SOFTBALL

DIVISION II

Championship Game: Monday, May 14
2 Canyon del Oro beat 1 Sunrise Mountain, 11-9

Canyon del Oro. 2012 Division II State Champions. Andy Morales Photos.

MORE PHOTOS: http://andymorales.smugmug.com/

And in the end, Kayla Bonstrom got to hit again.

Bonstrom had a very difficult night at the plate against Sunrise Mountain’s ace Taylor Nowlin. Nowlin had induced two fly balls from Bonstrom, making her officially 0-for-2 on the night heading into the top of the eighth inning with the scored tied 9-9.

Nowlin had hit Bonstrom twice in the game. It is debatable if Bonstrom was hit on purpose (at least once) rather than being intentionally walked but each instance proved disastrous for Nowlin – just like the eighth inning…

Bonstrom had entered the bottom of the seventh with a 9-4 lead but a couple of walks, a double by Nowlin, an infield hit by Michala Erickson and a grand slam by BYU-bound McKenzie St. Clair left the Dorados stunned as the Mustangs came back to tie the game with Bonstrom being one strike away from a state championship twice in the inning.

One chance for the win came on a bases-loaded walk issued to Melissa Sechrest (California State-Fullerton) and the second “championship point” came against St. Clair. One more strike to either of the girls and the game would have been over.

Sammi Noland. Andy Morales Photos.

Nowlin, on the other hand, struggled most of the night and was only able to keep the Dorados off the bases twice in the game. Canyon del Oro had figured out her riseball early on so she had to mix it up a little bit – it’s the worst thing that can happen to a riseball pitcher.

Bonstrom and Sammi Noland (Nebraska) barely missed going long to start the game and their deep fly balls were easily caught but Sammy Nettling (Northwestern) pulled Nowlin’s next offering over the left field fence at Arizona State to put CDO on the board.

Kenzie Sullivan followed with a double but she was left stranded after St. Clair snared a line drive by Briana Dohogne to end the top half of the inning. Bonstrom held Sunrise Mountain in the first but St. Clair led off the second inning with a double.

Morgan Leonard collected an infield single and Nowlin doubled later in the inning to knock both of them in to give the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

Nowlin hit Monique Castillo to start the top of the third and then Bonstrom got hit as Nowlin was trying to go inside instead of up top. A passed ball moved both runners over and Noland hit a fly ball to St. Clair.

Castillo was not going on the catch but the throw home was way off the mark and Castillo raced home for the unearned run to tie the game 2-2.

Sunrise Mountain got the two more runs in the bottom of third on a single by St. Clair that brought in Courtney Geith and Erickson.

Down 4-2, CDO unloaded on Nowlin for six runs in the top of the fourth to take a commanding 8-4 lead. Dohogne doubled to start it all off and Niki Gonzalez followed with a single.

Katelin Vaughn pulled Nowlin to left to score Dohogne and Castillo reached on an error one out later. Bonstrom came up with the bases loaded but it did not matter as another passed ball scored Gonzalez.

Bonstrom was hit-by-pitch on a changeup which draws into question the strategy involved with an open base available for Bonstrom. After Ironwood Ridge had intentionally walked Bonstrom four times to send the Dorados to the elimination bracket, first-year coach Stephanie Nicholson made a decision that changed the course of the post season.

Noland was moved to the two-spot to help protect Bonstrom. The move has resulted in an offensive explosion and Noland made Sunrise Mountain pay by hitting a grand slam to put CDO up 8-4.

Nettling and Sullivan hit hard line drives to follow the grand slam but they were hit right at the outfielders to end the inning.

Sunrise Mountain could do nothing against Bonstrom for the next three innings but Sullivan homered in the top of the seventh to give the Dorados a 9-4 lead.

And in the end, Bonstrom got to hit again.

The Mustangs made their dramatic comeback to tie the game but a tie does not equal a win. Hannah Sullivan led off the top of the eighth with a single and she moved to second base on a wild pitch.

Nowlin picked up a pop fly for her first out but that only meant Bonstrom was due up at the plate.

“She got me twice on the same pitch,” explained Bonstrom. “I was looking for it and got lucky.”

If “luck” includes hitting seven post-season home runs then I would hate to see what skill would bring her. The result was a line drive that left the field in a hurry to put CDO back up 11-9.

“I wanted that pitch back that I threw for the grand slam,” Bonstrom added. “The only way to get it back was to do my job as a lead-off hitter.”

Most lead-off batters don’t find the other side of the fence like Bonstrom does. It is doubtful that Stanford will put her in that position in college next year but it will not be the last time she will see one of her balls leave Farrington Softball Stadium on the ASU campus.

Kayla Bonstrom hits her seventh post-season home run. Andy Morales Photo.

Canyon del Oro was not finished and Noland followed with a single and Nettling followed with another hit. A fielder’s choice and a fly ball prevented more damage and Bonstrom took the circle again.

Sunrise Mountain had nothing left for Bonstrom and she put the side down in order and finished with her sixth strike out of the game.

“We turned out to be a lot better than people anticipated,” Bonstrom added as the media surrounded her coach. The Phoenix area media was fixated on the past and wondered how a team from Southern Arizona could possibly win a championship without their usual standouts.

How dare they win this way….

Almost every player interviewed was asked the same question to a point where they should have just told the reporters to pick up the 2012 Dorado roster and study it and stop asking about who was no longer playing at CDO.

It was an obvious slight to the current Dorados. Further, both Ironwood Ridge and Sabino could have won this game also had they made it – that is how good the section from Southern Arizona was in Division II this year.

Nicholson responded by pointing out that she had seven seniors on her roster. “To end the game this way was the only way this game could have ended for them, “explained Nicholson.

“We have a tradition of winning and it doesn’t matter who is on the field.”

Bonstrom should be the leading candidate for the “Big School” player of the year if sanity prevails but only time will tell.

Who knows? If the Dorados win next year maybe they will ask that group how they could have won without Bonstrom…

SOFTBALL: DIVISION II

Championship Game: Monday, May 14
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, ASU: 5:30 pm

Streamed live on AIA365.com

Kayla Bonstrom. Andy Morales Photo.

Sunrise Mountain (33-1) is coached by former University of Arizona catcher Jody Pruitt. That is probably the only thing most people from Southern Arizona know about the Mustangs.

Well, Pruitt coached Sunrise Mountain to a championship game appearance in 2004 where she lost to Deer Valley 2-1. Nick Rizer took the team over and he won two titles.

He beat Deer Valley 1-0 in 2009 and he beat Ironwood Ridge 10-0 in 2008. Cienega beat Sunrise Mountain with Rizer at the helm in 2010, 7-1.

Pruitt started the program at Sunrise Mountain in 1997 and stayed until 2005. She is part of the high school coaching universe created by Mike Candrea that includes Jill Malina at Mountain View, Laura Espinoza-Watson at Empire and Danielle Rodriguez at Tucson High.

