Citizen Staff Report
THE FINAL EDITION

Even without a major professional sports team, Tucson can make the
case for being a sports town – thanks to success at the college and
high school levels and a climate that draws major events. Some
highlights:

KING LUTE

Athletic director Cedric Dempsey lured Lute Olson from Iowa in 1983 to rebuild Arizona basketball. Olson did much more, putting UA on the national radar before retiring. His legacy – 589 wins, 23 straight NCAA tourneys, a national title in 1997, 4 Final Fours, 11 Pac-10 titles, 33 NBA-drafted players – will be tough for new coach Sean Miller to follow.

‘THE STREAK’

In basketball, it’s UA’s 25 straight NCAA tourneys, but football fans won’t forget the Wildcats’ 8-0-1 mark over Arizona State from 1982-90, started by the late coach Larry Smith. “The Streak” took the sting out of UA being on probation for a slush fund by ex-coach Tony Mason, and it turned around a rivalry that saw ASU go 15-2 from 1965-81.

‘FOX’ WHO BUILT McKALE

The late Fred “The Fox” Snowden, the first African-American Division 1 basketball coach, ushered in McKale Center with the “Kiddie Corps” – Coniel Norman, Eric Money, Al Fleming, Jim Rappis and Bob Elliott. They took UA to its first NCAA tourney in 1976. Story, Page 6C

SPRING TRAINING

From Hi Corbett Field to Tucson Electric Park, spring training has boosted our economy and prepared three World Series champs: Cleveland (1948), Diamondbacks (2001) and White Sox (2005) and a runner-up, Colorado (2007). In 1975, the Indians’ Frank Robinson became the first African-American to manage a big-league team. But with the White Sox now in Glendale, the future is unclear.

HIGH SCHOOL DYNASTIES

In 1999, Tucson High became the nation’s first school to earn 500 victories in football and 1,000 wins each in baseball and boys basketball. Then there’s Sunnyside wrestling: 12 straight state team titles, 28 overall. Other dynasties: Amphi football, Canyon del Oro baseball/softball, Salpointe tennis and Catalina Foothills swimming/tennis.

‘DESERT SWARM’

Coach Dick Tomey unveiled his run-stopping defense in 1992, led by Tedy Bruschi, and the Wildcats went on to upset No. 1 Washington and beat Miami 29-0 in the Fiesta Bowl and earn Sports Illustrated’s preseason No. 1 ranking in 1994. The success helped recruiting, which led to a 12-1 season in 1998 and a Holiday Bowl win over Nebraska.

PROFESSIONAL GOLF

Ray Magnum edged Byron Nelson to win the first PGA Tour event here in 1945 at El Rio. His prize: $1,000. When Tiger Woods won the 2008 Accenture Match Play title in Marana, he took home $1.35 million! The Tucson Open rose to fame in the 1970s at Tucson National, thanks to three-time winner Johnny Miller and NBC.

RISE OF SOFTBALL

No UA team has dominated more than Mike Candrea’s softball squad: eight NCAA titles since 1991 and 21 College World Series in 22 years. From pitchers Susie Parra to Jennie Finch to Taryne Mowatt, the Wildcats have made Tucson a softball hub and energized the high school scene.

JERRY’S KIDS

Coach Jerry Kindall guided UA to its first major NCAA team title in the 1976 College World Series. The Cats captured two more NCAA crowns in 1980 and 1986, led by Terry Francona and Chip Hale, respectively. Francona managed the Red Sox to two World Series titles, and ex-UA star Trevor Hoffman is baseball’s all-time saves leader.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE BASEBALL

From 1915 to 1958, Tucson boasted minor league teams like the Cowboys and Lizards. But it wasn’t until 1969, when the Triple-A Toros made their PCL debut, that fans got a chance to see future major league stars at Hi Corbett. The Toros won titles in ’91 and ’93 before the Sidewinders took over in 1997 at TEP and won the 2006 title. They left for Reno after 2008, but the independent Toros are back.

Citizen Staff Writer
UA TRACK

BRYAN LEE

brylee@tucsoncitizen.com

The form was perfect, a classic shot-putter’s spin.

Face the rear of the circle, twist around the left foot, drive the right into the middle of the circle, reach for the front with the left foot and twist the hip and shoulders.

Finally, heave the iron ball and let loose with a primal scream.

Zack Lloyd’s shot landed with a thud of dust a few yards short of the “end zone,” the dirt beyond the 20-meter boundary.

Another training throw. Lots of application and movement but no threat to the man’s 69-foot (21 meters) personal best.

“I never look for it (the 20-meter mark),” Lloyd said. “I just concentrate on what I have to do.”

