Citizen Staff Writer
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS
CHRISTOPHER VECK
sports@tucsoncitizen.com
PEORIA – Anthem Boulder Creek mounted a sixth- inning rally Tuesday, coming from behind to beat Sunnyside 4-3 in the Class 5A Division II softball tournament.
“It’s the old cliche,” Sunnyside coach Pete Palomarez said. “Somebody’s got to win, somebody’s got to lose. It just didn’t happen. The better team won today.”
Sunnyside was one of three southern Arizona teams to end their seasons in Class 5A tournaments in the Phoenix-area Tuesday. Salpointe and Sierra Vista Buena were eliminated from the 5A-I tournament.
Going into the fifth with a 3-1 lead, Blue Devil pitcher Mari Contreras loaded the bases but got out of the mess, allowing just one Boulder Creek run.
In the sixth, Boulder Creek’s Tara Wright, who had three hits and three RBIs in the game, tied the score 3-3 with an RBI. With, with the bases loaded again, Contreras hit Boulder Creek’s Melissa Dewitt, bringing in the game-winning run.
Boulder Creek pitcher Michelle Orr kept the Devils’ hitters in check the rest of the afternoon.
“We were off balance all game,” Palomarez said. “We couldn’t figure her out.”
Contreras started the game strong, but Boulder Creek’s patient bats were able to overcome solid pitching. Contreras struck out nine and walked three.
Sunnyside took a 2-1 lead in the second inning off a two-RBI single from Jenessa Martinez.
Sunnyside catcher Desaray Akins hit the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double to right-centerfield, driving in the Blue Devils’ final run.
“We didn’t play well the last couple of games, but that’s not going to take away from the great season we had,” Palomarez said.
Class 5A Division I
No. 6 Salpointe fell to No. 2 Phoenix St. Mary’s 3-0 on Tuesday at Tempe Marcos de Niza High School, ending the year with a 26-10 record. No. 4 Sierra Vista Buena lost 2-0 to No. 1 Mesa Red Mountain, ending the year with a 25-9 record.