College of San Mateo Softball Ranked First in the State

College of San Mateo’s women’s softball team celebrated its move to No. 1 among the state’s 85 teams by beating visiting DeAnza, 9-0, on Tuesday.

The Bulldogs were named the top team in the current poll of the California Community College Fastpitch Coaches Association on Monday. The Bulldogs (4-0 in Coast Conference play, 25-1 overall) are also a unanimous selection as the top team in Northern California.

CSM traded positions with Orange County-based Cypress (12-3), followed by Riverside (11-1), College of the Sequoias (16-2), and Mt. San Antonio (11-3). San Mateo gave No. 4 Sequoias its first loss, defeated No. 8 Fresno, and shutout defending state champion College of the Siskiyous twice.

CSM sophomore pitcher Michele Pilster, a Capuchino High grad, leads the state in wins (18-1 entering play Tuesday) and is the only pitcher with more than 100 strikeouts (110).

San Mateo has the state’s best won-loss record and is the only 20-win team, and will take a 15-game winning streak, longest in modern day, into Thursday’s game at Ohlone.
 
Last week San Mateo won five games, defeating Coast North foe Mission, 14-1, then taking non-league twin bills from Yuba (22-0 and 4-0), and from Feather River (10-1 and 10-2).

Hillsdale High grad Kaylin Stewart slugged home runs in both Feather River games and had four RBIs. Terra Nova grad Talisa Fiame also had a home run, and added three RBIs, three hits and scored three runs.

Pilster aided her cause in winning her 18th game with a homer in the first game. Notre Dame grad Amelia Shales improved to 3-0 in the second contest.