Pirates Crash the Big 8 Playoff Party
Pirate are in the playoffs
For the first time ever, the Modesto Junior College (MJC) Pirate softball team has surged to the top of the ultra-competitive Big 8 Conference—and they've done it with a combination of lights-out pitching, relentless speed, and a powerful lineup that's become one of the most dangerous in the state.
Modesto Junior College has to travel back in time to the year 2007 to experience the last time the Pirate Softball team made an appearance in the junior college playoffs. They lost both games and were quickly eliminated in the best of three first round. The last time the Pirates secured a winning season was a COVID limited season where the team finished at 13-7. 2012 saw the Pirates have a 21-19 season barely missing the playoffs. With those records, the softball team has never even placed in the top 5 in the Big 8 conference which generally sends the most teams to the 16 team playoff tournament. This year, it is different. The Pirates are currently are guaranteed one of the top two spot in the Big 8. MJC took over first place after beating Delta College on March 22nd and has won 6 of their last 8 games to hold on to first.
Currently the Pirates are 23-12-1 overall and 14-6 in Big 8 conference play. They travel to Delta College for a single game to finish the regular season. The 3C2A's (California Community College Athletic Association) ranking system currently has MJC as the number six team in Northern California. This game could earn the Pirates the Big 8 Championship with a win. Pirates own a best of 3 series win over American River College for the tie breaker.
Led by sophomore ace Brooklyn Heffernan, the Pirates have carved their path to the top. Brooklyn Heffernan (Ceres HS) has been nothing short of elite in the circle, currently ranking fourth in California in strikeouts with 166, and fifth in both wins (19) and innings pitched (1183). Her 1.82 ERA is a testament to her consistency and command, giving MJC the type of anchor every championship-caliber team needs.
But Heffernan isn't doing it alone.
On the basepaths, the Pirates are a constant threat—currently sitting sixth in the state with 94 stolen bases. Sophomore standout Kesaia Faasisila (Tracy HS) leads the team and ranks among the state's best with 21 swipes. Right behind her are Katelyn Bridgeman (Tracy HS) (16), Sophia Coronado (Kimball HS) (13), and Frankie Paz (West HS) (10), who all bring a fearless edge to the running game that keeps opposing defenses guessing.
Offensively, the Pirates are red-hot. As a team, they boast a .320 batting average, putting them at the top of the Big 8 and No. 18 in the state rankings. At the heart of the lineup is Faasisila, who is having a breakout season at the plate. She leads the team with a blistering .467 average, notching 42 hits in 90 at-bats and reaching base in nearly every game.
Bridgeman has been a spark plug in the lineup as well, hitting .406 with 43 hits and 37 RBIs—making her one of the most productive hitters in the conference. Right behind her, Sophia Coronado continues to shine with a .393 average, while Emily Tyler (.365), Frankie Paz (.321), and KK Zayehmoureh (.303) round out a lineup that can hurt opponents from top to bottom.
With a combination of shutdown pitching, a high-powered offense, and unmatched speed, the MJC Pirates are no longer just participants in the Big 8—they're contenders. As the postseason approaches, all eyes will be on Heffernan and her squad to see just how far this group can go. One thing is clear: the Pirates are playing like they belong at the top—and they have no plans of slowing down.
MJC travels to Stockton to take on Delta College at 3pm Tuesday April 22nd for the Big 8 Season Finale