Pruitt returned this spring and she inherited a talented team including ace pitcher Taylor Nowlin. Nowlin held Ironwood Ridge to four hits and a walk on the strength of 10 strike outs to earn a spot in the title game.

But, just as Sunrise Mountain claims to have never seen a good pitcher like Makayla McAdams of Ironwood Ridge (of which I agree), they have never seen a player like Kayla Bonstrom.

Bonstrom is the ace for Canyon del Oro (32-5) and she isn’t even a pitcher by trade. Bonstrom earned her All-American status as an outfielder and that’s where she will be playing for Stanford next year.

Bonstrom has six post season home runs and a couple of doubles. Oh, and she has earned seven intentional walks. But those free bases will decrease dramatically with Sammi Noland (Nebraska) hitting behind her.

The new configuration resulted in back-to-back three-run home runs for CDO over Ironwood Ridge on Friday night in their 11-8 comeback victory.

You would think Bonstrom and Noland hit in the three and four spot right? Wrong. They have been hitting in the leadoff positions for the Dorados.

Pruitt won two titles playing with Arizona and CDO’s new coach, Stephanie Nicholson, won two as a player for Flowing Wells. Nicholson, like Pruitt, inherited a talented crew of players from the top to bottom.

As of May 7, Sunrise Mountain is ranked 10th by ESPN-HS and Ironwood Ridge is ranked 25th. CDO was ranked 44th but they dropped out of the list.

Those rankings are sure to change when the final lists come out this week or next. Hopefully, everything will be decided on the field.

FYI, I’m waiting for the AIA so I can get the FULL results from all Divisions (not just the champions) so all Southern Arizona athletes can get their proper attention.  Thanks for being patient.

According to the AIA website:

” Each head coach had the opportunity to nominate athletes from their school, and coaches within their section, for recognition. Each coach had the opportunity to vote on all nominations of both athletes and coaches within their section, and ultimately within their division.”

If this is true, then there are some glaring mistakes. Take Division I/Section I baseball for instance. Where are Cienega’s Indalecio Romo and Juan Gamez?

DI/SI softball has probably the most curious selections of any of the lists with only one player from both Sabino and Canyon del Oro listed and they were placed on the second team.

I did not post the Phoenix area teams but Campo Verde had three players on the first team. With three players on the first team you would think they would have made the playoffs but you would be wrong.

I’ve been told those softball coaches are thinking about getting together soon to get it right this time. Let’s hope they do.

BASEBALL

DIVISION I/SECTION I

Second Team
T.J. Snyder, Cienega

DIVISION II/SECTION I

First Team
Daniel Peters, Sabino
Michael Hoard, Salpointe Catholic
Forest Chapman, Salpointe Catholic
Adam Borboa, Sahuaro
Kevin Brice, Salpointe Catholic
Alex Verdugo, Sahuaro
Al Cruz, Nogales
Ben Scherer, Salpointe Catholic
Xavier Altamirano, Douglas
T.J. Hasting, Sabino
Travis Chavez, Ironwood Ridge
Trey Stine, Ironwood Ridge
Devon Carrillo, Sahuaro

Second Team
Matt Bushman, Sabino
Jorge Maldonado, Nogales
Brandon Smith, Ironwood Ridge
Ramses Camacho, Nogales
Ben Skuro, Sabino
Hunter Miller, Salpointe Catholic
Vinnie Tarantola, Sahuaro
Stephen Meyer, Ironwood Ridge
Marcel Renteria, Nogales
Logan France, Canyon Del Oro
Ryan Bronson, Canyon Del Oro
Jake Matthews, Ironwood Ridge

DIVISION III/SECTION II

First Team
Brandon Cooke, Thatcher
Mike Skiles, Tombstone
Derrick Hedges, Willcox
Cole Plouck, Empire
Brenden Thaggard, Empire
Daniel Diaz, Willcox
Dustin Burke, Combs
Cole Plouck, Empire
Weston Williams, Thatcher
Derek Umphres, Safford
Donny Sands, Empire
Cade Campbell, Bisbee
Koby Alva, Thatcher

Second Team
James Milligan, Tombstone
Anthony Rivera, Bisbee
Mike Skiles, Tombstone
Andrew Ornleas, Safford
Weston Williams, Thatcher
Mitchell Goodman, Thatcher
Ryan Stewart, Empire

DIVISION IV/SECTION II

First Team
Braden Murray, St. David
Chris Campbell, St. David
Daniel Riebe, Desert Christian
Chad Willis, Pusch Ridge
Joey Gonzales, St. David
Shane Kelly, San Manuel
Demetrius Dietz, San Manuel
Trevor Beck, Desert Christian
Tyler Davis, St. David
Myka Campbell, St. David
John Ruiz, San Manuel

Second Team
Phillip Tanner, Pusch Ridge
Donny Perdue, Pusch Ridge
Juan Iglecias, Duncan
Trevor Jorg, Desert Christian
Trevor Beck, Desert Christian
Donny Perdue, Pusch Ridge
Jacob Frithsen, Pusch Ridge
Alex Hook, Pusch Ridge
Vinnie Valdez, San Manuel
Shane Bradford, St. David

DIVISION IV/SECTION III

Second Team
Marcus Lopez, Baboquivari

SOFTBALL

DIVISION I/SECTION II

First Team
Melanie Cross, Cienega
Valerie Luera, Cienega
Stephanie Tatham, Cienega
Jordyn Binnion, Marana
Kaitlin Wilson, Buena

Second Team
Danielle Stensby, Buena
Kayla Green, Cienega

DIVISION II/SECTION I

First Team
Sigourney Sanchez, Sahuarita
Arlette Cabrera, Nogales
Nythzia Machado, Douglas
Monique Salazar, Cholla
Makayla McAdams, Ironwood Ridge
Brooklyn Misenhimer, Sahuaro

Second Team
Emerald Grijalva, Nogales
Janese Timmons, Palo Verde
Alexis Clinton, Ironwood Ridge
Jordan Rocker, Ironwood Ridge
Haley Scheib, Sabino
Taylor Lawson, Sahuaro
Patricia Ruiz-Maldonado, Cholla
Alexis Veigel, Santa Rita
Kayla Bonstrom, Canyon Del Oro
Selena Gauna, Cholla
Brooklyn Beardshear, Sahuaro

DIVISION III/SECTION I

First Team
Kasey Fenn, Benson
Esenyia Molina, Safford
Nikki Dunlap, Willcox
Stacey Ramirez, Benson
Micaella Lopez, Santa Cruz
Grace Taber, Empire
Stephanie Ramirez, Benson
Shauna Judd, Benson
Brittany Woolridge, Empire
Kelsey Smith, Empire

Second Team
Sabrina Tebou, Empire

DIVISION IV/SECTION II

First Team
Rachel Ward, Pusch Ridge
Alyssa Cuellar, San Manuel
Rachel Majors, Pusch Ridge
Sarah Majors, Pusch Ridge
Ariana Zamora, Valley Union
Paige Shepperd, Pusch Ridge
Jaime Price, Duncan
Corrie Ward, Pusch Ridge
Emmy Lou Clark, San Manuel

Second Team
Katelyn Landwerlen, Valley Union
Mackenzie White, San Manuel
Kadi Monfred, San Manuel
Sarah Chavez, Desert Christian

Division III State Golf Championship
May 11-12
Antelope Hills GC in Prescott

Jon Goswitz shot a 2-over (144) to close the gap on Chris Petefish of Scottsdale Christian but it was not enough as Petefish matched Goswitz’s final round of 70 to win the Division III individual title.

