San Bernardino rallies past Arroyo Valley for SoCal Regional softball title
SAN BERNARDINO - Despite being in the same city and school district the San Bernardino and Arroyo Valley softball teams had not played each other since the opening game of the 2023 season since the teams are in different leagues.
They made up for lost time with two thrilling games a week apart.
A week after falling in extra innings to Arroyo Valley in the CIF Southern Section Division 8 championship game, San Bernardino avenged that loss. The Cardinals scored five runs in the sixth inning of an 11-9 victory Saturday night in a CIF SoCal Division V Regional Championship game in front of an electric crowd at Cajon High School.
"I feel we should have won the section title, but things didn't go our way," San Bernardino coach Aaron Cooke said. "But these girls never stopped fighting. They fought all year long, since day 1. These girls never stopped, they knew today was the day. There was no tomorrow."
A week ago, Arroyo Valley rallied with two runs in the sixth, one in the seventh and three more in the eighth of an 8-5 victory in the CIF-SS championship game but Saturday was the Cardinals' turn to rally late.
Trailing 9-6. San Bernardino (19-15-1) rallied in the sixth against Hawks pitcher Bianca Nava.
Grace Hidalgo, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the third inning, led off the inning with a single.
"I was just focused on keeping my head held high and not dropping my shoulders," said Hidalgo, who graduated Friday night. "I wanted this game to last as long as it could, because I am a senior."
Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs on a single by Leah Torres and a walk to Sianna Lopez.
Three consecutive singles by Delilah Pacheco, Alyssa Arredondo and Xochitl Sasser drove in five runs to give the Cardinals an 11-9 lead.
"The difference (Saturday) is that we know we could've beaten them (a week ago) and we didn't put our all in it," Sasser said. "This was a game to show them they're not better than us."
Sasser finished the game going 3-for-4 with a double, a run and three RBIs.
Those runs were enough for Cardinals junior pitcher Audrina Reyes, who survived a seven-run third inning by Arroyo Valley (12-15) to pitch the final four innings without giving up a run and stranding six baserunners.
"I had much confidence in my team," said Reyes, who was 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate. "Because I know we can make it through whatever we do with the glory of God. … We were a little worried, we were down. We just had to lock in."
The Cardinals also got a three-run homer by Isis Harris, three hits by Leah Torres, and two hits apiece by Pacheco and Arredondo.
San Bernardino did build an early 6-2 lead, but saw that erased with a seven-run Arroyo Valley third inning, capped by Carley Acosta's three-run home run.
Arroyo Valley was led by Jaylin Casillas, who was 2-for-3 with a double, triple, two runs and two RBIs and Leila Sanchez, who had a two-run double.
We had that one inning where they scored five runs," Arroyo Valley assistant coach Gerald Baker said. "They took the momentum and we just couldn't get it back. Congratulations to them. This was two great weekends of softball. You cannot ask for anything better. I'm so proud of my girls."
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This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 6:20 PM.