The Salpointe Catholic High School softball team avoided elimination once again in the Class 5A Division I state tournament Saturday.

The No. 6-seeded Lancers defeated No. 11 seed Tempe Corona del Sol 5-2 in a losers bracket game.

Salpointe moves on to play No. 2 Phoenix St. Mary’s at Tempe Marcos de Niza High School at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

In 4A Division I state first round action, No. 12 seed Catalina Foothills upset No. 5 Phoenix Sunnyslope 2-1.

The Falcons will play at No. 4 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Girls tennis

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy junior Tanya Hetlinger finished third Saturday in the Class 2A/3A state individual tennis tournament.

In the semifinals, Hetlinger lost to Safford’s Allison Evans, the eventual state champion, 6-2, 6-1. Hetlinger recovered and took third, beating Christine Stockslager from Phoenix Country Day, 6-1, 6-2.

Baseball

Canyon del Oro advanced in the 4A-I state tournament by beating No. 14 seed Sahuaro 7-6 on Saturday.

The No. 3 Dorados will play No. 6 Cienega at Surprise Baseball Stadium at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

In 4A-II first round action, No. 3 Sahuarita defeated No. 14 Douglas 5-0.

The Mustangs will play No. 6 Phoenix Greenway at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Girls track

Catalina finished in first place with a team score of 139 in the 4A Gila regionals Saturday.

Melanie McGrath took first place for the Trojans in the 1,600 meter race with a time of 5 minutes, 16.46 seconds. McGrath also won the 800 meter race with a time of 2:22.85.

Boys track

The 4A Gila regionals belonged to Catalina as it finished with a score of 176.

Daniel McIver helped the Trojans by taking first in the high jump (6-6), long jump (21-11.25) and the triple jump (42-6 1/2). He also helped his relay team take first in the 4×400 relay (3:30.46).

Sahuarita catcher Lysandras Gomez grabs a late throw home as Palo Verde's Sophia Martinez scores during the semifinals of the Class 4A Gila Region softball tournament at Cherry Field on Monday. Sahuarita won 12-11 to advance.

The Sahuaro High girls softball team advanced to the finals of the Class 4A Kino Region tournament, but it took extra innings to get the job done.

The No. 2-seeded Cougars defeated No. 3 Sabino 4-3 in eight innings.

Morgan McKeever led off the bottom of the inning with a double and after being bunted over to third, she scored on Jessica Schneider’s sacrifice fly.

Sahuaro will play No. 1 Cienega at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Cherry Field.

No. 2 Sahuarita 12, No. 3 Palo Verde 11: The Mustangs scored two runs in the seventh to advance in the 4A Gila game. Sahuarita will play No. 1 Douglas at Cherry Field at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Baseball

The Nogales offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Trailing 2-1, the Apaches scored five runs in the inning and went on to the 8-3 victory in the semifinals of the 4A Kino Region tournament.

Juan Espiricueta pitched four innings and struck out seven. He helped his own cause with a home run. Nogales will play No. 1 Cienega at Cherry Field at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

No. 3 Amphi 10, No. 2 Douglas 3: In the 4A Gila semifinal, Alan Sandoval pitched a complete game for the Panthers. Amphi will play No. 1 Sahuarita at Cherry Field at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

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

The Class 5A Division I high school tennis state tournament featured a faceoff between Salpointe Catholic teammates in the quarterfinals Friday.

No. 2-seeded Maggie McGeorge of Salpointe defeated No. 7 seed Christine Mordaunt 6-0, 6-0 to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

In doubles, No. 1 seed Courtney Amos and Lauren Amos advanced after winning their quarterfinals matchup 6-0, 6-1.

In boys singles competition, Salpointe’s No. 4 Mitch McDaniels advanced after winning 6-3, 6-1.

• In the 5A-II tournament, Rincon/University’s Samantha Lund and Ironwood Ridge’s Shannon Contreras each advanced to the semifinals in the singles.

No. 1-seeded Contreras and No. 3 Lund would face off in the finals if both win.

On the boys side, two Ironwood Ridge doubles teams could meet in the finals.

No. 2-seeded Josh Taylor and Conor Spiegel won 6-4, 6-2 while teammates and No. 1-seeded Timothy Holten and Dillon Kennedy marched to a 6-1, 6-0 win.