Goswitz finished in fourth place last year to go with his runner-up finish this spring. Desert Christian finished in second place the last two years but the team did not qualify for the post season this year.

Goswitz finished in seventh place in 2010.

RESULTS

Team
1, Yuma Catholic, 313, 304, 617
2, Payson, 324, 301, 625
3, Valley Christian, 322, 304, 626
4, Phoenix Country Day, 328, 304, 632
5, Scottsdale Christian, 320, 315, 635
6, Estrella Foothills, 327, 316, 643
7, River Valley, 331, 318, 649
8, Horizon Honors, 330, 327, 657
9, Gilbert Christian, 348, 312, 660
10, Fountain Hills, 340, 321, 661
11, Show low, 346, 318, 664
12, Safford, 345, 321, 666

Individual
1, Chris Petefish, Scottsdale Christian, 72, 70, 142
2, Jon Goswitz, Desert Christian, 74, 70, 144
3, Gavin de Fisser, Valley Christian, 76, 71, 147
4, Chris Senna, Horizon Honors, 75, 72, 147
5, Grady Bourguignon, Yuma Catholic, 76, 72, 148
6, Tyler Apps, Payson, 74, 74, 148
7, Max Coffeen, Yuma Catholic, 75, 74, 149
8, Hayes Dupree, River Valley, 79, 70, 149
9, Logan Walberg, Estrella Foothills, 74, 75, 149
10, Konstantin Von Beringe, Phoenix Country Day, 79, 71, 150
11, Dane Allen, Horizon Honors, 71, 80, 151
12, Austin {Tex} Smith, Show low, 78, 74, 152
13, Trevor Lampson, Valley Christian, 83, 72, 155
14, Dean Harpe, Payson, 81, 75, 156
15, Kennedie Montoya, Thatcher, 82, 74, 156
16, Chris Desmarchais, Gilbert Christian, 81, 75, 156
17, Jeffrey Kelley, Payson, 80, 76, 156
18, Morgan Gonzales, Phoenix Country Day, 81, 75, 156
19, Layton Whited, Snowflake, 81, 76, 157
20, Griffin Peters, Fountain Hills, 80, 77, 157
21, Joey Pickels, Yuma Catholic, 81, 76, 157
22, Tyler Pearson, Phoenix Christian, 83, 75, 158
23, Henry Roden, Phoenix Country Day, 85, 73, 158
24, Evan Walberg, Estrella Foothills, 82, 77, 159
25, Daniel Flint, Scottsdale Christian, 78, 81, 159
26, Humza Hameed, Gilbert Classical, 77, 83, 160
27, Morgan Dupree, River Valley, 82, 78, 160
28, Skyler Smith, Show low, 86, 76, 162
29, Wilfred Tewawina, Camp Verde, 85, 77, 162
30, Ty Yoder, Fountain Hills, 87, 75, 162
31, Max Pierce, Valley Christian, 81, 82, 163
32, Pawit Techanitisawat, Gilbert Christian, 86, 78, 164
33, Conor O’Neill, Estrella Foothills, 87, 77, 164
34, Jared Lohman, River Valley, 79, 85, 164
35, Weston Lewis, Safford, 81, 83, 164
36, Davie Rocha, Valley Christian, 82, 82, 164
37, Bryan Schmidt, Wickenburg, 90, 75, 165
38, Anthony Smith, Payson, 89, 76, 165
39, Zach Chee, Chinle, 86, 79, 165
40, Steven Vlassis, Safford, 86, 79, 165
41, Mike Rooyakkers, Tanque Verde, 86, 79, 165
42, Kyle Sheets, Valley Christian, 87, 79, 166
43, George Vlassis, Safford, 86, 80, 166
44, Phillip Agarwal, Bourgade Catholic, 86, 80, 166
45, Ryan Hincha, Thatcher , 88, 78, 166
46, Noah Ault, Scottsdale Christian, 85, 81, 166
47, Andon Hatch, Holbrook, 86, 80, 166
48, Perry Morrissey, Fountain Hills, 84, 82, 166
49, Kyuin Lee, Gilbert Christian, 90, 77, 167
50, Scout Hammond, Pusch Ridge, 87, 80, 167
51, Kody Boyd, Yuma Catholic, 85, 82, 167
52, Micah Davis, Show low, 87, 81, 168
53, Pablo Bazan, Scottsdale Christian, 85, 83, 168
54, Zach Estes, Yuma Catholic, 81, 87, 168
55, Brandon Travers, Mogollon , 82, 87, 169
56, Carson Krause, Phoenix Country Day, 83, 86, 169
57, Ryan Karnes, Safford, 92, 79, 171
58, GraceMarie Schian, Horizon Honors, 89, 83, 172
59, Clifford Jenkins, Gilbert Christian, 91, 82, 173
60, Joel Hanson, Scottsdale Christian, 90, 85, 175
61, James Shen, Gilbert Christian, 93, 83, 176
62, Kasey Golden, Fountain Hills, 89, 87, 176
63, Kordell Chee, Chinle, 96, 81, 177
64, Random Skevington, Holbrook, 94, 85, 179
65, Tyler Arias, River Valley, 94, 85, 179
66, Korey Smith, River Valley, 91, 88, 179
67, Boston Richardson, Estrella Foothills, 84, 96, 180
68, Danny Raymond, Show low, 95, 87, 182
69, Mason Ridley, Payson, 98, 84, 182
70, Tyler Johnson, Antelope Union, 97, 88, 185
71, Jordan Henderson, Snowflake, 90, 96, 186
72, J.R. Cairns, Horizon Honors, 95, 92, 187
73, Kace Collins, Fountain Hills, 94, 94, 188
74, Andrew Parsons, Estrella Foothills, 105, 87, 192
75, Brody MacDonald, Show low, 100, 113, 213
76, Mitch Bartlett, Horizon Honors, 131, 97, 228
77, Andrew Garner, Phoenix Country Day, WD, 85, 85
78, Gene Carrasca, Safford , 94, 94
79, Ethan Karnes, Safford, 97 , 97

Ron Goodman. The Tigers are wearing the initials "M.G." to honor Goodman's father, "Mack." Andy Morales Photo.

St. David (26-4) now has 17 state championships to its name. Ron Goodman came close to winning his first title last year while at the helm of the Tigers but Tanque Verde turned him back with a disappointing 18-6 loss.

St. David turned the tables and beat up on Yuma Catholic 14-4 (6 innings) Saturday night to capture the Division IV title.

