By Dan Albano | dalbano@scng.com | Orange County Register

UPDATED: May 19, 2019 at 11:47 a.m.

IRVINE – Cypress’ underdog softball team arrived at the CIF-SS Division 2 finals Saturday with shiny spirit gear for the dugout courtesy of catcher Kaitlyn Govea and a few of her teammates.

“We got glasses, hats … a tiara,” the senior said. “We had this (jump) rope because (assistant coach) Terry (Thompson) always says ‘Pull the rope in the same direction.’ … (We had) dinosaur hats. It’s crazy.”

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Cypress’ Sammy-Jo Mata, right, lifts up Camryn Addimando, left, after she scored the winning run vs. South Torrance in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball championship game on Saturday May 18, 2019. (Photo by Michael Kitada, Contributing Photographer)

But just as importantly, the Centurions arrived with a bond that proved unbreakable in the wildest division of the section playoffs.

Cypress’ pinch-runner Natalie Rodriguez scored the winning run on a one-out error in the fourth inning and ace Maddy Wilson delivered again as the Centurions edged South Torrance 2-1 at Bill Barber Park to claim their first section crown since 1992.

Unranked in the final Division 2 poll, Empire League runner-up Cypress (24-8-1) posted its third consecutive 2-1 victory of the playoffs to capture the fourth CIF crown in school history.

“It’s family,” Wilson (16-4) said through tears afterward. “Just being a family and how we work together is really how we got here. … This what we wanted and we got it.”

Cypress’ profile also included losing in the first round of the Division 2 playoffs last season to Lakewood.

“We did feel like we were the underdogs,” said Govea, one of 10 seniors of the Cypress roster. “It’s great chemistry, no fight at all. It’s crazy. Come on, we’re 20 girls. There’s bound to be fights and we haven’t had any fights. We had a great bond.”

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, senior first baseman Sammy-Jo Mata led off the pivotal inning with a single to right and was replaced on the bases by Rodriguez.

No. 5 batter Macey Keester followed by bunting the next pitch toward first to advance Rodriguez with the sacrifice, but Rodriguez, a transfer from North Torrance, had ambitious plans. As South Torrance recorded the out at first, Rodriguez raced toward third, drawing a throw from South Torrance (24-7). The ball sailed and Rodriguez scored to make it 2-1.

“All week long we worked on putting bunts down and trying to get runners from first … to third,” said Thompson, an assistant under Coach Kevin Dull. “Fortunately it worked out. … We knew it was going to come down to execution today.”

Let’s get this party started!!!! Centurions take their dugout and get ready to go! Let’s go ladies!!!! #cyphype @ocvarsity @ocvarsityguy @SoCalVarsity @MAlvarez02 @SteveFryer @CypHS_Athletics pic.twitter.com/oe7mX5vYma

— Cypress HS Softball (@CypressSoftball) May 18, 2019

Keester, Cypress’ No. 5 batter, didn’t think twice about being asked to bunt.

“Anything for the team,” she said.

The Fairfield-bound Wilson retired the next six batters to finish off a four-hitter, and she had praise for her defense. Keester, a junior committed to Mississippi, made a running catch in center in the fifth to save a run. Second baseman Hannah Corrado snagged a liner to end the sixth.

Third baseman Sammy Diaz caught a pop up for the final out.

“It’s nice to have a defense that I count on behind me,” Wilson said. “We got a lot of great girls out there.”

Thompson’s daughter, left fielder Jordan Thompson, tripled in Isabella Pardo (2 for 3) with the tying-run with two outs in the third.

Cypress knocked off No. 4 seed Sonora 4-1 in the second round and then beat Ayala and El Modena 2-1 in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.

The Centurions said their relaxed attitude — from Saturday’s “Rally Bucket” of gear to pre-game dancing — also helped them navigate the tight games.

“I’d say so,” Wilson explained. “It keeps a positivity inside (the game).”