The Marana High School girls track team won its triangular meet against Pueblo and Cholla on Wednesday.

The Tigers (87) were led by Ashley Willoughby, who took first place in the triple jump (31 feet, 8.25 inches) and the 400 meters (1 minute, 2.92 seconds). She also helped her team take first in the 4×100 relay.

Pueblo finished with a score of 37 and Cholla had a team score of 32.

Rincon/University 112, Desert View 42, Flowing Wells 3: Rincon/University won its home meet by finishing in first place in 14 of the 17 events.

Amie Kilgore won the 100 hurdles in 16.77. She also won the triple jump (32-0).

Alexis Mort won a pair of distance events for the Rangers, winning the 1,600 in 5:34.48 and the 800 in 2:30.17.

Boys track

Canyon del Oro escaped with the team win in its triangular meet at home.

The Dorados (64) defeated Catalina Foothills (62) and Sierra Vista Buena (52).

Clay Pierce helped the CDO cause, winning the pole vault at 12-6.

Lezo Urreiztieta won the 110 hurdles (16.07) for Canyon del Oro.

Rincon/University 106, Flowing Wells 50, Desert View 22: Rincon/University’s Steve Daynor won the 3,200 (10:58.14) while teammate Jay Bowser took top honors in the 400 (49.65) and the 200 (22.35).

Baseball

Ironwood Ridge pitcher Kyle Kilgore pitched a one-hitter and struck out eight in a 9-1 win over Casa Grande on Wednesday.

He helped his own cause at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs.

Teammate Steven Still went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Canyon del Oro's Kala Stepter leads the pack as she competes in the 110-meter high hurdles final during the fifth annual Mario Castro Track and Field Invitational at Sunnyside High School last week. Stepter won the event in 14.71 seconds and won the 300 hurdles in a Class 4A state record of 43.68 seconds.

When eighth-grader Kala Stepter dominated at a middle school track meet in 2005, her mom, former Olympic hurdler LaTanya Sheffield, was excited about the high school career that lay ahead.

“I have done my thing, and now it is time for a changing of the guard,” Sheffield told the Tucson Citizen in 2005. “This is her time now.”

Stepter hasn’t quit shining; she’s one of Arizona’s elite high school hurdlers. With less than a month to go in her high school career, the record-setting Stepter has set her sights squarely on winning next month’s Class 4A Division I 300 hurdles title.

After she set the 4A state record in the event at last week’s Mario Castro Invitational in a blistering 43.68 seconds, who would doubt she can achieve the goal? She snapped a 17-year mark set in 1992 by Tolleson’s Adra Hysong (44.21).

“I was just as surprised as anyone,” Stepter said of her record. “It was announced as I was walking away after receiving my medal. I celebrated by running the 4×400 (-meter relay race).”

As grateful as she is for the record, she wants another.

The state’s all-classes record of 42.67 seconds set in 1985 by Scottsdale Chaparral’s Christy Nore is the next hurdle Stepter hopes to clear as her prolific high school career winds down.

“I’ll do anything to break the record,” she said.

A record-setting time would likely assure her of a 4A-I state championship medal in the event, something that has eluded her.

As a freshman, Stepter finished third at the 4A-I state championship meet, followed by second-place finishes as a sophomore and a junior.

“I’ve missed it three years in a row and it’s all been a battle,” she said. “I’m going for first; this is the way you want to go out.”

CDO head track coach Jim Truitt, who coached at the school from 1981-86 and again since 2003, said Stepter is “the greatest female hurdler I’ve ever seen.”

“She’s the epitome of everything you hope for,” Truitt said. “She’s a talented athlete with great work ethic and character to back it up.”

Her mom has helped coach her every step of the way.

Sheffield burst onto the track scene in 1985 by setting an American record, and winning an NCAA championship, in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.66. She competed in the 1988 Olympics and remained one of the country’s premiere hurdlers before retirement in 2000.

Sheffield is a sprint coach at CDO.

“A lot of people think with your mom, she’ll go easy on you. She constantly works us,” Stepter said, referring also to her younger sister and fellow CDO track star Jaide, a freshman.

“I love her, but she is a tough coach.”

Stepter said her emergence in hurdles was also due to CDO assistant coach Michelle Gerard.

