Mesa College has fielded a softball team since 1979.

But only once in the program’s 47-season history have the Olympians advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association finals.

That could change this weekend.

“I’m already on Cloud Nine,” Mesa softball coach Jaclyn Guidi said earlier this week after the Olympians took two of three games from Mt. San Jacinto last weekend in just the second postseason softball series ever played on campus.

Now the third-seeded Olympians (28-13) host No. 11-seeded El Camino (28-15) in a best-of-three series this weekend, with the winner advancing to next week’s eight-team, double-elimination state championships at Bakersfield College.

”We’ve already accomplished a lot,” said Guidi. “This is both the highest-ranked and seeded that Mesa has ever been. This team is excited to show what it can do.”

Led by sophomore Olivia Anderson and freshman Itzel Soto, the Olympians placed second in the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference standings this season to perennial state power Palomar. But they ranked third in Southern California.

“It’s really exciting,” said Anderson. “We’re making Mesa College history at this point, and we’re having fun doing it. There’s not a ton of pressure. It’s just a chance to do something this school has never done before.”

“I’m not surprised about how well we’ve played,” said Soto. “When we first started practicing last fall, you could see there were good players here.”

Homegrown players. And young players. The future looks even stronger than the present.

Seventeen of the 25 players on the Mesa roster are freshmen. And all but one are products of local high schools.

“I’m very proud of this team,” said Guidi, who played softball at Point Loma High and San Diego City College and has coached at Mesa since 2009. “This team hits. And it has grown from a young, inexperienced team into a confident team over the course of this season.

”We’ve continued to improve all season. Anderson and Itzel are hands down our most valuable players and two of the best in the state. But everyone contributes.”

Anderson, a product of Santa Fe Christian, hit .352 this season with two home runs and 27 RBIs and is 22-7 in 35 starts as a pitcher with a 3.55 earned run average and a 1.59 WHIP.

Soto, a shortstop from Otay Ranch High School, leads Mesa with a .428 average, 17 doubles, 12 home runs and 51 runs scored this season. The Olympians’ leadoff hitter also finished second with 33 RBIs.

“Olivia can do it all,” said Guidi. “Were she not our workhorse pitcher, she’d be in center field. She’s a great athlete and a leader by example. She is a rock.

“Itzel is the best shortstop I’ve seen at this level. She has crazy range, a great arm and a quality bat.

”We bat Soto leadoff and Anderson second so they won’t pitch around them. Plus, we want to get them as many at-bats as we can.”

A look at the Mesa lineup:

1. Soto — She has a .468 on-base percentage and a .862 slugging percentage for a 1.330 OPS.

2. Anderson — She has struck out only nine times in 153 plate appearances and has a .404 on-base percentage and a .883 OPS. She has also pitched 191 1/3 of Mesa’s 271 innings this season with 188 strikeouts. Said Anderson: “I love being involved in every pitch of the game.”

3. Ariele Torres (freshman, Otay Ranch High School; .391, 2 homers, 17 RBIs) — Soto’s high school teammate.

4. Alexis Serrano (freshman, Mater Dei Catholic High School; .289-7-35) — Takes over the spot because Sophia Sanchez (freshman, Patrick Henry High School; .377-3-19) suffered a broken hand last week and will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

5. Madelyn Egan (freshman, Point Loma High; .364-0-9) — A slap hitter who uses her speed.

6. Faith Balestreri (sophomore, West Hills High School; .231-0-12) — From an accomplished family of local athletes.

7. Jayde Armenta (sophomore, Scripps Ranch High School; .327-4-28) — Ranks third on the team in homers and RBIs.

8. Janiece Blackman (sophomore, Kearny High School; .245-2-16) — Attends San Diego State on a dual enrollment.

9. Anabella Heguy (sophomore, Santana High School; .333-3-23) — The only transfer on the roster.

Catcher Marissa Lieras (sophomore, Mira Mesa High School; .267-0-9) usually just plays defense.

“We’d love to play Palomar again,” said Anderson. “If we did, it would probably be for the state title. We’ve improved a lot this season. I think we could do it.

“Half the battle is having good teammates.”

Every week, U-T contributor Bill Center highlights one San Diego college team that’s making strides on and off the field. To nominate a team, email wcenter27@gmail.com.