Sahuaro has one blemish on their record, a 10-5 loss to Canyon del Oro in the championship game of the Dorado Classic on February 26. Even in the loss, Betsy Erickson and Savannah Fuller went deep for the Cougars in what has been a common occurrence for the team.

The Cougars went on to win the Boulder Creek Sun Blast Tournament in early March where they defeated rival Sabino 12-2 in bracket play. Homeruns? Fuller hit another and Amanda Nicholas hit two.

Invitationals serve many purposes with the most important ones being playing time and game experience. There is also the aspect of pride and competition. The other bonus (or negative depending on the result) is that the AIA does not recognize the games played in an invitational towards power points or games played.

Sahuaro left the Dorado classic with a loss but it did not hurt their playoff position – it only made them stronger for their rematch against the Dorados on March 18. That is the danger of beating or even playing against a conference opponent in a preseason tournament.

Sahuaro went on to win that game 2-1 in dramatic fashion. This time, the game counted.

Likewise, Sabino’s early loss to Sahuaro, while damaging to school pride, offered them a chance to grow from a setting that ultimately did not hurt them. They were actually ranked ahead of Sahuaro in power points entering their game against Sahuaro on Tuesday.

In fact, the top six 4A-I teams are all from Southern Arizona: Sabino, Sahuaro, CDO, Flowing Wells, Marana and Desert View with Cienega ranked 8th.

But, when it was all over, Sahuaro will take over the top spot thanks to their 7-5 victory over the Sabercats.

MORE PHOTOS: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andymorales/sets/72157626330913424/

Brooklyn Beardshear (9-0) took the circle for the Cougars and, despite a stuffy nose, pitched five plus innings. She gave up a two-out hit to Taylor Riesgo in the first inning but didn’t get into much trouble until she allowed a leadoff double to Shawna Comeaux in the second inning.

Comeaux stole third base and then Kayley Willingham flew out to shallow right field. Comeaux was caught in a rundown on the play between home and third after Taylor Lawson made an excellent throw home from right field to catcher Ricca Parisella. The perfect throw home would play a role in what would happen later in the game.

Meanwhile, Sahuaro scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning and five more in the bottom of the second.

Erickson walked and Morgan McKeever singled with one out in the first inning. Olivia Harden sent an 0-2 pitch to the right field gap to score both runners on her double. Harden took third base on the throw home and was stranded there.

Fuller hit a double to right field with one out in the third inning and then Lawson was walked by Alyssa Fletcher. Amy Bergeson put down a sacrifice bunt but the ball was thrown to right field on the play, allowing Fuller and Lawson to score on the error.

Those two runs would turn into earned runs after Erickson came up and blasted a shot over the left field wall. McKeever then hit a shot past a diving Shelby Mendoza at second base. Mendoza was able to knock the ball down but she injured her shoulder and hand on the play. The injury would also have implications later in the game.

“I was upset I didn’t get to that ball in the second inning,” explained Erickson. “She gave me a perfect inside pitch and I turned on it.”

Harden moved McKeever over on a groundout and then Nicholas scored her on an RBI single to left field.

Sabino picked up two runs in the top half on the third as Beardshear started to show some control issues and she walked Mendoza and MJ Riesgo to start things off and then gave up a double to Kelsey Jenkins to score Mendoza.

Fletcher walked and the bases were loaded with no outs. Beardshear got a ground ball that McKeever fired home from her short stop position for the first out but Aubre Carpenter scored Jenkins on a fielder’s choice. Sahuaro flew out to end the threat.

7-2 Sahuaro after three innings.

Sahuaro threatened again in the bottom of the third after Parisella started things off with a single but Fuller hit into a fielder’s choice to get the out at second base for the first out.

Lawson picked up another single but Fletcher induced two weak groundouts to end the threat.

Jenkins walked to start off the 5th inning and the Fletcher moved her over. Taylor Riesgo singled to right field and then Carpenter scored Jenkins on another fielder’s choice to get Taylor Riesgo out at second base. Comeaux came up and hit a chopper up the middle but McKeever was able to reach it and simultaneously stepped on second base for the third out. 7-3 Sahuaro.