“I can say I like the balance of my coaches,” Stepter said.

“Mom is tough and Michelle Gerard, my hurdles coach, is more laid back.”

After her high school career ends – the 4A state meet is May 16 at Mesa Community College – Stepter will take her 4.2 grade point average to Stanford, where she will continue her track career.

“Stanford will be good to nurture me both academically and athletically,” Stepter said.

Sheffield said she knows it will be a bittersweet moment when Stepter heads off to college, but Sheffield is excited about the opportunities ahead.

“It has been very exciting to watch a young athlete grow up to be athletically inclined,” Sheffield said. “The cherry on top is she belongs to me and my husband (Keith).

“That kind of feeling is like an amazing banana split.

“I feel confident we have instilled the mechanism to survive in her. There is a place in the world for her.”

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

———

AMONG THE BEST

Canyon del Oro senior Kala Stepter has the fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles this season in Arizona.

2009 season

(source: Arizonatrack.com)

Kala Stepter, CDO 43.68

Kathy Fisher, Sahuaro 44.63

Lindsey Honea, Marana 44.69

Breanna Leslie, V. Christian 45.7

All-classes records

(source: AIA record book)

5A – Christy Nore (1985), 42.67

4A – Kala Stepter (2009), 43.68

3A – Nicole Nevitt (2004), 44.44

2A – Jamie Cluff (2002), 43.45

1A – Martha Hernandez (1986), 47.32

The Salpointe Catholic High School girls tennis team advanced to the finals of the Class 5A Division I team tournament after defeating No. 1 Phoenix Xavier on Monday.

The No. 4-seeded Lancers will play No. 2 Tempe Corona del Sol at the Glendale Paseo Racquet Center at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Christine Mordaunt sealed the win for Salpointe in the No. 2 singles matchup. She defeated Sarah Serrano 6-2, 7-5.

Salpointe will attempt to win its third state title in four years.

• In 5A-II action, No. 4 Ironwood Ridge lost to No. 1 Phoenix Pinnacle 5-0 in the semifinals.

Boys tennis

Ironwood Ridge will go for its second 5A-II state team title in any many years on Tuesday.

The No. 1-seeded Nighthawks will play No. 2 Scottsdale Horizon at the Glendale Paseo Racquet Center at noon.

Ironwood Ridge beat No. 13 Phoenix Pinnacle 5-0 to advance.

In 5A-I action, No. 5 Salpointe fell to No. 1 Tempe Corona del Sol 5-0 in the semifinals.

Senior hopes to see Falcons win another Az title

Catalina Foothills volleyball outside hitter Garrett Voge (center) returns the ball against Cholla High School defenders Anthony Govaldon (left) and Daniel Sotelo at Foothills on Tuesday.

Garrett Voge has done it all for the Catalina Foothills boys volleyball team.

Voge, a fourth-year varsity player who has developed into arguably Arizona’s most feared outside hitter, hopes to lead the Falcons (10-3) to their fourth-straight Class 4A/5A Division II state championship next month.

“It’s crazy. I remember walking in worried if I’d make varsity,” Voge said of his freshman season. “It’s weird thinking back on fun stories like that. Volleyball has been one of the highlights of my high school experience. All the guys are nice and Foothills has been a good community.”

Voge leads Foothills with 15.5 kills a game with a kill percentage of .482.

For context, Foothills coach David Thistle said a good kill percentage for most high school players is in the .250 range.

Voge finished with 231 kills last season and has 201 through 13 games this season, including 13 in Wednesday’s loss at Ironwood Ridge 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23).

Thistle has high praise for his star player, calling Voge “one of the best outside hitters in the country.”

“I’ll use him and some of the things he’s done as an example (when I coach),” Thistle said. “He’s brought a lot to that (Foothills) team.”

Voge’s ended up on the Foothills team after he broke his foot playing basketball in eighth grade at St. Cyril Catholic School. After the injury, Voge focused exclusively on volleyball.

Thistle, who has known Voge since he was 13, has watched him grow on high school teams as well as playing for club teams such as Club Cactus and the Arizona Premier Volleyball team.

“The kid is just phenomenal,” Thistle said. “It’s not just his attacking, it’s his passing and he extends plays on defense. He can read attackers really well and pick his spots. He’s easily our most valuable player.”

