Hornet baseball and softball squads beat heat to advance in playoffs

CALIPATRIA — Spectators brought awnings and umbrellas to cope with triple- digit temperatures during a CIFSan Diego Section baseball and softball playoff two- fer at Calipatria High School Tuesday afternoon.

Hornet Varsity Softball Head Coach Ted Hughes said the heat was brutal.

“I had a young lady that had to come in ( as a substitute) and catch and another young lady that had to take over on the mound,” he said.

Despite the challenges presented by the sun, Hughes’ Hornets managed to grab an early lead over the Chula Vista Castle Park Trojans and ride that momentum to a 21- 5 blowout victory.

The Hornet batters didn’t let the heat mess with their groove in the least as they even maintained their tradition of playing “walk- up songs” for each.

“Every time a girl is going to bat, they have their own song,” pitcher Emily Gamboa explained. “Mine’s ‘ Dior’ by Pop Smoke.”

The girls’ enthusiasm could be heard at the adjacent field, where the Calipatria varsity boys held on to win their playoff contest against

San Diego’s Herbert Hoover Cardinals by a score of 7- 2.

Senior Hornet Johnny Sadberry said this game meant so much because the team has so much to prove.

“We went from basically getting beat every game last season to now being playoff contenders,” he said.

Hornets Head

Coach C. J Perez said his team knew from the beginning of the season what the goal was.

“We have a special group this year, and the job’s not done.”

Bobby Schuman, head coach for San Diego Hoover Cardinals, said it was an honor to just be in the playoffs.

“Calipatria has a good team, and a really good pitcher,” Schuman said. “I wish them best of luck in the playoffs.”

PHOTO CORISSA IBARRA In a somewhat unusual bit of scheduling, Calipatria’s baseball team was involved in a CIF-San Diego Section playoff game of its own on a field adjacent to the one where the softball team was playing. The Hornet boys continued their strong season with a 7-2 victory over San Diego’s Herbert Hoover Cardinals.

PHOTO CORISSA IBARRA Calipatria’s softball team was red-hot Tuesday as it destroyed the Chula Vista Castle Park Trojans, 21-5, in a CIF-San Diego Section playoff game.