Nayomi Mosqueda won’t soon forget her final softball game for the Suns. It was the bottom of the sixth inning. Mosqueda was at bat with a full count. Pitch after pitch, she hit the ball foul.
And then it happened.
Mosqueda’s bat connected with the ball for a three-run home run, ending Del Oro’s matchup early against East and capping off Mosqueda’s softball career as Sun.
“It was a very emotional game,” she said. “It was the last time I would play with my friends and family. I knew it would be the last pitch I’d ever see.”
Suns varsity head coach Victor Garcia said this year’s group of seniors are unique to the program. Garcia, who takes over as head coach for the football team this fall, announced on Wednesday that he was officially stepping down as softball coach.
“These four-year seniors set the foundation for the Sun Girls softball program,” he said. “It’s a foundation that will only continue to be built upon and will only become greater.”
Mosqueda was one of the senior softball players honored prior to Del Oro’s final home game of the season on May 7 against East Bakersfield High. And what a game it was as she collected five RBIs on two hits as the Suns beat the Blades, 14-4.
Before the first pitch was even thrown against East, families, friends, teammates, and fans packed the stands for a beautiful senior night ceremony honoring the graduating players and coaches. Each senior and coach shared heartfelt speeches, expressing appreciation for one another and reflecting on the memories they created together throughout the season. Tears, laughter, and cheers filled the field as the Del Oro softball family celebrated the bond they built over the years.
The Del Oro dugout was alive from the very first inning, with players chanting nonstop and hyping each other up every chance they got. The crowd matched their energy, creating an electric atmosphere that carried throughout the game.
East Bakersfield struck first in the opening inning after Fuentes Allison drew a walk that brought in a run, but Del Oro answered immediately. A double by Yenitze Estrada gave the Suns a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The game was briefly tied in the second after Sarah Madrigal walked in a run for East Bakersfield, but Del Oro quickly took control. Mosqueda delivered one of the biggest moments of the night with a triple that drove in two runs. Davina Garcia followed with a triple of her own, while Estrada added another RBI single to extend the Suns’ lead.
Mosqueda continued her dominant performance later in the game, finishing with five RBIs on two hits. Her biggest hit came in the sixth inning when she launched a three-run home run to right field, sending the crowd and dugout into an eruption of cheers.
Del Oro exploded offensively in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs on eight hits. Juliany Hernandez tripled in a run, Ruby Meza, Mya Vasquez, and Saraya Garza each added RBI singles, and the Suns never looked back.
Lynneah Garza, sophomore starting pitcher for Del Oro, pitching six innings while striking out five batters. The Suns also played clean defense all game long, finishing without committing a single error.
“It made my job easier because I knew that I had the defense behind me,” said Lynneah Garza, who has racked up eight wins and 114 strikeouts this season. “I knew that they were going to be there to cover the plate.”
Garcia said his softball teams rely upon strong defensive play, which made the win over East more meaningful.
“That was the most complete game we played all year, both offensively and defensively,” he said.
Offensively, Del Oro collected 15 total hits. Bianca Paredes led the team with three hits, while Garcia, Estrada, Meza, and Garza each added multiple hits. Meza also showcased her speed on the bases with four stolen bases as the Suns finished with six steals overall.
As the final run crossed home plate to secure the 14-4 mercy-rule victory, the entire Del Oro dugout emptied onto the field. Players screamed, jumped, and celebrated together in pure excitement after ending senior night with a dominant win over East Bakersfield in their final home game.