Thistle was Voge’s coach when he played for Club Cactus, a junior club team and plans to ask him to help coach in the future.

For his part, Voge credits Thistle because “he made me love the game.”

Imagine, then, how Voge felt last season when he found out Thistle had taken the reigns at Foothills.

“I was really excited,” Voge said. “He not only knows volleyball, but he’s a fan of positive reinforcement. I learn better when people aren’t yelling at me.”

Voge surprised a lot of people when he decided to stay in Tucson and attend the University of Arizona, which doesn’t have a varsity volleyball team, instead of going out of state to play on scholarship.

“Boys volleyball is not the most scholarship-heavy sport,” Voge said. “I love the U of A and to me academics come first. I had to make a decision for myself.”

Voge wants to study business and play club volleyball when he goes to college.

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

The Salpointe Catholic High boys tennis team took the first step Monday to defend its state title.

The No. 5-seeded Lancers beat No. 12 Glendale Mountain Ridge 5-0 at the Tucson Racquet Club in a Class 5A Division I state tournament opening match.

The victory was sealed when Tyler Comstock won 6-2, 6-0 in No. 4 singles.

Salpointe will play at No. 4 Scottsdale Desert Mountain at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

No. 1 Ironwood Ridge 5, Kingman 0: The defending state champ Nighthawks protected their home court, defeating Kingman in a 5A-II state tournament match.

The Nighthawks were led by No. 1 singles player Timothy Holten, who won 6-1, 6-1.

Ironwood Ridge will host No. 9 Rincon/University on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

No. 9 Rincon/University 5, No. 8 Laveen 0: The Rangers won on the road to advance.

Girls tennis

No. 4 Salpointe took care of No. 13 Mesa Red Mountain 5-1 on Monday in a 5A-I state match.

Lancer Marilin Beard won her No. 6 singles match 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 to clinch the win.

Salpointe will play No. 5 Gilbert Mesquite at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Tucson Racquet Club.

• In another 5A-I score Monday, No. 7 Chandler High beat No. 10 Casa Grande 5-0.

No. 4 Ironwood Ridge 5, No. 13 Phoenix Camelback 0: Shannon Contreras won 6-0, 6-1 in her No. 1 singles matchup as the Nighthawks won.

Ironwood Ridge will host No. 12 Anthem Boulder Creek on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.

• Also in the 5A-II, No. 9 Mesa Skyline defeated No. 8 Rincon/University 5-4.

The Salpointe baseball team had to rally to beat Phoenix Desert Vista on the road Wednesday.

Trailing 6-2, the Lancers scored four in the fourth inning to tie the game. Salpointe (11-10) trailed again 11-9 going into the top of the sixth inning when the Lancers came up with five runs to take the lead for good in the 18-11 win.

Lancers catcher Dan Slania hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning and finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs.

Teammate Joe Cerrano went 4 for 4 at the plate, scoring four runs and posting three RBIs.

Tanque Verde 23, Ajo 0 (5 innings): At Ajo, Tanque Verde helped solidify its No. 1 ranking in Class 1A from the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association with a dominating performance. The Hawks put up 12 runs in the second inning and pitchers Mark Harris, a sophomore, and David Novak, a freshman, combined to throw a one-hitter.

Track and field

The Palo Verde girls track team won its tri-meet over Amphi 85-30 and Green Fields (16) on Wednesday afternoon.

The Titans were led by Kim Geweke, who finished first in the 800 meters in two minutes, 58.1 seconds and in the 1,600 meters (6:39.91).

On the boys side, Amphi (81) defeated Palo Verde (51) and Green Fields (13).

Jalen Armstrong won a pair of tough distance races for the Panthers. He took first in the 1,600 (4:57.79) and 3,200 (13:47.83).

Chauncey Queen-Booker from Palo Verde finished second in the 1,600 (5:26.98). Amphi’s Bryce Antone took second in the 3,200 (13:48.14).

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

Coach hopes to develop them into pitchers

With Rincon freshman varsity baseball players Forest Chapman (from left), Zach Smutzer and John West , coach Britt Echols hopes to get the team into the postseason.

The Rincon/University High baseball team will have plenty to look forward to over the next three years.

This year has been a taste of things to come as freshmen Forest Chapman, Zach Smutzer and John West have made an immediate impact for the Rangers (9-9).

