400 Career Wins For El Camino Softball's Jessica Rapoza

(TORRANCE) -- It was a historic day at the El Camino College Softball Field as head coach Jessica Rapoza earned her 400th career win on a no-hitter in an 8-0 non-conference win over L.A. Mission in five innings on Thursday.

Sophomore pitcher Lexi Ramirez, a transfer from Cal State University Northridge, continued her torrid start to the season in the circle as she tossed the first Warriors' no-hitter since 1990 in recorded history. She logged her second straight complete-game shutout as she struck out seven hitters and allowed three walks.

In three games to start the year, Ramirez has fanned 21 batters in 15 innings of work and while allowing just five hits in that span. She is the first Warriors pitcher to throw a no-hitter since ECC Hall-of-Famer Candy Carrico in 1990. The feat comes one game after Ramirez matched Carrico's program record of 10 strikeouts in a game.

As for Rapoza, she has reached the 400-win mark in her 15th season and 10th year at South Coast Conference-member El Camino. She logged 135 wins in five seasons at Santa Ana College and has now recorded 265 wins in 10 years with the Warriors. 

Rapoza celebrated her 250th career win at ECC last season with a victory at Pasadena on April 4, 2024. To date, Rapoza amassed a 400-103-2 overall record in 15 years of coaching and a 265-115-1 mark at ECC.  

Currently her Warriors' team is ranked #5 in the state in yet another strong start to non-conference play for SCC schools. In this week's State Top 20, Mt. San Antonio is #7, Cerritos #11, and Long Beach City #15. 

MORE ON RAPOZA

During Rapoza's tenure with the Warriors that began in 2015, the team has had unprecedented success. The Warriors made the playoffs every year that was completed since 2015. In 2020, there was no postseason after the COVID-19 Pandemic caused the cancellation of the remaining schedule, leaving ECC with just 20 games played that year. There was then no season in 2021.

The Warriors have recorded 30-win campaigns in five of her previous nine seasons as coach. The Warriors have won a South Coast Conference title in four of the last nine years with Rapoza at the helm and have accounted for four of the five conference championships in program history, the other coming in 1989.

In 2018, the team advanced to the State Championships for the first time in program history. The Warriors finished tied for fifth place in the state after going 1-2 at the 8-team tourney.

(Release by Rafael Guerrero, El Camino College Athletics)