. This "dinger," described as the longest solo home run ever seen, was a truly magic moment, especially sweet for Coach Frese, as she is a proud alumna of Kennedy and won a CIF title with them in 1984. This crucial win propelled Cypress to the championship game against Simi Valley.
The championship game was a classic pitcher's duel. Monica Jimenez, the team's ace, delivered a dominant performance, baffling Simi Valley hitters with her pinpoint accuracy and powerful pitches. The decisive run came in dramatic fashion: Julie Adams, a young freshman phenom, reached first base on an infield single. On the very next pitch, the catcher attempted a pick-off, but the ball sailed wildly over heads and hands, rolling all the way to the right field fence. With a leaping windmill directive to "Go! Go! Go!" from Coach Frese, Julie's incredibly long stride had her already rounding third before the right fielder could even attempt a throw to the plate. It wasn't even close, marking Simi Valley's defensive lapse that allowed the winning run to score.
This historic 1-0 victory marked the third CIF title for Cypress High School softball, solidifying their place among the elite softball programs in Southern California. The team's success was not only due to Jimenez's exceptional talent but also to the contributions of other key players, including senior catcher Liz Moore (All-CIF), and the aforementioned Julie Adams, who would later become an All-American at UCLA.
The 1992 CIF championship was a testament to the hard work, dedication, and skill of the players and coaches. This victory, with its memorable moments and dramatic plays, will forever be etched in the annals of Cypress High School history, inspiring future generations of Centurions.
CIF_5A_Team.pdf1992 Girls Softball - Final League Standings.pdfcypress softball Resolution No. 2665.pdf1992 Girls Softball - Final Playoff Game Program.pdfLA_Times_pre_final_game.pdfHIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Jimenez Leads Cypress in 5-A
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : Jimenez Leads Cypress in 5-A
By MARK SPINN
June 7, 1992 12 AM PT
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
For someone who had just pitched her team to a Southern Section softball championship, Monica Jimenez was fairly subdued.
Jimenez pitched a two-hitter and struck out 12 to lead Cypress to a 1-0 victory over Simi Valley in the Southern Section Division 5-A finals Saturday night at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.
To Jimenez, however, it didn’t seem like anything special.
“It was just like any other game, just with more fans,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez’s postgame calm equaled her poise during a pitcher’s duel with Simi Valley’s Sara Griffin. Griffin gave up only four hits and struck out 11 and matched Jimenez--with one key exception.
Cypress (25-5) scored the game’s only run in the fourth inning when Julie Adams scored from first on a throwing error by Simi Valley catcher Kathy Beasley. Adams reached base on a fielder’s choice and was able to come home when Beasley’s attempted pickoff throw sailed all the way to the fence.
Jimenez didn’t make any mistakes against Simi Valley (26-3). In the top of the third, Simi Valley put runners on second and third with one out, but Jimenez struck out the next two hitters.
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : 5-A SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS : Single Run Enough to Advance Cypress
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS : 5-A SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS : Single Run Enough to Advance Cypress
By FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ
June 3, 1992 12 AM PT
TIMES STAFF WRITER
CYPRESS — Capitalizing on uncharacteristically sloppy defense by Kennedy’s infielders, the Cypress softball team took advantage of an error and a timely double in the fourth inning to win, 1-0, in a Southern Section 5-A semifinal game Tuesday at Cypress College.
The victory advanced the Centurions (24-5) to the championship game against Simi Valley Saturday night at Mayfair Park in Lakewood. Simi Valley eliminated top-seeded Mater Dei, 2-0, in the other semifinal.
It will be the first trip to the finals for Cypress since 1987, when the Centurions beat Thousand Oaks, 5-0, for the 4-A title.
It also will be the first section final for Janelle Frese, Cypress’ second-year coach. She took last year’s team to the quarterfinals, where the Centurions were eliminated by Ventura Buena.
“We had lots of goals this year, one of which was to qualify for CIF,” Frese said. “Never take it to the field unless you want to win.”
The Centurions took it to the field consistently in the early innings, putting the ball in play against right-hander Nicole Paloney (10-3) and watching the Fighting Irish (22-7) self-destruct with their fielding miscues.
Kennedy committed five errors, all in the infield, to allow Cypress plenty of scoring opportunities in the first three innings. The Centurions advanced a runner to second with two outs in the first inning, a runner to third with one out in the second and another runner to third with one out in the third, but they could not score.
In the fourth, however, Cypress finally cashed in on Kennedy’s last error.
After Liz Moore grounded out to open the inning, pitcher Monica Jimenez (22-4) reached first on an error by freshman shortstop Lisa Pitt. Christa Saindon followed with a line drive that sailed over the head of Kennedy left fielder Danielle Evers and rolled to the 210-foot sign on the left-field fence, scoring Jimenez. A relay from Pitt to third baseman Danielle McLeod cut down Evers at third as she tried to stretch the double. That probably saved another run for Kennedy, because Candy Giampapa singled to left two batters later.
Besides their problems in the field, Kennedy could do little offensively against Jimenez. A junior right-hander who has pitched four consecutive shutouts, she limited the Fighting Irish to four hits--three in the infield--walked one and struck out seven.
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