Lloyd is saving his deepest gut check for “the show,” his last NCAA Championships, which will be held next month.

He’s also busy watching his wife, Nicole, also a senior Arizona shot put and discus thrower. It’s not uncommon for the track and field pros to have a husband-wife combo, but it’s very rare in college.

For Zack to Nicole, it’s more appreciation than advice.

“My job is to keep her happy, not coach her, to give her positive reinforcement, keep her focused,” he said, citing a golden rule of domestic harmony.

The two have different technical styles born of the “spin” moves for shot and discus as opposed to the “glide,” in which one swings the launch leg (left for a right-hander) and violently swings the body toward the target.

“I’m very technically conscious,” said Nicole, who favors the discus, “and it’s been tough since I went to the spin (move) at UA. It took a long time.

“I’m a late bloomer at UA. My trouble used to be sitting around thinking too much.”

Zack is more of pure power thrower.

They met at high school track and field meets. Zack, originally from Redding, Calif., was at White Pine High, in Ely, Nev., and Nicole in the Salt Lake City suburb of Bountiful. They began dating when Zach was a freshman at Utah State in Logan and Nicole at the University of Utah.

They both attended and competed at Mesa Community College before coming to UA last year after mutual friend Craig Carter joined the UA staff in 2007.

“We were married in seven months,” Nicole said. “Fast, I guess an LDS thing.”

Nicole is a Mormon, Zach is not, but Zach said there relationship is “not so much religion, (but) a Utah thing.”

Zack, 6 feet 2 and 305 pounds, is a three-time All-American and Nicole earned her first All-American honor in the NCAA Indoor Championships this year with a shot put mark of 52-3 1/4. Her best for the outdoor season is 49-4 in a qualification for the NCAA regionals, set for May 29 at Eugene, Ore.

Her career bests are 170-1 in the discus and 52-5 in shot put.

Zack has a regional qualification mark this year of 157-8 for the discus.

The two have big plans for the future.

“Our goal is to own a gym somewhere,” Zack said.

Not some sterile, glossy works but a nice, nasty sweat place with lots of echoes and clanging.

“Real old-time style,” he said.

Lloyds exerting maximum efforts for the Wildcats

Citizen Staff Writer

KEN BRAZZLE

kbrazzle@tucsoncitizen.com

Tucson no longer has the Triple-A Sidewinders, but that hasn’t stopped the Tucson Toros from having a relationship with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Toros and Diamondbacks announced a two-game exhibition schedule Thursday. The Toros will compete against D’backs players who are in extended spring training.

The first game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday; the second will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Admission is free to both games.

The contests will be at Hi Corbett Field, 3400 E. Camino Campestre.

“This is definitely going to let me see what kind of talent we have and what kind of players because you’re playing in a competitive situation,” Toros manager Tim Johnson said.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ll be able to, and the coaches will be able to, see what we have. I think it’s great.

“I want to play as many of these games as I can.”

Ex-Toros manager Bob Didier (1987-89), who manages the D’backs’ extended spring training, was instrumental in getting the exhibition games scheduled.

“(Didier) has been a great baseball guy for a long time and his father, Mel Didier, is like a father to me,” Johnson said.

Didier sees advantages for both sides.

“We’re looking forward to the games because we’re playing older veterans,” Didier said. “It will be good experience for the guys.”

Tucson opens its independent Golden Baseball League schedule with a home game against the Chico (Calif.) Outlaws at 7 p.m. May 21.

Citizen Staff Writer
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

GEOFF GRAMMER

ggrammer@tucsoncitizen.com

By the time the scoreboard clock at the University of Arizona’s Hillenbrand Stadium flipped to 7:04 p.m., just 34 minutes into the Class 4A Division I softball semifinal game between Cienega and Catalina Foothills, the game appeared over.

So much so that the outfield sprinklers came on.

With top-seeded Cienega up 7-1 in the bottom of the second inning, the resulting five-minute delay in play merely put off the inevitable Thursday night.

Despite No. 12 Foothills’ scrappy effort, Cienega won 11-4 to advance to Saturday’s championship game against Canyon del Oro.

“I expected us to come out strong on offense and I know we were ready,” said junior pitcher Alexa Cash. “I know we’re ready to face anybody.”

The win sets up a highly-anticipated championship showdown at Hillenbrand between No. 1 Cienega (27-6) and No. 2 CDO (32-2) at 6 p.m.

CDO, the two-time defending state champion ranked No. 5 in nation by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, lost to Cienega on March 30, 1-0.

It is Cienega’s first softball title game. CDO has played in seven, winning five, including the past two.

