No. 16 Canyons Ends Season in SuperRegional Loss at No. 10 Saddleback

Graphic showing results from the 3C2A SoCal Super Regional softball games. On the left, scoreboards display College of the Canyons losing 9–3 in Game 1 and 11–2 in Game 2 against a team represented by a wildcat logo. On the right, a coach speaks with several College of the Canyons softball players in white uniforms gathered on the field during a huddle.
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May 11, 2026

By Jesse Muñoz/COC Sports Information Director  

MISSION VIEJO — No. 16 College of the Canyons had its season come to an end in the 3C2A Southern California SuperRegional after suffering a pair of losses to No. 10 Saddleback College over the weekend.

Canyons (25-21) was handed a 9-3 loss in Friday's series opener. Saddleback (32-13) then wrapped things up with a shortened 11-2 victory in six innings on Saturday to secure a berth to the 3C2A State Championship tournament.

In the opener, COC fell behind 5-0 after the first three innings but got back into the game with a three-run fourth inning spurred by run-scoring hits from Krista Viereck and Yahali Gonzalez.

Viereck's RBI double plated Jordan Shepherd and put the Cougars on the board at 5-1. Yahali Gonzalez' two-run single scored Giselle Merida and Viereck to cut further into the Bobcats' lead at 5-3.

Yahali Gonzalez led the Cougars with a pair of hits, a walk, a steal and the two RBIs.

That momentum swing would prove short-lived, however, as Saddleback scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure an insurmountable 9-3 advantage.

COC starter Akane Gonzalez took the loss after pitching three innings and allowing five runs, four earned, with a walk and a strikeout. Anais Perez tossed the final three innings allowing four runs, two earned, with four walks and four hits allowed.

Saddleback starter Colette Howren (20-6) earned the win after pitching the full seven innings with five strikeouts, three walks and three runs allowed.

In game two, it was Perez drawing the start for the Cougars but unable to escape the first inning. Saddleback posted 10 runs in the first to take firm control in a game Canyons was never able to claw its way back into.

Jasmine Soriano's two-run home run in the fifth represented the only run-scoring sequence for the Cougars. The round-tripper brought in Viereck who had doubled earlier in the inning.

Akane Gonzalez did her best to keep the Bobcats lineup at bay, allowing just one run on four hits, with two strikeouts, across her four and 1/3 innings in the circle. She didn't factor into the decision with Perez (10-11) suffering the loss.

Kylee Cammarato (11-4) picked up the win for the Bobcats after pitching the full five innings with six strikeouts and a walk.

Canyons concluded the regular season second in the Western State Conference (WSC), South standings before advancing to the 3C2A SoCal Regional Playoffs for a 13th consecutive year. 

The Cougars then defeated Moorpark College in the bracket's play-in game to set up its first round series with No. 2 Cerritos College.

COC went on to win both games of a Saturday doubleheader to come back vs. Cerritos and advance to the 3C2A SuperRegional Round for the first time since the 2018 season.

Stay up to date on all this season's action by following the College of the Canyons Athletic department on social media at @COCathletics on X, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.  

—Photo by Robert Hanashiro/COC Sports Information