SOUTH GATE — The journey to the CIF LA City Section Division III final meant more than the destination for Reseda softball coach Robert Torres and the 13 players he has mentored the last two years.
“The funny part about it is when I thought about this game, I really didn’t care about the win or the loss,” Torres said. “I cared about the experience that these ladies had.”
No. 15 seed Reseda brought home more than a runner-up trophy after falling to South East 12-2 in the Division III championship game at Legacy High School.
Led by shortstop Thereza Fuentes and catcher Jadira Umenzor, Reseda (13-9) had averaged 19 runs per game before its bats fell quiet against South East.
“All I could think about was the effort and the fight we put in,” Umenzor said of reaching the City finals. “We pushed each other as teammates and we fight for each other. We are a family.”
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None of the players on Reseda’s team play club sports and many of them are multi-sport athletes who fill the gaps in the Regents’ sports program. The softball team hadn’t posted a winning record until the last two seasons under Torres’ leadership.
“He’s been my coach the last four years and (Torres) has seen me in my lowest of lows and highest of highs,” Umenzor said. “He’s never put me down and he’s always uplifted me. His (coaching) is something I’ve applied into my own academics and my personal life with my family. I appreciate him.”
Fuentes is the lone player for Reseda who will play at the next level next season. She will be attending Glendale College and studying nursing.
The Regents look forward to the next chapter with Torres, who said he’s “99% sure he’ll be back.”
Reseda has never won a CIF LA City Section title in softball.
“This season has taught me to make connections and growing up with this sport, it really shows how important having a good environment around you is,” Fuentes said.