Despite Cienega earning the tournament’s No. 1 seed, the Bobcats know that as long as the nation’s No. 1-ranked player, Kenzie Fowler, is pitching for CDO, the Dorados are the favorite.

“Everybody is an underdog with CDO,” Tatham said. “We have much respect for CDO . . . but we don’t care who the opponent is. We always talk about if we play our game, we can get the job done. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.”

Cash had an uncharacteristically average pitching performance, but she still did most of the damage for the Bobcats on Thursday.

Cash allowed a season-high eight hits, but didn’t walk anyone and struck out 10.

And Cash had three of her team’s 16 hits: an RBI double in the first inning, a solo home run over the left field wall in the second and an RBI single in the fourth.

Cienega led 11-1 at one stage.

“I just came out trying to do what was best for the team and get us a bigger lead,” Cash said.

Foothills put a first-inning scare into Cienega when a leadoff double by Elise Samoy-Alvarado set up Stephanie Carramusa’s RBI single to center field, giving the upset-minded Falcons a 1-0 lead.

“I wouldn’t be a coach if my heart didn’t go in my throat,” said Tatham of Foothills’ early lead, the first time Cienega had trailed this postseason.

The threat was quickly erased in the bottom of the first when Cienega batted around and took a 6-1 lead off six hits and a pair of Foothills’ errors.

Trailing 11-1 with two outs in the top of the fifth, Carramusa extended the game, and avoided the five-inning, 10-run mercy rule, with a two-RBI single. Foothills scored again later in the inning to pull within 11-4, a more respectable score than the 20-2 loss it suffered to Cienega on April 2.

“Coming off those two (playoff upset) wins to get us to this point, the girls were flying high and we just ran into a buzz saw those first couple innings,” said Foothills coach Mark Brunenkant.

Locals win track titles

Lee Gundy’s first win in the 800-meter run was memorable. The Mountain View runner won a Class 5A-II state championship in the event Thursday at Chandler High School.

Ironwood Ridge’s Sarah Miville won the girls 3,200-meter race and will look to do the same Saturday in the 1,600.

Go to www.tucsoncitizen.com/tcvarsity for more from Thursday’s 5A-II state track meet.

Freelance
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

CHRISTOPHER VECK

sports@tucsoncitizen.com

PHOENIX – Kenzie Fowler continued her domination of Arizona high school softball and extended her high school career one final game.

No. 2 Canyon del Oro defeated No. 3 Scottsdale Chaparral 6-0 at Rose Mofford Park on Thursday, giving the Dorados a spot in Saturday’s Class 4A Division I state championship.

Fowler allowed two hits and struck out 15 with no walks, ending a four-game no-hitter streak that earned her ESPN Rise Magazine National High School Athlete of the Week honors earlier in the day.

“As a team, we were ready from the first inning,” said Fowler, who has struck out 74 in the past five games. “When you are that focused, great things happen.”

Fowler improved to 14-1 in state playoff games, having lost in the 2006 state championship to Glendale Cactus as a freshman. Her CDO career record is 104-8.

Chaparral pitcher Rae Ball kept the Firebirds in the game, allowing four hits and one run – a third-inning RBI by Kayla Henry – until the sixth frame, when the Dorados’ offense caught up with her.

CDO (32-2) knocked in five runs off six hits. Taylor Watkins batted in two; Lindsey Weldon, Valerie Mendoza and Felicia Devine each hit in one.

“As a pitcher that’s huge,” Fowler said. “You can’t really ask for anything else when your team steps up that big.”

The run support took any possible seventh-inning pressure off of the star pitcher. Fowler promptly struck out the final three.

“We always want to slam the door on the other team as quickly as we can,” CDO head coach Amy Swiderski said. “It was not only momentum for this game, but it was momentum taking us into the next game.”

CDO will face No. 1 Cienega at University of Arizona Hillenbrand Stadium on Saturday at 6 p.m., giving Fowler, who signed to play for the Wildcats, an opportunity to pitch her final high school game where she’ll pitch for the next four years.

“There’s nothing better,” Swiderski said. “We have all these kids (who) have been growing up dreaming about playing on that field. How cool is that?”

It won’t be easy. Cienega beat CDO 1-0 at Cienega on March 30.

In the game, Fowler threw a one-hitter. The run was unearned.

High school sports editor Geoff Grammer contributed to this article.

4A-I SOFTBALL TITLE GAME

Who: No. 1 Cienega (27-6) vs. No. 2 Canyon del Oro (32-2)

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: UA’s Hillenbrand Stadium

Citizen Staff Writer
NCAA SOFTBALL

BRYAN LEE

brylee@tucsoncitizen.com

During UA softball team practice sessions at Hillenbrand Stadium this week, Jenae Leles tried not to get too sentimental about the soothing confines.