Fletcher held Sahuaro’s last 11 batters in check but Beardshear was replaced by Brooklyn Misenhimer after she issued a leadoff walk to Willingham to start the 6th inning.

Krystina Koepnick was walked and Sabino looked to be back in business with two on but Misenhimer struck out the next batter. Mendoza was due up in that position but the pain caused by her injury became too much for her to bat and move runners over. It proved to be a big blow as Shannon Shields came in and hit a single to left field to load the bases.

Jenkins hit a fly ball to left field but Sabino was much more cautious on their tag-ups after what happened in the early innings and did not attempt to score on the play. It was a good thing as Erickson’s throw home after her catch was on the mark and quick.

Misenhimer got the next batter to fly out and Sabino left the bases loaded.

The Sabercats would get another chance in the 7th after Taylor Riesgo walked and Carpenter doubled to start things off.

Another fly ball prevented a run but Willingham scored Taylor Riesgo on a groundout. Koepnick brought in Carpenter on a single and the game was suddenly 7-5 Sahuaro with the tying run at the plate but Misenhimer got the final out to end the game with a save.

McKeever was 2-3 in the game and has found herself one of the three leaders on the team that has no seniors.

“There is no drama on this team,” said McKeever. “We are all young and we mesh – we are good friends.”

McKeever shares leadership duties with Beardshear and Harden on a team that has no head coach due to the unexplained suspension of Steve Sanchez before the season started. Assistant Don Bacon has filled in but the girls feel “upset” and “anger” that there has not been a replacement named.

But still, Beardshear sees plenty of positives. “There are no seniors,” she said. “I feel pretty good this year knowing that we are in charge.”

It is amazing what the girls have accomplished this year, playing under those conditions.

And Sabino found life different after losing Kaity Sitzman. Sitzman moved on to Villanova where she has started 5 games for the Wildcats.

Sabercat coach Jeff Fowler has relied on his junior pitcher Fletcher to carry the team for the most part but has two freshmen waiting their turn.

“Alyssa has done a great job and will get the most of our starts,” explained Fowler. “The thing about this year is that there are no more dominant pitchers. No one is going to get shutout like in the past.”

True, there are no more pitchers like Kenzie Fowler, Alexa Cash, Kaity Sitzman, Carissa Youngblood or Estela Pinon in the circle this year. Sahuarita’s Yvette Alvarez appears to be the top pitcher remaining with Beardshear and a few other ready to step up.

The result will be plenty of offense this year.

Sabino gets no time to rest because they are on their way to Scottsdale to play Red Mountain in the Desert Mountain Invitational Wednesday at 3 pm.

Sahuaro has already played its allotted two tournaments and will play at Foothills on Thursday.

Desert Mountain Softball Invitational

Scottsdale Horizon Park

Wednesday, March 23
3:00 Field 3 Sabino vs. Red Mountain
5:00 Field 3 Sabino vs. Horizon
7:00 Field 1 Ironwood Ridge vs. Chandler

Thursday, March 24
5:00 Field 2 Ironwood Ridge vs. Highland
5:00 Field 3 Canyon del Oro vs. Mesa Mt. View
7:00 Field 2 Ironwood Ridge vs. Basha
7:00 Field 3 Canyon del Oro vs. Desert Mountain

Friday, March 25
3:00 Field 2 Sabino vs. Gilbert
3:00 Field 3 Canyon del Oro vs. Basha
3:00 Field 4 Ironwood Ridge vs. Red Mountain
7:00 Field 2 Sabino vs. Basha
7:00 Field 4 Canyon del Oro vs. Red Mountain

Saturday, March 26
(1-8) Championship Bracket: 11 am and 3 pm
Championship: 7 pm
(9-16) Consolation Bracket: 9 am, 1 pm and 5 pm
(17-24) Consolation Bracket: 10 am, noon and 2 pm

NIKE Faster to First Classic

Anaheim, California

Thursday, March 24
3:30 Field 3 Cienega vs. Poly Riverside
Lose: 5:30 pm/Win: 7:30 pm

Friday, March 25
Bracket Play Continues

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