Pitching propels Chula Vista Learning Community Charter to first section softball title

While the name of the school may be long, the success of the Chula Vista Learning Community Charter is just beginning.

The charter school of under 400 students captured its first section softball title by downing St. Joseph Academy 4-1 Thursday afternoon in the CIF San Diego Section Division 5-AA championship game at UCSD.

“I feel so happy and grateful,” said Cobras junior Bibi Delgadillo, who finished the game going 3-for-3 with a single and two doubles. “I’ve been playing three years now and this proves for me and the team it only gets better.”

The second-seeded Cobras (10-14) came out on fire offensively, getting hits from their first four batters to grab an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

“You have to make a statement early,” said Chula Vista Learning Charter coach Bernardo Quintero. “We did that.”

Ashley Vallejo, Delgadillo, Alana Olivas and Monserrat Rodriguez all reached safely to lead things off. Vallejo singled to start the rally and was driven in by Delgadillo’s double to take the 1-0 lead.

“We needed her to come up big, and she did,” said Quintero of Delgadillo. “I knew she could even though she was having some disappointments in league play. She did it when we needed it.“

Olivas singled and scored on a passed ball to double the early lead.

The Cobras added two more runs in the third inning.

Again, Vallejo (2-for 4) started it off with a double. Delgadillo traded places with her, nailing her second double of the day for the RBI.

Olivas (1-for-2) reached on an error and came around to score for the 4-0 lead.

Rodriguez kept St. Joseph's bats quiet. She gave up just three hits, striking out seven.

“She came out dealing,” Quintero said.

The fourth-seeded Crusaders (5-15) finally got on the board in the fifth inning. Luciana Aguilar led off the inning with a single and moved third on a single by Angie Beath. A walk and hit batsman forced in for the team’s only score of the game.

For St. Joseph’s, the appearance capped a long season of growth. They opened the season on March 5 with a 19-4 loss to the Cobras.

“I think it was great just getting here,” said Crusaders coach John Murrey. “For a pretty much brand new team I think we’re coming along. We’re trying to build a program here and this shows our progress today.”

For the Cobras’ Delgadillo, she hopes playing on the UCSD diamond may be a sign of the future.

“When I graduate I would like to play in college,” said the junior. “Doing this on this field gives me the confidence I can do it.“

Farmer is a freelance writer.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune .