Sahuaro pitcher Kira White says she’s had better games than Monday’s one-hit shutout of Sabino in the Class 4A Kino Region semifinals.

With a few no-hitters under her belt, a 19-strikeout performance earlier this season and some solid pitching in last year’s state tournament, maybe she’s right.

But you’d be hard-pressed trying to convince the Sabino lineup White can perform much better than she did Monday in Sahuaro’s 5-0 win over the Sabercats at Amphi High School.

Her Cougar teammates were also impressed.

“This is one of the best games I’ve ever seen her pitch,” said Sahuaro senior Kayla Basye, whose two-run homer in the fifth helped close the door on Sabino.

“She didn’t lose control or get distracted if someone got on (base). She kept her composure and said, ‘All right, I’m going to get this next girl.’ And you could just tell, when that happened, there was no doubt she was going to get her out.”

White (11-3) did her best work when Sabino had runners on base.

“I just focused on getting the out at the plate and not worrying about anything else,” White said. “When the defense is playing like that behind me, it’s easier on me to just worry about the hitter at the plate.”

Sahuaro coach Steve Sanchez thinks White has elevated herself to one of Tucson’s best pitchers.

“She has just been sharp the whole season,” Sanchez said. “She’s a competitor and the way the defense is playing behind her, I know she’s one of the better ones around.”

Sahuaro went up 2-0 in the fourth when an error and a passed ball helped Breanna Beckel and Basye work their way around the bases.

In the bottom of the fifth, Basye’s no-doubt homer off Sabino starter Kaity Sitzman pushed the lead to 5-0.

“I’m pretty sure it was a rise ball because it was going up when I hit it,” Basye said. “I didn’t even see it go. I don’t care if it’s a homer or a single. If it helps the team, that’s all I want right now.”

Sanchez said he hasn’t seen the Cougars play better all season.

“We’re playing right now the way I think we were capable of playing all season,” Sanchez said. “We had a little lull there, but we turned it around. . . . This is the time you want to be playing good.”

Sahuaro, the No. 2 seed in the region tournament, plays No. 1 Cienega at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Amphi for the region title.

For more musings on high school sports, check out the Grammer School sports blog.

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