COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : Defending Champion Cypress Rallies, but Falls One Run Short to Palomar

Cypress’ bid to defend its State softball championship ended Sunday when Palomar defeated the Chargers, 3-2, in the losers’ bracket final of the State tournament in Sacramento.

Nikkanni Andrews hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to cut the deficit to one run, but the Chargers weren’t able to complete the rally and lost a chance to play Sacramento City for the title. Sacramento City defeated Palomar, 4-1, in the championship game.

Palomar, top-seeded from the South, took a 3-0 lead on runs in the first, third and sixth innings. Kim Ward (32-5) allowed six hits, struck out nine and walked two for the victory.

After Andrews’ one-out home run, Chrystal Youngberg singled, but Ward ended the Cypress threat by retiring the next two batters. Cypress finished the season 39-14.