When she looked around the stadium, there was a pang of regret.

“Just one more (game),” yearns the slugging senior Arizona third baseman, whose team faces Tennessee-Martin in Louisville, Ky., on Friday in an NCAA Tournament regional game.

Proper home season closure was denied the Wildcats. The squad never imagined it would play its last game at Hillenbrand on April 26.

The Pac-10 schedule made UA play its last seven regular season games on the road.

And then the NCAA decision denying the Wildcats’ bid to host an NCAA Tournament regional had them feeling cheated.

For Leles, who has 22 of the team’s NCAA record-tying 126 homers, many of them the skyshot variety, it’s a bittersweet affair.

Sweet because she can hardly ask for a more fruitful senior year; bitter for obvious reasons.

“You know, we’re still hoping we get (to host) a super regional,” she says. “That would next be fantastic.”

The notion might put some extra zing in the Wildcat bats as they go through the Louisville Regional this weekend. It could be a good chip on the shoulder to have.

UA has hit the long balls all year, but it’s not what the team focuses on.

“We never try to hit home runs,” Leles said. “That’s not what we’re taught. Our purpose is to drive the ball, make contact. We’ve been drilled with that from the beginning.”

Leles’ dad, John, played tennis at UA.

Leles, from Sacramento, Calif., said she could hardly believe her fortune when UA offered her the chance to join the tradition. Today she admits it’s a lot better to be wearing the red and blue then not.

“I don’t know if playing against Arizona is as intimidating now as it might have been. There is parity in softball,” she said. “But you like to think we still get people to be emotional about playing us. For us, we have to match it.”

Work with physical trainers allowed Leles to bloom into a power hitter.

Her home runs increased by five this year after she led the team with 17 a year ago.

She’s a problem for opposing pitchers because of her strength and the way she owns the plate. She’s taken an appropriate number of bruises for the Cats by being hit by pitches.

Whatever is needed.

Launching balls for homers has made fans notice her, but she wants her game to be grounded: make the tough plays at third base, take a pitch in the ribs when needed, stay consistent.

Arizona has had a different aura this year compared to others, because offense is the team’s strength.

But the pitching has come around in recent weeks.

“We work all year to peak (in) the postseason,” said Leles, who will play National Fast Pitch pro ball with the Rockford (Ill.) Thunder after her UA career.

“Pitching and defense . . . We’re always learning.”

NCAA SOFTBALL

UA’s games in the Louisville Regional won’t be on TV, but will be on 1290 AM. Go to www.tucsoncitizen.com/ua_softball for recaps and analysis.

Friday – Game 1: ARIZONA (41-14) vs. Tennessee-Martin (38-22), 1 p.m. Game 2: Louisville (47-9) vs. Purdue (29-18), 3 p.m.

Saturday – Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 a.m. Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9 a.m. Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, noon

Sunday – Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 11 a.m. Game 7: Repeat, if needed, 1 p.m.

Citizen Staff Report
HIGH SCHOOL STATE PLAYOFFS

Citizen Staff Report

It will be an all-Tucson final four Friday in the Class 4A/5A Division II boys volleyball tournament, but one team not making the cut is three-time defending state champion Catalina Foothills.

Sahuaro, Rincon/University, Catalina and Ironwood Ridge won quarterfinal matches, including Ironwood Ridge’s road upset of Foothills in four games to hand the Falcons their first state tournament loss in more than three years.

In track, University of Arizona football recruit Ryan Milus tied a state record in the 100 meters in 10.33 seconds on Day 1 of 2 at the 5A-I track championship at Chandler high School.

In baseball, Canyon del Oro beat Cienega and is the lone southern Arizona team remaining in the big school playoffs.

Thursday’s HS playoff schedule

Softball

• 4A-I semifinals: No. 12 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 1 Cienega, at Hillenbrand Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

• 4A-I semifinals: No. 3 Scottsdale Chaparral vs. No. 2 Canyon del Oro, at Rose Mofford Softball Complex in Phoenix, 6:30 p.m.

Track

• 5A-II preliminary heats: at Chandler High School, 4:15 p.m.

Citizen Staff Report
RealFAST SCORES AND MORE

Citizen Staff Report

Arizona placed three players on the All-Pacific 10 softball team: sophomores Stacie Chambers (catcher) and outfielder Brittany Lastrapes (outfielder) and senior Jenae Leles (third base).

Junior shortstop K’Lee Arredondo and senior first baseman Sam Banister earned second-team honors, while designated player Lini Koria and second baseman Kristen Arriola were named to the all-freshman team.