The high school is located just south of Benson and they were coached by the legendary Jim Crawford to 15 of those championships.

Goodman took over in 2007 and he lost his father, Thomas McClellen “Mack” Goodman, on February 13 of this year. Mack was a WWII hero, having been shot down in France. His players dedicated this season to Mack and they wore his initials, “MG” on their uniform.

You have to wonder if Shane Bradford caught some of Mack’s spirit in the game because the junior pitcher/utility player went 4-for-5 including a bases loaded triple to start the game and a bases loaded hit to finish the game.

St. David posted seven runs in the first inning and the game was basically over from there.

DIVISION IV

Championship Game: Saturday, May 12
2 St. David beat 4 Yuma Catholic, 14-4, 6 innings

SOFTBALL

DIVISION II

Championship Game: Monday, May 14
ASU
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 5:30 pm

Kristi Overman delivered the game-winning RBI in the 8th inning. Andy Morales Photo.

Palo Verde Christian beat Desert Christian in 1997 to win the Class 1A softball title. Lots has happened to the school since then.

The school changed “ownership” and was renamed Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in 2000 and a whole new era began. Larry Barfield led the Lions to the 2A championship game in 2005 where they lost a heart-breaker, 1-0 to Scottsdale Christian.

Shawna Bleyl (Army) took the circle for the Lions in that game and she kept her team in it for eight innings despite suffering from a deep tissue tear in her back. She ultimately had no help at the plate and her team was held to only one hit in the loss.

The Lions made it back to the 2A title game last year against Benson but it was not much of game as Benson won easily, 12-2 in six innings.

Then came this year. Pusch Ridge (19-1) beat their opponents with blowout after blowout with a late-season upset loss to Desert Christian to help them refocus on their ultimate goal.

How good were they? The Lions outscored their opponents 249 to 47. That comes out to roughly 12-2 for every game they played. But title games were meant to be competitive and St. John’s made them earn their final victory.

Kristi Overman scored McKayla Rossi from second base with a single to right field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning for the 3-2 victory. Rossi was pinch-running for Paige Shepperd.

Bob Vance led a remarkable group of young athletes who played under the constant print media shadow of their neighbor schools Canyon del Oro and Ironwood Ridge. They never looked for recognition even though they deserved plenty of it.

Well, they will get some ink today for what they were able to accomplish and it’s long overdue.

Vance loses his standout pitcher Corrie Ward and her sister Rachel Ward (Marion Military Institute), Shepperd, Sarah Majors and Rachel Ellis to graduation.

DIVISION II

Championship Game: Monday, May 14
ASU
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 5:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Championship Game: Saturday, May 12
1 Pusch Ridge beat 6 St. Johns, 3-2, 8 innings

Division III State Golf Championship
May 11-12
Antelope Hills GC in Prescott

Five Southern Arizona golfers qualified for the D-III state championship and Safford was the lone team qualifier.

Desert Christian golfer Jon Goswitz is three strokes behind the leader after day one in Prescott. The tournament will end today.

Jon Goswitz. Desert Christian Photo.

DAY ONE RESULTS

Team
1, Yuma Catholic, 313
2, Scottsdale Christian, 320
3, Valley Christian, 322
4, Payson, 324
5, Estrella Foothills, 327
6, Phoenix Country Day, 328
7, Horizon Honors, 330
8, River Valley, 331
9, Fountain Hills, 340
10, Safford, 345
11, Show low, 346
12, Gilbert Christian, 348

Individual
1, Dane Allen, Horizon Honors, 71
2, Chris Petefish, Scottsdale Christian, 72
3, Tyler Apps, Payson, 74
4, Logan Walberg, Estrella Foothills, 74
5, Jon Goswitz, Desert Christian, 74
6, Max Coffeen, Yuma Catholic, 75
7, Chris Senna, Horizon Honors, 75
8, Grady Bourguignon, Yuma Catholic, 76
9, Gavin de Fisser, Valley Christian, 76
10, Humza Hameed, Gilbert Classical, 77
11, Daniel Flint, Scottsdale Christian, 78
12, Austin {Tex} Smith, Show low, 78
13, Hayes Dupree, River Valley, 79
14, Jared Lohman, River Valley, 79
15, Konstantin Von Beringe, Phoenix Country Day, 79
16, Jeffrey Kelley, Payson, 80
17, Griffin Peters, Fountain Hills, 80
18, Joey Pickels, Yuma Catholic, 81
19, Zach Estes, Yuma Catholic, 81
20, Dean Harpe, Payson, 81
21, Max Pierce, Valley Christian, 81
22, Morgan Gonzales, Phoenix Country Day, 81
23, Weston Lewis, Safford, 81
24, Chris Desmarchais, Gilbert Christian, 81
25, Layton Whited, Snowflake, 81
26, Morgan Dupree, River Valley, 82
27, Davie Rocha, Valley Christian, 82
28, Evan Walberg, Estrella Foothills, 82
29, Kennedie Montoya, Thatcher, 82
30, Brandon Travers, Mogollon , 82
31, Trevor Lampson, Valley Christian, 83
32, Carson Krause, Phoenix Country Day, 83
33, Tyler Pearson, Phoenix Christian, 83
34, Perry Morrissey, Fountain Hills, 84
35, Boston Richardson, Estrella Foothills, 84
36, Kody Boyd, Yuma Catholic, 85
37, Pablo Bazan, Scottsdale Christian, 85
38, Noah Ault, Scottsdale Christian, 85
39, Henry Roden, Phoenix Country Day, 85
40, Wilfred Tewawina, Camp Verde, 85
41, George Vlassis, Safford, 86
42, Steven Vlassis, Safford, 86
43, Pawit Techanitisawat, Gilbert Christian, 86
44, Skyler Smith, Show low, 86
45, Zach Chee, Chinle, 86
46, Phillip Agarwal, Bourgade Catholic, 86
47, Andon Hatch, Holbrook, 86
48, Mike Rooyakkers, Tanque Verde, 86
49, Kyle Sheets, Valley Christian, 87
50, Ty Yoder, Fountain Hills, 87
51, Conor O’Neill, Estrella Foothills, 87
52, Micah Davis, Show low, 87
53, Scout Hammond, Pusch Ridge, 87
54, Ryan Hincha, Thatcher , 88
55, Anthony Smith, Payson, 89
56, GraceMarie Schian, Horizon Honors, 89
57, Kasey Golden, Fountain Hills, 89
58, Joel Hanson, Scottsdale Christian, 90
59, Kyuin Lee, Gilbert Christian, 90
60, Jordan Henderson, Snowflake, 90
61, Bryan Schmidt, Wickenburg, 90
62, Korey Smith, River Valley, 91
63, Clifford Jenkins, Gilbert Christian, 91
64, Ryan Karnes, Safford, 92
65, James Shen, Gilbert Christian, 93
66, Tyler Arias, River Valley, 94
67, Kace Collins, Fountain Hills, 94
68, Random Skevington, Holbrook, 94
69, J.R. Cairns, Horizon Honors, 95
70, Danny Raymond, Show low, 95
71, Kordell Chee, Chinle, 96
72, Ethan Karnes, Safford, 97
73, Tyler Johnson, Antelope Union, 97
74, Mason Ridley, Payson, 98
75, Brody MacDonald, Show low, 100
76, Andrew Parsons, Estrella Foothills, 105
77, Mitch Bartlett, Horizon Honors, 131

MORE PHOTOS: http://andymorales.smugmug.com/

Makayla McAdams will be pitching for New Mexico State next year. Andy Morales Photos.

