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LOCAL SOFTBALL COMMITS ATTEND RECORD-BREAKING CAL-STANFORD GAME
One small step for Stanford and Cal set the stage for a giant leap in the history of college softball.
When the Cardinal and Bears stepped onto the diamond at Stanford Stadium last month, they made history, attracting the largest crowd ever to watch a college contest – 13,207 fans in attendance.
Among those in the crowd were multiple Bay Area high school softball players committed to both schools.
St. Francis senior Ava Bulanti signed with Stanford in April and was in attendance alongside most of her Lancers teammates, as well as future Cardinal teammates Sophia Jin, Izzy Cacatian and Jordana King. Jin attends San Ramon Valley.
Stanford’s Emily Jones (18) signs autographs after a game against the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)“It was awesome to be at such a historic game and be a part of that crowd’s infectious energy,” Bulanti said. “Everyone there was excited to support college softball at the highest level, regardless of which college they were rooting for. I felt lucky to experience a small part of what my future softball career will look like, and I’m even more excited to make it a reality in the fall.”
Willow Glen junior Alanna Clincy cannot yet sign with the Bears, but she has been committed to Cal since September. She made sure to point out the result when noting how exciting it was to be in attendance.
“It was a great experience being a part of the NCAA softball attendance record-breaking game,” Clincy said. “Watching two competitive Bay Area softball teams play in the football stadium was incredible. Both teams battled, and it was exciting to see Cal win that game. I can’t wait to be a Bear.”
For the record, Cal won 10-8, homering on the game’s first pitch and relying on a five-run first inning to take control. Clincy cheered the Bears on alongside some of her Willow Glen teammates and other members of her Cal Nuggets club team.
Cal’s Elon Butler (24) celebrates hitting a home run on the first pitch of the game with Cal’s Lagi Quiroga (4) against Stanford at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Cal does not currently have any publicly announced Bay Area softball players committed or signed in the class of 2025.
Next season, Stanford will move into a new softball stadium, which is currently under construction. The Cardinal are playing this season at Stanford Stadium while the new softball facility is being finished.
The new stadium is estimated to have a capacity of 1,347 fixed seats, with additional room for lawn seating. The previous facility, Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium, maxed out at 3,500 spectators.
“You see a consistent theme that there aren’t big enough venues for women’s sports to be able to draw the fans that they can draw,” Stanford coach Jessica Allister said after the game. “Hopefully, a lot of people who showed up to Stanford for the first time to watch a softball game will come back and see us in our beautiful stadium.”
–Christian Babcock
The score board shows the record breaking number of fans that were in attendance during a game between Stanford and the California Golden Bears at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) Read More Details
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