On the honorable mention team were junior pitcher Sarah Akamine, sophomore outfielder Lauren Schutzler and Koria. Outfielder Karissa Buchanan was all-freshman honorable mention.

Lastrapes and Leles were repeat first-team picks.

The Pac-10 named ASU’s Kaitlin Cochrane athlete of the year. Other top players were Washington’s Danielle Lawrie (pitcher), Stanford’s Ashley Hansen (freshman), Stanford’s Rosey Neill (defense) and UCLA’s Kelly Inouye-Perez (coach).

• Cats start another NCAA journey, 1A

Citizen Staff Writer

JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Marana High grad Ryan Perry is a reliever for the Detroit Tigers – less than a year after helping pitch the University of Arizona to the super-regional of the NCAA Tournament.

Former UA reliever Mark Melancon made it to the big leagues with the New York Yankees before being sent back down last week for – of all players – Alex Rodriguez.

Ex-Wildcat Nick Hundley is the starting catcher for the San Diego Padres, while former UA outfielder Brian Anderson is working his way back from the disabled list for the Chicago White Sox.

They are just a few of the players UA coaches are using as recruiting bait to improve the future of a team sitting in eighth place in the Pac-10 with a 25-23 record. The Wildcats, trying to make a late run to reach the postseason, face Washington at home Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

“How is my son going to develop? That’s a question we get a lot from parents,” UA coach Andy Lopez said. “We mention guys like Perry and Melancon and guys I had at Florida. It’s an important question in the recruiting process.”

UA has had 37 players drafted since 2003, with many on the verge of joining Perry, Hundley and Anderson in the majors.

Shortstop Jason Donald (Philadelphia), pitcher Brad Mills (Toronto), outfielder Trevor Crowe (Cleveland), pitcher John Meloan (Cleveland) and first baseman Jordan Brown (Cleveland) are all seeing time at the Triple-A level.

Lopez gets the credit, but he passes along the praise to chief recruiting assistant Mark Wasikowski.

“Waz has done a great job in recruiting. My assistants have done a marvelous job. We have not messed them up and they have developed,” Lopez said. “And really, none of those guys came in here as (guaranteed) first or second-round picks.”

Lopez developed major leaguers David Eckstein, Mark Ellis, Brad Wilkerson, David Ross, Ryan Shealy and Josh Fogg while at Florida before arriving at Arizona.

Perry leapfrogged through the Tigers organization to quickly make it to “The Show,” but Lopez remembers his first few days at UA being rough.

“We were working together in the pen, and he’s looking at me like I am talking a foreign language. Holy smokes, I am thinking I need an interpreter,” Lopez said. “Four year later, he’s in the big leagues.”

Perry entered this week with an 0-1 record in 12 1/3 innings for the Tigers. He’s allowed four earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking 11 in 13 games.

“I’m not surprised by his talent,” Lopez said. “He has a gorgeous delivery. He’s young and really eager to get better.”

As for Hundley, he’s established himself as an offensive weapon for the Padres and a solid catcher for a promising pitching staff.

“A good makeup (character) and work ethic will get you somewhere. Nick is proof of that,” Lopez said. “His work ethic is off the charts. He gets behind there and runs the show.”

Hundley is batting .263 through 22 games, with 8 RBIs and a homer.

Anderson, a former first-round pick of the White Sox in 2003, is a backup outfielder for Chicago but has been on the disabled list with a strained side muscle.

He’s beginning to take part in light batting practice, and could be back with the club by next week.

Anderson has developed a reputation for his defensive skills, but he must improve on his .227 career average. He was hitting .288 before going on the DL.

Potential arm issues dropped Melancon to the ninth round of the 2006 draft, but he was one of college baseball’s top closers from 2004-06.

Lopez told anybody who would listen not to worry about Melancon’s health or determination.

The Yankees listened. It took a few years, but Melancon made his first major league appearance a couple of weeks ago, shutting out Boston for two innings.

Melancon walked five in 3.1 innings, however, and was sent down to Triple-A Scranton-/Wilkes-Barre. He’s hoping to make it back to New York soon.

“I told the Yankees scouts when his arm was hurting that I would sign this guy in a heartbeat,” Lopez said.

“Mark would will himself to the big leagues,” the coach added. “Not for one second was I surprised he (made it).”

WILDCATS DRAFTED

Arizona has had 37 players picked in the baseball draft since Andy Lopez took over in 2003:

Year No.

2003 4

2004 3

2005 8

2006 4

2007 7

2008 11

Washington (23-25, 12-9) at Arizona (25-23, 8-13)

Saturday: 7 p.m.

