Saddleback Stuns San Mateo, Advances to 2026 Championship Game

Bakersfield, Calif. –  The Saddleback Bobcats earned the upset of the weekend, knocking down the north's No. 1 seed and consensus No. 1 team in the state all season long, San Mateo, 4-3 to advance to their first title game since the 1988 season on Saturday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bobcats jumped out to an early lead in the second inning, capitalizing on a couple of error – Colette Howren reached on a throwing error to lead off the inning, then one pitch later, Alexis Vanhorn laid down a perfect bunt, and with San Mateo trying to get the leading runner, their hurried throw sailed all the way to the wall in center, scoring Howren.

The next batter, after Vanhorn went to third on the error, drove her home on a sacrifice fly.

San Mateo cut the deficit to one in the bottom half of the frame. After a Bobcat error, the Bulldogs strung together back-to-back two-out singles. Ale Phillips brought home Hannah Ames with a knock to left.

After three scoreless innings on each side – credited to pitchers Kylee Cammarato of Saddleback and Nia Mapa of San Mateo – the Bobcats added to their lead. Mikayla Mendoza poked a seeing-eye single over the head of Ames at second, scoring Lola Winningham who reached earlier on an error.

San Mateo put together an impressive defensive play, a pop-up in foul territory, popping out of the glove of third baseman Alyssa Green and into catcher Love Cabanas' glove. It was a turning point in the game as the Bulldogs brought that momentum to bat in the sixth.

Selena Gonzales led off the inning with a single, then Ames mashed a game-tying homer to center, forcing Cammarato out of the game in the sixth at 3-3.

In the top of the seventh, Millie Maher stepped up with one away and slapped an infield single to the left side. A collision at first base caused the throw to roll all the way into the right-field corner – San Mateo was positioned defensively to have three fielders on the left side of the infield to protect against the slap, drawing in the right fielder to play the normal shortstop position.  

Maher rolled on the ground for a brief moment before rocketing to her feet and speeding around the bases, scoring on the throwing error.

Colette Howren, who came into pitch in the sixth, closed out a clean seventh, three up, three down, sealing the win for the Bobcats.

STAND OUT PERFORMERS/NOTES

• San Mateo made six errors in the game, prior to the game the Bulldogs had averaged just south of one error per game on the season.

• 2026 marks their first 36+ win season since 1999. They've won as many games now four times.

• The top of three hitters of Saddleback's lineup went 5-for-11 while the rest of the team mustered just one hit, but that bottom portion of the lineup accounted for three runs scored.

• Ka'ui Garcia improved to 8-for-13 at the dish over the Bobcats' last four games.

• The Bobcats were last state champions in the 1987 season.

UP NEXT

Saddleback moves on to face Palomar in the 2026 3C2A Softball State Championship Game. The Bobcats must beat the Comets twice on Sunday to be victorious.

Courtesy of Joe Perrino, 3CFCA SID