Kayla Bonstrom’s sixth home run of the post season put Canyon del Oro up 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning. That lead, combined with her powerful swing and dominance in the circle, would usually be more than enough to pace the Dorados over almost any other team they have faced this year.

Almost.

Ironwood Ridge is not like any other team. Not only are the Nighthawks well coached, they play solid defense, hit the ball hard and have a handful of college recruits who understand the game is not over until they say it is over.

They are led by pitcher Makayla McAdams (New Mexico State) and catcher Robin Landrith (Baylor). They have become one of the premier batteries in the state and they had a huge part in turning back CDO three out of four times prior to their last game on Friday night.

CDO and The Ridge have played each other five times this year and huge leads have been blown and games have been won or lost with the last batter standing at the plate. No lead is safe.

Bonstrom held Ironwood Ridge in the first two innings to preserve her slim lead but a lead-off single to Rachel Synkelma in the top of the third inning put that lead in jeopardy. Both teams have seen leads of five runs evaporate in the various games they have played against each other this year so a one run deficit proved to be meaningless.

Merrilee Miller followed with another single and Nighthawk coach Randy Anway called upon Jordan Rocker to move the two runners over into scoring position. It was the logical move, considering Landrith was due up next.

Landrith has also displayed a bit of power at the plate in the post season but no one could expect that she could take a pitch off of the standard that holds up the scoreboard in center field. Her shot hit the pole so hard that it bounced back into the playing field causing her to pause at second base, obviously wondering if she was held to a double.

She looked over and saw her teammates waiting for her at home and her coach waving her in. Landrith had just given her pitcher a 3-1 lead and McAdams made the most of it.

“I felt like it was out,” explained Landrith. “I’m just at a lost for words right now. I know we had a great year and we accomplished a lot on and off the field.”

Landrith is part of one of the great catching traditions in baseball. Her grandfather Hobie Landrith caught for Michigan State, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators. Her father David Landrith was part of Arizona’s 1980 championship team that included Terry Francona and Ed Vosberg and her brother Tyler Landrith just finished up catching for Eastern Arizona.

Robyn Porter hit a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning to expand the lead to 4-1 and Erin Satterfield scored on a bases loaded error to give Ironwood Ridge a 5-1 lead.

McAdams gave up a hit to Hannah Sullivan in the bottom of the fourth and the Dorados threatened to load the bases for Bonstrom but McAdams induced a ground ball to get out of the threat.

Ironwood Ridge has selected to intentionally walk Bonstrom seven times rather than face the wrath of her bat more than they needed to. Her only two official at bats resulted in home runs so we will never know if Ironwood Ridge would have walked her again with the bases loaded with a 5-1 lead. I would have.

Bonstrom came up in the bottom of the fifth and took first base on four pitches. Sammy Nettling came up one out later and put the ball just past the short stop and Makenzie Sullivan followed that with a slicing home run that found the right field bleachers.

Ironwood Ridge had seen their lead fall to 5-4 but it was still a lead.

CDO was not finished, however. Briana Dohogne singled to left and Hannah Sullivan collected another hit to put two runners on for Katelin Vaughn.

Vaughn fouled off numerous pitches before she yanked a ball over the left field fence to put CDO up 7-6. Alexis Aguirre followed with a triple to the fence but she was thrown out after she over ran third base.

“I just wanted to leave everything on the field,” said Vaughn. It’s the best feeling in the world. We are Dorados and we know what it takes to win in the end.”

Katelin Vaughn dashes home after she gave CDO a 7-5 lead on the strength of a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Andy Morales Photos.

Still, the Nighthawks were not giving up. Miller hit a triple past a diving Vaughn in the sixth inning and Rocker hit a sacrifice fly to score Miller. Landrith came up and hit the ball midway up the center field fence on a ball that looked like it too was going to go over.

Bonstrom led off the bottom of the sixth with another walk and the Noland singled to left. Nettling knocked in Bonstrom and Dohogne brought in Noland. Hannah Sullivan placed the ball on the right side to score Nettling and then Vaughn singled to score Dohogne.

CDO got their insurance runs and went into the final inning up 11-6. Ironwood Ridge fought to the end and got two runners on in the seventh but Bonstrom held on for the win and a trip to the D-II state championship game on Monday night against Sunrise Mountain.

“This means almost everything,” said CDO coach Stephanie Nicholson. “I told them when we lost to Ironwood Ridge that we would have to go back and beat all the teams again to get back to the championship game. The girls deserve all the credit…I’m just trying to keep them contained.”

Besides McAdams and Landrith, Ironwood Ridge loses Lauren Robinson (Northwest University), Erin Satterfield (North Carolina), Erin Winkle and Jordan Rocker. Besides the overwhelming talent on the Sahuaro and Sabino teams, these athletes formed the foundation of one of the most talented group of softball players to not win a championship.

It may not do the graduating seniors any good, but the softball community is well aware of the talent that will be pouring into the Ironwood Ridge program over the next two years. The Nighthawks will be back.

The focus now shifts to summer ball for many of the players and quite a few of the opposing players on the field Friday night will become teammates on various club teams. McAdams, Satterfield and Landrith will be joining a few Dorados in the Desert Thunder organization and “kicking butt” with them is a prospect that has McAdams excited but she is only beginning to realize her high school career is now over.

“I am going to miss these girls the most,” McAdams said while watching her teammates moving about the crowd after the game. “I will never have the same bond that I had with these girls.”

_________________

Pusch Ridge scored seven runs in the third inning to pace themselves to an 8-3 victory over Northwest Christian and a trip to the D-IV state championship game against St. Johns on Saturday night.

The Lions were runners-up last year to Benson and in 2005 to Scottsdale Christian. The school won a championship in 1997 under its previous name of Palo Verde Christian.

St. Johns defeated St. David in the other semifinal game to make Pusch Ridge and Canyon del Oro the only schools from Southern Arizona left in softball. The two schools are literally across the street from each other in Oro Valley.

CDO has won seven titles including last year. Sunrise Mountain has won three titles.

SOFTBALL

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Friday, May 11
2 Canyon del Oro beat 3 Ironwood Ridge, 11-6

Championship Game: Monday, May 14
ASU
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 5:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
1 Pusch Ridge beat 4 Northwest Christian, 8-3
7 St. David lost to 6 St. Johns, 3-2

Championship Game: Saturday, May 12
Rose Mofford
1 Pusch Ridge vs 6 St. Johns, 5 pm

BASEBALL

St. David finished in second place last year to Tanque Verde but the Tigers are back again for a shot at their 17th championship. They beat a surprising San Manuel team to get there.