Sunday: 6 p.m.

Monday: noon

• Games at Sancet Stadium, 1290 AM

Citizen Staff Writer
LOUISVILLE REGIONAL

BRYAN LEE

brylee@tucsoncitizen.com

The Arizona softball team got five minutes Sunday to grouse about not getting to host an NCAA regional.

Then the Wildcats were instructed by coach Mike Candrea to “let it go.”

Arizona was sent to Louisville, Ky., where it opens against Tennessee-Martin on Friday.

“You have to get over the anger,” said UA senior third baseman Jenae Leles, who is second on the team in home runs (22).

There are other immediate matters at hand, like facing the postseason with peak performance and synchronizing all those necessary cylinders – namely pitching and defense to go with the team’s powerful offense.

The next homer by UA will break the NCAA – and school – season record of 126 dingers.

There are variables to consider, such as the humidity. There’s also the fact UA will face opponents that, while not highly rated, are capable of sending the Wildcats home heartbroken.

Leles, whose power shots are legend, said criticism that the Cats are just a bomber team is passe.

“I think we have proved the last few weeks that we can win with pitching and defense, too,” she said. “It’s all a matter of coming together.”

If Arizona tradition still intimidates foes, parity in college softball has diminished it.

“Our job, especially in the postseason, is to get higher than the emotional level of a team we play,” Leles said. “Tradition, though, can motivate us.”

What hurts the most for the seniors is they weren’t prepared to have their season end at home before May, as the weird 2009 schedule demanded.

“But there is still a chance that we can host the super regional next week,” Leles said.

In the meantime, politics means nothing on the field.

“Coach told us to get used to (politics),” she said. “It’s not so much we see it in softball but more than we will see it in life.”

LOUISVILLE REGIONAL

Friday

Game 1: UA vs. Tennessee-Martin

Game 2: Louisville vs. Purdue

Saturday

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner

Sunday

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner

Game 7: Same teams (if necessary)

Citizen Staff Writer

GEOFF GRAMMER

ggrammer@tucsoncitizen.com

As the state’s all-time winningest high school football coach, Amphi’s Vern Friedli has plenty of victories he can look back on fondly.

To be precise, he has 309.

“But there isn’t a sweeter feeling we ever had than those bus rides down Oracle Road after upsetting CDO,” said Friedli, whose Panthers beat Canyon del Oro 22 times in Friedli’s 33 seasons of coaching at Amphi.

CDO has won the last five games between the two schools, including the past three in lopsided fashion, but it was still one of Tucson’s longest standing football rivalries.

That ended Tuesday when the 2009 football schedule was released. For the first time since 1968, Amphi and CDO won’t play football against each other.

“It’s a shame,” Friedli said.

While Amphi’s enrollment, and in turn student participation in football, has plummeted since Ironwood Ridge High opened earlier this decade, CDO has developed into one of the state’s top Class 4A programs.

“It was pretty heated my first couple years and Amphi just completely dominated the rivalry,” said former CDO coach Pat Nugent, who now coaches Pima Community College.

“I know that Ironwood Ridge opening really hurt Amphi and the fact of the matter is it just hasn’t been that much of a rivalry recently.”

Friedli acknowledges his program’s drop in numbers in recent years has hurt the program, pointing out there were eight starters on either Ironwood Ridge or CDO who attended middle school within Amphi High’s boundaries. That was before open enrollment allowed students to go to any one of the three schools in the Amphi district.

“You give us back eight starters last year and we’re a hell of a lot more competitive,” said Friedli, whose team went 6-5 and qualified for the 4A Division II playoffs. “But that’s not how it is anymore. Now, like we’ve always done, we’ll play the hand we’re dealt.”

Amphi returned to the playoffs in 2008, but its less-than-typical record in previous years began hurting CDO’s power ranking points, the system used to seed the state tournament that rewards teams for playing tough opponents.

The more wins your opponents have, the higher your power ranking.

In place of the annual CDO/Amphi game, CDO will play Ironwood Ridge. The two teams have only played three times, but it is one of the area’s best budding rivalries.

“Getting them to open things up, I can tell you the kids are already excited about that game,” CDO first-year coach Dustin Peace said.

While CDO/Amphi is no more for the season, that doesn’t mean there will be a shortage of strong matchups for the 2009 season among Tucson-area teams.

Here is a look at 15 games with intriguing storylines this fall:

Sabino at Sahuaro (Aug. 27)

Scott McKee’s first game as Sahuaro head coach will be tough. He faces a powerful Sabino team he starred for in the 1990s. Of course, that was long before Sabino beat Sahuaro by a combined 143-19 the past three seasons.

