Pintado’s Heroics Send No. 5 Warriors to State Championships

LONG BEACH, Calif. --- Sophomore Anahi Pintado played the hero on Saturday afternoon as her RBI single in the bottom of the eighth secured No. 5 El Camino College a 4-3 victory over No. 4 Long Beach City on Saturday afternoon in game two of the 3C2A Southern California Regionals Second Round.

The win secured the Warriors a 2-0 sweep in the series and sent ECC to the 3C2A State Championships for the second time in program history and first since 2018.

Pintado saved her only hit of the day for the most important time as she stepped up with two outs and Lexi Ramirez standing on third with the potential series-clinching run. Pintado squared up an offering from Vikings' pitcher Hailey Harris and lined the ball into right-center field. Vikings center fielder Alesa Gonzalez made a valiant effort, stretching out to make a game-saving play but the ball bounced just out of her reach allowing Ramirez to bring in the winning run and send the Warriors' bench into a frenzy of celebration.

Ramirez extended her ECC record for pitcher wins to 28 with Saturday's performance. She allowed three runs, on six hits and struck out seven in the circle while also going 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Every Warriors starter collected at least one hit on the day with Emily Gamboa going 2-for-4 to lead the group.

The Vikings took the lead first on Saturday as Anaya Togia smacked a two-run single to right in the third inning to put LBCC up 2-0.

But the Warriors responded in their half of the third as Cheyenne Navarro, Emma Garcia and Savanna Kastigar all reached to lead off the inning, loading the bases with no outs. After a fielder's choice erased Navarro at home plate, Ramirez belted a two-run triple to score two runners and tie the game. Lilly Lewis was thrown out at the plate though, leaving the Warriors with a runner on third and two outs.

Morgan Knight stepped up and hit a clutch single to right to bring in Ramirez and put the Warriors up 3-2.

It stayed that way until the fifth inning when Togia came up and blasted a solo home run over the left-field fence to tie the game at 3-3.

The game would go into extras and in the top of the eighth, the Warriors defense came up big as they turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and give ECC a second chance to walk off with a win.

Ramirez led off the frame by reaching on an error by Harris that allowed Ramirez to get to second base. After a sacrifice bunt, Harris got Gamboa to hit a flyout to center that was not deep enough to bring in Ramirez.

But Pintado stepped up and won the game for the Warriors to send the team to the 3C2A State Championships hosted by West Valley College in Saratoga,Calif. and San Jose City College in San Jose, Calif.

The Warriors will be the No. 4 seed from the South at the state championships with No. 1 Orange Coast, No. 2 Cypress and No. 3 Palomar all punching their tickets to state on Saturday as well.

The Warriors will take on hosts West Valley, the No. 1 seed from the North beginning on Thursday.