The title game will be played against Yuma Catholic on Saturday night in Tempe. Yuma Catholic has one championship to their name and San Manuel has five.

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
2 St. David beat 22 San Manuel, 10-4

Championship Game: Saturday, May 12
Diablo Stadium
2 St. David vs. 4 Yuma Catholic, 7:30 pm

Chelsea Olson and Diana Jimenez with head coach Al Addleman. Courtesy Photo

Chelsea Olson was a pre-season MacDonald’s All-American nominee before her senior year (2011) but her season was cut short by a knee injury in her third game.

She rehabbed for a year and a half and will now play for former University of Arizona player Timi Brown at Glendale Community College .

Diana Jimenez has signed to play at D-III Dallas Christian College. Jimenez was third in scoring for Sabino this past year (7.2 ppg) and was fifth in the state with an 82% free throw mark.

BASEBALL

Salpointe finished in fourth place. Andy Morales Photos.

MORE PHOTOS: http://andymorales.smugmug.com/

It’s been 15 years since the Lancers have played this deep into the state playoffs. Yes, we are almost a generation removed from the days when Kent Winslow guided Salpointe to back-to-back championship game appearances in both 1996 and 1997, but a new generation is set to take its place in the tradition.

Head coach Danny Prebble graduated from Salpointe in 1995 so he just missed out on those glory days but he has begun a new tradition of winning in the four years since he has taken over the baseball program of his alma mater and the atmosphere is contagious.

“It’s been a very long time since we’ve been this far,” explained Prebble. “This team battles. At no point did we tuck our tails and run. No one wanted this year to be over with and it all goes back to our ten seniors.”

Seniors Kevin Brice (Pomona), Tyler Kimbrough (Northern Colorado), Colby Quist (Pacific University), Fernando Careaga (Pacific University), Ray Eastman (Belmont), Forest Chapman (Cal State Stanislaus), Ryan Penaflor (Grinnell) and Hunter Miller (Grand Canyon) will be playing at the next level and the team will also lose Doug Loftus and Ben Scherer.

That’s a major blow to the program but they helped take Salpointe to a fourth place finish in the new Division II Conference.

Salpointe came in to the post season seeded tenth so they were awarded with a home appearance against 23 Sahuarita where they won 11-1 but they had to travel form there. They upset 7 Verrado (6-1) and 2 Notre Dame (5-4).

6 Saguaro sent the Lancers to the elimination bracket (9-5) where they rebounded to knock off the top-seeded Sunrise Mountain team 10-2. Salpointe had beaten the top two teams in the state in a five-day span but they still found themselves in the role of the under dog in their game against 5 Liberty on Thursday night in Phoenix.

Liberty has just eliminated 3 Sabino on Tuesday night on an unearned run (2-1) so the Lancers knew they would have their hands full. Arizona Wildcat recruit Nathan Bannister threw against Sabino so the Lancers faced Liberty’s number two pitcher, Zach Johnston.

Johnston held Salpointe to five hits in 5 2/3 innings before he was relieved by Tyler Wyatt. Freshman Jio Orozco took the circle for Salpointe.

Liberty scored three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out bases-clearing double by PJ Catera. Liberty tried to add another run to their total after Johnston singled to center field but Brice threw Catera out at home on the play for the third out.

Liberty put up two more runs in the second inning and two more in the third. Salpointe got things going in the top of the third on a lead-off double by Quist. Penaflor followed win an RBI single and took second on the throw home.

Brice blasted one to right field but right fielder Rudy Karre made the defensive play of the game and caught the ball just over his shoulder at the fence. It might have been an entirely different game had that ball not been caught.

Liberty added another run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 8-1 but Salpointe mounted some offense in the seventh. Penaflor singled and then Brice reached on a fielder’s choice. Kimbrough singled to right field and then Hoard was walked to load the bases with one out.

Miller singled in Brice to make it 8-2 but Wyatt struck out the last two Lancer batters to end the game 8-2.

Miller finished 2-4 as did Ryan Ramsower and Penaflor. The Lancers left the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings. Chapman was hit by pitch twice and Hoard was intentionally walked in the third inning. Eastman ended his 30-game hitting streak against Liberty.

“The returning players have enormous shoes to fill,” added Prebble. “I am confident they will get it done.”

Junior infielder Hoard has already committed to play for Arizona and there are at lest five more juniors ready to step in.

__________

St. David and San Manuel will battle for a spot in the D-IV state championship game on Friday night in Tempe. St. David is a 2 seed and San Manuel is a 22 seed. The Miners upset three straight teams to get to the semifinal round.

The winner will play for the championship on Saturday night.

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Thursday, May 10
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
10 Salpointe lost to 5 Liberty, 8-2

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Diablo Stadium
2 St. David vs. 22 San Manuel, 4 pm

SOFTBALL

3 Ironwood Ridge (31-5) and 2 CDO (31-5) will meet for the fifth time this season on Friday night. The Ridge has a 3-1 advantage in the series but the winner of this game will move on to the D-II state championship game on Monday night against top seed Sunrise Mountain.

The game begins at 6:30 at Cherry Field. Get there early.

_________

Pusch Ridge and St. David are on opposite sides of the semifinal round in D-IV action. They will battle it out on Friday night for a spot in the championship game to be played Saturday night.

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Friday, May 11
Cherry Field
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 3 Ironwood Ridge, 6:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Rose Mofford
1 Pusch Ridge vs. 4 Northwest Christian, 5:30 pm
7 St. David vs. 6 St. Johns, 7:30 pm

Lauren Pernu with basketball coach Tiffany Powers and Athletic Director Terry Lantz. Courtesy Photo.

Tanque Verde standout Lauren Pernu signed her letters of intent to play both softball and basketball at Walla Walla University in Southeastern Washington.

Pernu was a four-year starter on both the softball and basketball teams at Tanque Verde and she also started on the girls volleyball team this year.

If you follow the “small schools” you know that Pernu was a major reason for the growth of the girls’ programs at Tanque Verde and she was instrumental in helping both teams make the playoffs for the first time in school history.

I had planned to run the Track & Field performance list for the state championships the second the AIA released them but I found a mistake almost immediately,.

I am pretty sure I am the only news outlet that does this time-consuming service in the state.

The official performance lists are times and distances that the AIA uses to seed for the various events through a site called, “athletic.net.”

If you look at that site (as I do) you will see that Cienega standout Edgar Poe is listed several times and he was an easy qualifier for the state tournament.

Coaches, however, must still enter their qualifying athletes in the state meet through Athletic.Net and they had to do it by Sunday (May 6) morning at 8 am.

I knew this and so did 99% of the coaches in the state. It is stated clearly on the AIA website for Track & Field:

“Coaches must enter all athletes into the State Championship Meet thru Athletic.Net no later than 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 6, 2012. No entries received after this time will be accepted.”