Ironwood Ridge at CDO (Aug. 28)

Ironwood Ridge and CDO are two of the best teams in Tucson and will be breaking in new head coaches in the season opener with Matt Johnson (Ironwood Ridge) and Dustin Peace (CDO). The teams have only played three times, but it’s hard not to call this one of the area’s best rivalries and the Dorados are still looking for payback for the Nighthawks beating them twice in 2006, including in the state playoffs.

CDO at Santa Rita (Sept. 4)

Two of Tucson’s best teams over the past two years go at it. Santa Rita coach Jeff Scurran coached at CDO from 1984-86.

Santa Rita at Sabino (Sept. 11)

Scurran returns as opposing coach at Sabino, where he was one of the state’s most dominant coaches in the 1990s, winning three state championships.

Salpointe at Ironwood Ridge (Sept. 25)

Salpointe took a perfect record into the Ironwood Ridge game in 2008 before the Nighthawks thumped the Lancers 41-14.

Scottsdale Saguaro at CDO (Oct. 2)

A rematch of the 2007 4A-I state title thriller. Saguaro has been as dominant as anyone in Arizona for three years, going 41-1 with three state titles. In its current 33-game win streak, nobody put a scare into Saguaro quite like CDO did at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2007, when Saguaro hit a game-winning field goal with two seconds remaining.

Salpointe at Chandler Hamilton (Oct. 9)

Salpointe trades in a series with one 5A-I powerhouse, Phoenix Brophy, for one with Chandler Hamilton, the state’s top college recruiting factory.

Amphi at Santa Rita (Oct. 16)

Anytime Friedli and Scurran go at it, it’s fun to watch. Amphi put one heck of a scare into the Eagles in 2008 and, short of a win, it’s hard to imagine anything that makes Friedli more happy than making Scurran sweat.

Cholla at Rio Rico (Oct. 16)

Both teams struggled through 0-10 seasons in 2008. While I don’t think it will happen again, it’s nice to know winless seasons for both won’t happen again in 2009.

Ironwood Ridge at Sunnyside (Oct. 23)

The two teams have played four times the past two seasons, splitting 2-2 and not having a game determined by more than a touchdown in the span. Sunnyside ended the Nighthawks’ season in the 2007 5A-II playoffs. Ironwood Ridge returned the favor in 2008.

Flowing Wells at Catalina Foothills (Oct. 23)

First-year Flowing Wells coach Mark Brunenkant returns to Foothills, where he coached the Falcons for nine of the program’s 15 seasons.

Sunnyside at Salpointe (Nov. 6)

With Salpointe slapped with a postseason ban next year because of recruiting violations, this will be the Lancers’ final game of the season, but it isn’t as if added motivation is needed.

Cienega at Sahuaro (Nov. 6)

Former Sahuaro coaches Nemer Hassey, the head coach at Cienega, and Chuck McCollum, an offensive line coach at Cienega, return to play the Cougars.

Palo Verde at Santa Rita (Nov. 6)

This game has determined the 4A Gila Region title the past two seasons. Even without Adam Hall at Palo Verde, it could be a big test for Santa Rita.

Sabino at CDO (Nov. 6)

In its first year in the 4A Sonoran Region, the Sabercats could be playing CDO for the region title. Aside from the region implications, sought-after college recruits Sabino’s Keanu Nelson and CDO’s Josh Robbins will be winding down their senior seasons.

Citizen Staff Report
HIGH SCHOOL STATE PLAYOFFS

Citizen Staff Report

Kenzie Fowler did it again, tossing her fourth straight no-hitter to help Canyon del Oro High become one of three Tucson-area softball teams to advance in the Class 4A Division I playoffs Tuesday.

Fowler struck out 16 in an 8-0 win over Glendale Cactus, leading the Dorados into Thursday’s semifinal against Scottsdale Chaparral. The tournament’s No. 1 seed, Cienega, shut out visiting Scottsdale Saguaro 5-0 to advance to the semis against No. 12 Catalina Foothills, an 11-4 winner over No. 4 Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor.

Sunnyside, Sierra Vista Buena and Salpointe Catholic each had their seasons end in 5A tournament action.

More high school softball coverage, Page 4C

Wednesday’s playoffs

Baseball

• 4A-I quarterfinals: No. 5 Nogales vs. No. 4 Scottsdale Chaparral, at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 4 p.m.; No. 8 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 1 Glendale Cactus, at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 7 p.m.; No. 6 Cienega vs. No. 3 Canyon del Oro, at Hi Corbett Field, 7 p.m.