Rincon won eight games in 2008 after winning a combined six games in 2006 and 2007.

Second-year coach Britt Echols said this year has been a lot easier for him than his first.

“We expect the playoffs,” Echols said. “You never know what could happen. Those three guys are doing what we’ve wanted them to do. They can handle this spot and they all love being here.”

Chapman, an outfielder and leadoff hitter, leads the team in average (.500), hits (35), runs (27), RBIs (31), triples (5) and steals (10).

“This year has been about good defense and timely hitting,” Chapman said. “It’s good to have the bottom of the lineup getting on base. It’s been good all around.”

Chapman had a feeling he’d be on varsity after working out with the team during summer and fall.

Smutzer spends a lot of time practicing with his younger siblings, Josh, 12 and Jacob, 11.

He has a .426 batting average with 20 RBIs and seven doubles.

“I was shocked, I didn’t think I’d make it,” Smutzer said when he was told he’d be on varsity. “It’s an honor to play with the older kids.”

Smutzer, a first basemen, has a future goal to be a pitcher as his high school career progresses.

“I’m starting at first base but whenever they need me, I’ll pitch,” he said. “By this summer, I’ll play both.”

Echols said he hopes to develop Chapman, Smutzer and West into future pitchers.

West, an outfielder, looks forward to being a potential leader when he’s an upperclassman.

He said he’s learned from everyone on the team, especially junior Reece Stangl.

“He’s just the life of the program,” West said. “When he’s gone, I’ll have to take his place and be more vocal.”

West is hitting .283 with 16 RBIs, two doubles, a triple and a home run.

Echols said West has not committed an error this season.

“(West) can judge a ball like no other,” Smutzer said, who’s played ball with West since Little League.

Chapman sees the Rangers on the verge of achieving their goal; reaching the Class 5A Division II state tournament.

“It would mean a lot,” Chapman said. “We haven’t been there in a while. It would be a motivation to do better, something to build on. We’re starting to get our name out there.”

Tanya Hetlinger has gone undefeated this season in girls singles play for the Pusch Ridge tennis team.

Tanya Hetlinger has been unstoppable in the No. 1 singles position for the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy girls tennis team.

Hetlinger, a junior, is undefeated in singles competition this year, and also has plenty of responsibilities off the court.

Hetlinger lives with and helps care for her grandmother, Marcia, who broke her back three years ago.

“I’ve been her main caretaker,” Hetlinger said. “I’ve learned to be more responsible. . . . (My grandmother) definitely is the most influential person in my life. She taught me everything and made me go to my first tennis lesson when I was 10.”

On the court this spring, Tanya’s key wins came against St. Gregory’s defending Class 1A state champion Rachel Rosenberg and avenging a 2008 Class 2A/3A state tournament quarterfinal loss to Phoenix Country Day’s Kendra Simon.

“I think I played a lot smarter,” Hetlinger said of her rematch with Simon. “I didn’t play as frustrated and I was more strategic. She hits a lot harder and I had to be more patient.”

Hetlinger credits her strong spring play to improved confidence, a better backhand and better footwork.

Practicing at the Randolph Tennis Center for seven years, Hetlinger began helping out at the center as a coach last year as part of community service for a Bible course at Pusch Ridge. Hetlinger taught one class to 5-to-7 year olds and one lesson to kids her own age.

“I don’t know if I want to be a coach (long term), but it taught me how much fun it is to be a coach,” she said. “I’ll do it again after I graduate.”

Hetlinger is looking forward toa tennis camp this summer at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., where she is considering going after graduating from Pusch Ridge.

“I’ll see what it’s like and have a better idea if that’s what I want to do,” she said, adding she’d like to study pre-med in college.

Lions tennis coach David Towne said Hetlinger “has run with the baton” since taking over the team’s top spot after last year’s graduation of stars Mya Towne and Jamie Shepherd.

“She’s the top dog and she’s taken the leadership role,” Towne said. “From her ground strokes to her serve, she has a complete game and I predict she will go far in state.”

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

Senior pitcher Josh King couldn’t have asked for anything more from his offense.

King’s Tanque Verde baseball team defeated St. Gregory 21-7 on Monday afternoon, pushing King’s pitching record on the year to 6-0.