I was going to hold off publishing the performance lists but I decided to publish them and I sent Cienega an email on the mistake I found. Poe got a court order to compete in the state track meet. I am not taking any direct credit for the sequence of events but I felt I had to warn the school for Poe’s sake.

This is not the first time a coach has made this mistake.

Deer Valley swimmer Erica Stock was not able to defend her titles in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke because her coach made a similar mistake in 2010. Stock reportedly never swam at Deer Valley again and has signed with Colorado State.

In a case that is not widely known, Ironwood Ridge standout swimmer Collin Murphy was left out of the state meet this year because his coach failed to enter him in the state meet.

Incredibly, 22 athletes from Independence will not be able to compete in the state track meet this year because their coach blew the deadline.

This all just shines a light on what I have felt for a few years now with coaches who do not post stats, vote for AIA sectional and state teams, update tournament brackets or read their emails (the AIA sent three emails warning of the 8 am deadline): some coaches are not doing what they are paid for.

I know many coaches are still from an “older” generation but they must bite the bullet and get online to help their athletes – it’s not that difficult. Make an assistant coach do it.

But, the AIA should also get in the next century and work out a program that immediately registers an athlete that meets a time or distance standard in swimming or track. All of the qualifying meets are already run electronically online and are reported that way anyway.

If athletic.net has Poe listed fourth in the 110 hurdles then the AIA should seed him in fourth. It would solve a lot of problems.

Until then, force your coach to vote online for the AIA sectional all-star lists and ask them to use Maxpreps. It will ultimately help their athletes get recognized.

SOFTBALL

Kenzie Sullivan doubled in the bottom of the sixth to score two runs. CDO went on to win 7-5. Andy Morales Photo.

Canyon del Oro (31-5) and Sabino (26-8) had already met twice before but it was the third game that proved to be a classic with everything on the line.

The Dorados beat Sabino in an early season game and then again in the third round of the state playoffs. That second loss sent the Sabercats to the elimination bracket where they won two straight games to get into the final four and a rematch with CDO.

CDO joined Sabino in the elimination bracket after a close loss to Ironwood Ridge and they also had to play their way into the third and final game against the Sabercats on Wednesday night.

Kayla Bonstrom took the circle for CDO and Alyssa Fletcher for Sabino. It would be the last high school game for one of the two and that fate would not be decided until the seventh inning.

Sabino took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Callie McGarrigle scored Kelsey Jenkins with a double to the left field gap. No leads are safe at this stage of the playoffs and that lead turned into a deficit after CDO scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-1 but it wasn’t pretty.

Sammi Noland reached on a fielder’s choice, Sammy Nettling singled and Kenzie Sullivan walked to load the bases with one out.

Briana Dohogne walked to score Noland and Niki Gonzalez came up and made a check-swing contact with a pitch that was misplayed at home, allowing both Nettling and Sullivan to score.

Katelin Vaughn followed with another walk but Fletcher rebounded and induced a pop up and a strike out to get out of the inning.

Noland homered in the bottom of the second to put CDO up 4-1 and then Vaughn knocked in Dohogne in the bottom of the third to put CDO up 5-1.

Sabino put everything on the line and fought back at that point. Fletcher found her groove and shut down CDO in the fourth and fifth while the Sabercats stormed back to tie the game.

Shannon Shields singled with one out in the top of the third inning and then Fletcher followed with a single. Jenkins hit a sharp single to load the bases for Haley Scheib.

Scheib tripled to clear the bases but she was left stranded at third after Bonstrom picked up a strike out and fly ball to end the threat.

Sabino was able to load the bases again in the fifth inning but they were only able to push one run across the plate on an RBI single by Jenkins.

Bonstrom held Sabino in the sixth but the Dorados scored two more unearned runs in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead.

Hannah Sullivan led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and then Monique Castillo sacrificed her over to third base for the first out. Bonstrom was intentionally walked but Noland followed with soft pop up to the pitcher.

A collision in the circle caused Noland’s hit to fall out of Fletcher’s glove and the bases were loaded. Fletcher induced a fielder’s choice at home for the second out and it looked like she might escape the inning unscathed but Kenzie Sullivan hit a double to score Bonstrom and Noland.

It looked like the damage had been done but the Sabercats fought back once again and loaded the bases in the top of the seventh on hits by Shelby Mendoza, Shields and Jenkins. Bonstrom escaped with three infield outs to keep the Sabercats off the scoreboard.

Sabino lost 7-5 but they left 12 runners on base including four stranded at third. Three of those runners were at third with less than two outs which meant a ground ball to the right side might have sent Sabino to the next round but Bonstrom always came up with a big pitch or out when she needed it.

Likewise, Fletcher only gave up three earned runs and she held the Dorados to just five hits. It was a performance that caused the Dorado coaches to remind their team that they must refocus at the plate.

Sabino came out swinging and they collected 11 hits including three each from Jenkins and Shields but 10 of those hits came from either the top or bottom of the lineup which accounted for the dozen runners left on base.

Sabino loses Fletcher, Krystina Koepnick and Mendoza to graduation but they will return with speed and power.

CDO will face Ironwood Ridge (31-5) on Friday night for a shot at the state title against Sunrise Mountain (33-1) after the Mustangs beat the Nighthawks on a run scored with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Ironwood Ridge had two runners on in the sixth inning with one out but they could not score and lost 1-0.

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Wednesday, May 9
2 Canyon del Oro beat 7 Sabino, 7-5
(Sabino finishes in 4th Place)

Winners Bracket: Wednesday, May 9
3 Ironwood Ridge lost to 1 Sunrise Mountain, 1-0

Elimination Bracket: Friday, May 11
Cherry Field
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 3 Ironwood Ridge, 6:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Rose Mofford
1 Pusch Ridge vs. 4 Northwest Christian, 5:30 pm
7 St. David vs. 6 St. Johns, 7:30 pm

BASEBALL

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Thursday, May 10
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
10 Salpointe vs. 5 Liberty, 4 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Diablo Stadium
2 St. David vs. 22 San Manuel, 4 pm

“I feel blessed to be named the head coach for the Ironwood Ridge Girls Basketball program,” said Nikki Simpson via email. “I am looking forward to working with our young ladies and watching them reach their potential on and off the court.”

Nikki Simpson assisted former Nighthawk coach Josh Dickinson last season. Andy Morales Photo.

BIO:
Arizona Crush Club Basketball. Co-Director, Co-Founder, and 14U head coach (www.arizonacrush.org) . 14U team just won the Cinco de Mayo Tournament in Phoenix in the JV division.

2011-2012 season- Ironwood Ridge freshman coach 11-3 record and varsity assistant.

2008-2011 seasons: Pusch Ridge varsity assistant coach.

2009-2011 seasons: Pusch Ridge head middle school coach, back-to-back undefeated seasons (17-0) and winners of the T.I.A.L. league championship.

