Cougars Battle Defending State Champs in Historic Playoff Return
The Lassen College softball team saw its historic 2026 season come to an end this weekend against defending state champion College of San Mateo in the opening round of the 3C2A NorCal Regional Playoffs. The Cougars entered the postseason as the No. 16 seed in Northern California after finishing second in the Golden Valley Conference, marking the program’s first playoff appearance in 19 years and just the third postseason berth in school history.
Game 1: Bulldogs’ Power Too Much in Series Opener
San Mateo showed immediately why it entered the postseason with a 38-1 record and a reputation as one of the top power hitting teams in the state. The Bulldogs struck first in the second inning before exploding for six runs in the third to take control of the opener. Katie Johnson delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a grand slam, while Love Cabanas and Selena Gonzales added RBI hits as San Mateo built an 8-0 advantage.
The Bulldogs continued their offensive display in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs from Cabanas and Gonzales to extend the lead to 12-1. San Mateo finished the game with 14 hits and three home runs while consistently applying pressure throughout the lineup. Ale Phillips, Selena Gonzales, and Nia Mapa each collected multiple hits in the victory.
Lassen’s offense was limited to three hits against San Mateo ace Lola Sierra, who struck out seven Cougar hitters in four innings of work. Jenna Ku provided the offensive highlight for Lassen with a solo home run in the fourth inning, putting the Cougars on the board against one of the top pitching staffs in California. Taylor Lauritsen and Abby Robles also recorded hits in the contest.
Despite the lopsided score, the Cougars continued battling late into the game and received solid relief work from Ramona Ryder, who struck out two of the final batters she faced. The opener served as a reminder of the challenge facing Lassen against a San Mateo team that had dominated opponents all season with elite pitching and one of the most dangerous offenses in the state.
Game 2: Lassen Rallies, Pushes No. 1 Seed to the Brink
Facing elimination, the Cougars responded with one of their grittiest performances of the season in Game 2. San Mateo once again jumped out early, using solo home runs from Alyssa Green and Katie Johnson to take a 2-0 lead through two innings. The Bulldogs extended the lead to 5-0 behind additional power hitting, including a fifth inning homer from Love Cabanas, seemingly placing themselves in firm control of the regional.
Lassen refused to back down. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Taylor Lauritsen ignited the Cougar dugout with a solo home run to get Lassen on the scoreboard. Moments later, the Cougars capitalized on defensive miscues and timely hitting to load the bases for Jhan'z Kaawa-Kawai, who delivered the biggest swing of the season — a go-ahead grand slam that suddenly gave Lassen a shocking 6-5 lead over the defending state champions.
The Cougar crowd erupted as Lassen completed the six-run inning, putting real pressure on the No. 1 overall seed. Kaawa-Kawai finished with four RBIs in the game, while Lauritsen added a home run and Jenna Ku, Emma Wayas, Zoey Heffelfinger, and Alyssa McOmie each contributed key hits during the rally. For a moment, the Cougars had all the momentum against one of California’s premier programs.
San Mateo eventually answered with the same power that carried it throughout the season, tying the game with a Peyton Huber home run before adding three more runs late to secure the 9-6 victory and close out the series. Although the season ended in the regional round, the Cougars completed one of the best years in program history. Lassen finished second in the Golden Valley Conference behind Feather River College, returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and established a new standard for Cougar softball moving forward.