King struck out 13 and hit a double as Tanque Verde improved its overall record to 13-2.

Catalina 6, Marana 2: The Trojans scored runs in the first four innings to win at home.

After scoring a run in each of the first three innings, the Trojans scored three in the fourth.

Frankie Daniel and Robert Pearson hit home runs for Catalina.

Nogales 8, Douglas 1: The Apaches’ bats exploded in the middle innings against the Bulldogs.

With a scoreless tie heading into the bottom of the fourth, Nogales found its rhythm, logging three runs each in the fourth and fifth innings and two in the sixth.

Martin Lopez hit a double; teammate Daniel Zuniga hit a triple.

Softball

Victoria Amavizca pitched a one-hitter as Rincon/University defeated Santa Rita 11-1 in six innings.

Virginia Baygents hit a triple, and Anissa Garcia hit two doubles for Rincon.

Boys volleyball

Sunnyside remained undefeated on Monday, beating Santa Rita 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-19).

Sean Fulcher led the Blue Devils with 11 kills and 15 digs.

Adam Fridley had 14 kills for the Eagles.

Canyon del Oro High School scoring machine Nick Marshall led the Dorados to the school's first-ever boys soccer state championship, earning him 2009 Tucson Citizen Boys Soccer PLayer of the Year honors.

Boys Player of the Year

WHO: Nick Marshall, Sr., Canyon del Oro High School

WHAT HE DID: Marshall led the Dorados to their first boys soccer state championship.

Marshall, who has given a verbal commitment to play in college at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, scored 39 goals this season along with 12 assists.

Marshall also served as the place-kicker for the past two seasons for Canyon del Oro’s football team.

QUOTABLE: “This is pretty big. It’s nice everyone is following me through my soccer career,” Marshall said of family and friends who have been a part of his high school soccer career. “It puts more pressure on me. I’ve got to be a better player going into college.”

Boys Coach of the Year

WHO: Roxanne Taylor, Rincon/University

WHAT SHE DID: Taylor coached the Rangers to their third-consecutive boys soccer state championship game – the past two in Class 5A Division II and one in Class 4A Division I in 2007.

Rincon finished with a 19-6 overall record and won the 5A-II Southern Region championship, earning the No. 3 seed in the 5A-II state tournament.

With a 1-0 win over Nogales on Jan. 6, Rincon put Taylor in elite company, handing the coach her 300th-career coaching victory.

QUOTABLE: “I’m really proud of the accomplishments,” Taylor said. “I always have to put it back on the team. If I didn’t have great players, then I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m lucky every year we get better and better players.”

FIRST TEAM

F Donny Toia, Jr., Canyon del Oro

F Nick Marshall, Sr., CDO

F Mihn Vu, Sr., Rincon/University

MF Colin Anderson, Sr., Rinc./Univ.

MF Jann Nash, Sr., Sabino

MF Tony Lopez, Sr., Douglas

MF Fabian Romero, Jr., Sunnyside

D Phillip Porter, Sr., Salpointe

D Conner Muir, Sr., Canyon del Oro

D Abi Del Castillo, Sr., Douglas

GK Martin Encinas, Sr., Tucson High

SECOND TEAM

F J.C. Henson, Sr., Buena

F Ramon Acosta, Sr., Douglas

MF Blake Brennan, Jr., Salpointe

MF Joe Caito, Sr., Tucson High

MF Mike Valacich, Sr., CDO

D/F Rajiv Morales, Sr., Sunnyside

D Oscar Ortega, Jr., Sunnyside

D Niko Dougall, Jr., Salpointe

D Liam Beatty, Sr., Sabino

D Brice Nzeukou, Sr., Rincon/Univ.

GK Michael D’Arrigo, Sr., Cat. Foot.