2010- Pusch Ridge head middle school volleyball coach, 15-2 record, league champions.

Third grade teacher in the Marana District, graduated from ASU (2006), graduated in from Canyon del Oro (2003).

Girls entering grades 4-6 ($75)
June 4-7
8-11 am

Girls entering grades 7-8 ($100)
June 11-14
8-Noon

Ironwood Ridge
2475 W Naranja Dr.
Oro Valley, AZ 85742

Register online at:
www.irhsgirlsbasketball.com
Registration is due by May 25.

More information
Nikki Simpson
Nikkiss52@gmail.com
Ironwood Ridge Head Coach

BASEBALL

Salpointe Lancers after their win. courtesy photo

Salpointe knocked the vaunted Division II Sunrise Mountain team out of the state playoffs thanks to a complete game put in by pitcher Ben Scherer.

Colby Quist homered for the Lancers.

Story here:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/2012/05/08/20120508arizona-high-school-baseball-salpointe-tops-sunrise-mountain.html

Sabino fell to Liberty 2-1 in the second game.

Liberty came with Arizona Wildcat recruit Nathan Bannister and the Sabercats threw Jeremy Timpf (Army, football) in what became a battle that neither pitcher could get a hold of until Liberty scored an unearned run in the fifth inning to take the final 2-1 lead.

Sabino’s loss means the next game for Salpointe will be played in Phoenix on Thursday against Liberty.

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Tuesday, May 8
3 Sabino lost to 5 Liberty 2-1
10 Salpointe 10, 1 Sunrise Mountain 2

Elimination Bracket: Thursday, May 10
Phoenix Municipal Stadium
10 Salpointe vs. 5 Liberty, 4 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Diablo Stadium
2 St. David vs. 22 San Manuel, 4 pm

Division III State Golf Championship

May 11-12
Antelope Hills GC in Prescott

Five Southern Arizona golfers qualified for the D-III state championship and Safford was the lone team qualifier.

Friday, May 11 Tee Times
George Vlassis, Safford, 12:00 p
Ryan Karnes, Safford, 12:09 p
Ethan Karnes, Safford, 12:18 p
Weston Lewis, Safford, 12:27 p
Steven Vlassis, Safford, 12:36 p
Jon Goswitz, Desert Christian, 12:45 pm
Kennedie Montoya, Thatcher, 12:45 pm
Scout Hammond, Pusch Ridge, 1:03 p m
Ryan Hincha, Thatcher, 1:12 pm
Mike Rooyakkers, Tanque Verde, 1:21 pm

SOFTBALL

Alyssa Fletcher . Andy Morales Photo,

Alyssa Fletcher pitched Sabino into the elite class of Arizona softball after she held Greenway to just two runs on six hits Tuesday night.

Greenway touched up Fletcher a bit in the top of the fifth with three hits and a hit batter to account for all of their runs but Fletcher’s teammates backed her up with solid defense and steady offense.

The Sabercats scored a run in the bottom of the second, third, fourth and fifth innings in a slow but sure dismantling of the Demons. It almost qualified as torture.

Krystina Koepnick scored on a passed ball, Shelby Mendoza brought in Haley Scheib on a bases loaded sacrifice bunt, Kelsey Jenkins drove in a run and Shannon Shields hit a double to score Mendoza.

The Canyon del Oro team watched the game with great interest from the stands because they were all set to play the winners in the next round.

The Dorados jumped all over Gila Ridge on an adjacent field 12-2 to set up a rematch between CDO and Sabino Wednesday night at Cherry Field.

Alexis Alfonso held the Hawks to just five hits and no runs for the five-inning win. Alfonso got all the offense she needed from her first two batters of the game after Kayla Bonstrom and Sammi Noland hit back-to-back doubles to start the bottom of the first inning.

The Dorados scored five in the first, six in the second and one more in the third. Bonstrom hit two doubles to continue her run through the state playoffs and Noland hit a home run to go with her double.

Katelin Vaughn recorded three RBIs in the game.

CDO beat Sabino 12-5 on Thursday to send the Sabercats to the elimination bracket.

Ironwood Ridge will travel to Phoenix to play the top seed Sunrise Mountain on Wednesday night.

The winner will play for the state championship on Monday while the loser will play the winner of CDO/Sabino on Friday night.

DIVISION II

Alexis Alfonso . Andy Morales Photo.

Elimination Bracket: Tuesday, May 8
2 Canyon del Oro beat 24 Gila Ridge 12-0, 5 innings
7 Sabino beat 12 Greenway 4-2

Elimination Bracket: Wednesday, May 9
Cherry Field
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 7 Sabino, 6:30 pm

Winners Bracket: Wednesday, May 9
Rose Mofford
3 Ironwood Ridge vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 6:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Rose Mofford
1 Pusch Ridge vs. 4 Northwest Christian, 5:30 pm
7 St. David vs. 6 St. Johns, 7:30 pm

BASEBALL

Sabino and Salpointe are both one win away from a possible match in the third round of the elimination bracket. But, first things first.

Liberty (23-3) has a regular season victory on top seed Sunrise Mountain (25-6) but they also have a loss against them on their record. Either way, Sabino (28-7) will have their hands full against the Lions. Sabino should have enough to pull this one out.

Salpointe (24-8) needs to throw everything at Sunrise Mountain because there is no tomorrow without a win today. Other teams have already made the mistake of holding back their best arms and they are no longer playing.

Lancer short stop Ray Eastman is sitting on a 29-game hitting streak.

If Salpointe and Sabino win…….will their game be in Tucson? The safety of all those kids and families should come first.

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Tuesday, May 8
Camelback Ranch
3 Sabino vs. 5 Liberty, 6:30 pm
10 Salpointe vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 4 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Diablo Stadium
2 St. David vs. 22 San Manuel, 4 pm

SOFTBALL

Gila Ridge (20-14) has already recorded three upsets in the playoffs even though they were the last team in as the 24 seed. CDO (29-5) cannot take anyone lightly at this stage.

Kayla Bonstrom has solidified herself as the most feared hitter in softball this year. Her four intentional walks against Ironwood Ridge equaled a previous Dorado record for a game.

Sabino (25-7) will face Greenway (24-7) in the other half of the elimination bracket. This will be a close game that will show that Sabino deserves to be one of the top teams in the state.

Look for a Sabino/CDO rematch somewhere in Tucson on Wednesday night. (If sanity prevails).

DIVISION II

Elimination Bracket: Tuesday, May 8
Rose Mofford
2 Canyon del Oro vs. 24 Gila Ridge, 6:30 pm
7 Sabino vs. 12 Greenway, 6:30 pm

Winners Bracket: Wednesday, May 9
Rose Mofford
3 Ironwood Ridge vs. 1 Sunrise Mountain, 6:30 pm

DIVISION IV

Semifinals: Friday, May 11
Rose Mofford
1 Pusch Ridge vs. 4 Northwest Christian, 5:30 pm
7 St. David vs. 6 St. Johns, 7:30 pm