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The Yucaipa High School softball team clinched the division two championship and was ranked number one in the nation for 2015. It's Yucaipa High's first ever softball championship and the town has been buzzing with excitement all summer. The Thunderbirds took down number one ranked Mission Viejo at the CIF Championship game on June 5 and ended their championship season with a 31-3 record. They won their final 18 games. The win snapped Mission Viejo's 35 game winning streak. They had not lost a game in a year. Led by pitcher Brooke Bolinger, catcher Kelly Martinez and Center Fielder Annie Bakenhaus, the team had an outstanding season, outscoring their opponents 21-2 in the CIF playoffs. Yucaipa High School softball coach Dave Kivett was named Large Schools State Coach of the year and American Family Insurance National Coach of the Year. He has coached the Thunderbirds for 10 seasons and is a Yucaipa native. He has taught at the high school for 27 years, and attended Yucaipa High School himself. "My roots are deeply embedded here in Yucaipa, and that family commitment showed in our dug out," said Kivett. The team was honored at a special ceremony Aug. 7 during Yucaipa Market night with many local and state dignitaries on hand to commend the team and coaches. The girls even got a lift to the event via Yucaipa city fire trucks that blared their engines down Yucaipa Boulevard to celebrate the huge win. Yucaipa Calimesa Unified School District Board President Jane Smith spoke to the large crowd that gathered in the Uptown to congratulate the team. "Every great event is a chance to learn something," she said. "From this we can learn that if you put your mind to it, each and every one of you can be anything you want to be. Congratulations team!" Senator Mike Morrell also congratulated the team. "I'm glad to be here in Yucaipa where people are normal," Morrell joked. "But seriously I came from the capitol to congratulate the softball team. Great job girls." Congressman Paul Cook joked that the win was going in the congressional record. "These are the heroes of our community," Cook told the crowd. "To win the state and national titles you've got to have the best players in the world." Third District Supervisor James Ramos said a team that calls itself family has an easier time getting through challenges. "You all dug down deep to come out victorious. All of you are champions!" he said. Pitcher Brooke Bolinger thanked the dignitaries for coming out for the event. "We had all the right people making this event successful," she said. "Thanks to our family and friends, and our coaches. You believed in us and made us the team we knew we could be. Congratulations to our team. We put Yucaipa on the map!" 18 OUR YUCAIPA | SEPTEMBER 2015 Yucaipa High softball team clinches #1 National Spot By Natalie Palmer The girls led their parade riding on the back of a fire truck up the boulevard to the community celebration at the Farmers Market. Above: YHS Girls Softball team with Coach David Kivett and assistant coaches Stepanie Landavazo and Courtney Kivett.