HONORABLE MENTION

BUENA: Josh Rieffer, Declan Fulton. CDO: Ronald Tadoum, Eric Edwards. CATALINA: Mario Moraga, Ramon Vega. CAT. FOOTHILLS: Garrett Brown, Bryan English, Kyle Larson. CHOLLA: Rocky Farruggia. CIENEGA: Matt Cahill. DOUGLAS: Francisco Cruz, Jesus Cuevas, Ricky Smith, Martin Paco. IRON. RIDGE: Ben Ambrosio. MTN VIEW: Nick Peppe. PALO VERDE: Assani Igulu. PUEBLO: David Quevedo. PUSCH RIDGE: Matt Horrigan, Mitch Woody, Casey Vick. RINCON/UNIVERSITY: Fernando Mendez, Jeff Amlee, Tyler Heffernan, Lorenzo Portugal. SABINO: Paul Neff, Chase Ronsman, Jeff Weiler, Alex Elenas-Long. SAHUARITA: Eddie Maynard. SAHUARO: Dan Bacon, Zach Winans. SALPOINTE: Sergio Carrillo, Dylan Kelly. SUNNYSIDE: Ricardo Velazco. TUCSON HIGH: Jorge Bravo, Chris Marrone.

Rincon/University boys soccer coach Roxanne Taylor won her 300th career game this year and is the Tucson Citizen Boys Soccer Coach of the Year.

The Tucson High School baseball team won in dramatic fashion against visiting Sierra Vista Buena on Friday.

Facing a 3-0 count, senior Kenny Sigman hit a two-run, game-winning homer off Danny Ferris in the bottom of the seventh for a 7-5 victory.

Junior Cesar Batista led off the inning with a single and scored what proved to be the winning run.

Sigman, hitting in the No. 6 spot, finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Alan Garcia, a senior, helped the Badgers’ cause by going 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Bryant Muñoz, Shane Cohen and Garcia each hit a triple for the Badgers.

Sahuaro 7, Apache Junction 1: Michael Rodriguez pitched a gem for the Cougars, giving up only a bunt single. He had four walks and struck out three batters.

Jake Cole went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs.

Rio Rico 7, Desert View 3: Jesus Lizarraga went 2 for 3, hitting a double and a triple in the Jaguars’ loss.

Softball

Kaylee Prichet helped Sahuaro improved to 10-4 with a 2-0 win over Apache Junction on Friday.

Prichet finished with a three-hit shutout with no walks and two strikeouts.

Morgan McKeever and Rebecca Mullin each hit a double for Sahuaro.

Sabino 10, Goodyear Millennium 0: Junior Kaity Sitzman earned her fifth win of the season, pitching a two-hit shutout.

Freshman Shelby Mendoza provided plenty of offense hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning. Brandi Owens also homered for the Sabercats.

Boys tennis

Sahuaro was dominant against Desert View in a 9-0 win.

The closest match was the No. 6 singles competition as Sahuaro’s John Carroll defeated Lucas Rodriguez 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (11-9) and 10-5 in the tiebreaker.

The Sahuarita baseball team pulled off a tough win at home against Mountain View on Tuesday afternoon.

With the game tied 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Sahuarita outfielder Leo Sierra drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Tony Hildebrand for the winning run. Hildebrand led off the seventh with a double.

Dax Hall helped the Sahuarita cause, hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning when Sahuarita trailed 7-4.

Sahuaro 9, Phoenix Paradise Valley 3: At Phoenix, Jake Cole was a part of the Cougars’ 8-run second inning as he hit a bases loaded, two-RBI double.

Sahuaro batters drew 12 walks from Paradise Valley pitchers.

Nogales 11, Catalina 9: At Catalina, the Trojans scored five runs in the seventh inning but came up short.

Catalina’s Frankie Daniel hit two home runs and had five RBIs.

Tanque Verde 5, Patagonia 1: At Tanque Verde, senior pitcher Josh King struck out 18 batters in a two-hit gem to help the Hawks improve to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the 1A South Region.

Mark Harris got it done at the plate with a pair of doubles and a triple, while teammate Ryan Rogers added two doubles.

Salpointe 12, Chandler Basha 6: At Salpointe, Jacob Hunter and Dan Slania each hit a home run to help the Lancers’ cause. Salpointe scored four runs each in the fifth and sixth innings.

Boys tennis

Catalina Foothills continued to display its dominance against Class 4A competition, defeating Sahuaro 8-1 on Tuesday.

Zack Haffor controlled his match with Shane Foster, beating him 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 1 singles match.

Andre Vieira won the only match for the Cougars after he defeated Mike Tringali. They split two sets, 6-3, 1-6; Vieira won the tiebreaker, 10-8.

High School Sports Editor Geoff Grammer contributed to this article.