• 4A-II quarterfinals: No. 3 Sahuarita vs. No. 6 Phoenix Greenway, at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, 4 p.m.

Boys volleyball

• 4A/5A-I quarterfinals, 6:30 p.m.: No. 5 Gilbert Mesquite at No. 4 Salpointe, 6:30 p.m.

• 4A/5A-II quarterfinals, 6:30 p.m.: No. 8 Cienega at No. 1 Sahuaro; No. 5 Ironwood Ridge at No. 4 Catalina Foothills; No. 6 Tempe McClintock at No. 3 Catalina; No. 7 Phoenix S.D. O’Connor at No. 2 Rincon/University

Citizen Staff Writer
SNEAK PEEK AT COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON

ANTHONY GIMINO

agimino@tucsoncitizen.com

Spring football is all wrapped up, so the next thing in the college football calendar is the preview magazine season.

They’ll be coming soon – in some cases, later this month – to newsstands near you.

I’ve been doing my part, thoroughly immersed with production on Lindy’s six college football editions in the past couple of weeks, which means I know at least one thing: I absolutely can’t wait for the season to begin.

Here are 25 things – local, regional and national – to whet your appetite for the 2009 season . . . or at least until the magazines come out.

1. Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes took a trip in the offseason to visit with the staff of the Dallas Cowboys. The purpose: To study how it used tight end Jason Witten.

Dykes came back to Tucson with new ideas on how to involve junior tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“We took some of the stuff we saw with the Cowboys,” Dykes said. “We are trying to put it in our packages.”

2. Gronkowski is a Lindy’s second-team preseason All-American behind Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham, who surprisingly came back for his senior season.

3. I normally wouldn’t divulge Lindy’s No. 1 team, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out this season. It’s Florida.

Question is, who is No. 2 . . . Texas or Oklahoma? Or should that be Oklahoma or Texas?

4. Lindy’s picks the best of the decade in this year’s editions, and the question about the 2009 Gators is if they can become the team of the decade.

The champ in the clubhouse is 2001 Miami, which went undefeated, outscored opponents 512-117 and produced 15 first-round picks in the next three drafts.

5. I can’t wait to see how Salpointe Catholic graduate and former Arizona assistant Rich Ellerson does at Army. Ellerson made one of the most fascinating moves of the spring, switching starting left tackle Ali Villanueva (6 feet 10 inches, 283 pounds) to wide receiver.

Villanueva is expected to be a red-zone threat and serve as a heck of a blocker on screen passes.

6. Sure looks like a down year for the Pac-10, with eight of the teams having some sort of quarterback battle in the spring.

The only ones that didn’t were Oregon (Jeremiah Masoli) and Washington (Jake Locker, coming back from a thumb injury).

7. It figures: East Carolina junior Dustin Lineback is a . . . linebacker.

8. It doesn’t figure: Defensive back Miami Thomas plays for Illinois, running back Princeton McCarty plays for Idaho, Bob Toledo coaches Tulane, and the University of Washington doesn’t have anyone named Washington, although it does have a player named Houston, which is something Houston doesn’t have.

Running back Darius Marshall got it right. He plays for – you guessed it – Marshall.

9. Looking for a reason why the Big Ten flops in big games? It’s not because of speed at the skill positions; it’s because of speed and athleticism at defensive tackle.

Consider this: NFL teams have drafted 16 defensive tackles in the first round since 2004. None has been from the Big Ten.

10. The SEC, not deep in quarterbacks this season after Florida’s Tim Tebow and Mississippi’s Jevan Snead, is nonetheless the conference of elite quarterbacks. Five of the past 12 No. 1 overall draft picks have been SEC quarterbacks.

11. Salpointe Catholic graduate Kris O’Dowd, a junior at USC, is Lindy’s first-team preseason All-America center.

12. The middle of the Pac-10 is a jumbled mess. The top three are USC, Cal and Oregon. The bottom two are Washington and Washington State. Flip a coin for the teams in between, although Lindy’s picked Arizona fifth.

Lindy’s went with Oregon State at No. 4, because at least the Beavers have two quarterbacks they can win with – rehabbing Lyle Moevao (shoulder) and Sean Canfield. The rest of the Pac-10 middle has big questions at QB.

13. The ACC is 2-9 in BCS bowl games and has barely sniffed the national title since expansion. Blame a lack of skill: Of the past 29 first-round picks from the league, only four have been a quarterback, receiver or running back.

14. This year’s BCS buster: TCU.

15. Then again, if Boise State beats visiting Oregon on Sept. 3, who is going to stop the Broncos?

16. Arizona opens against Central Michigan on Sept. 5. The Chippewas are the pick to win the Mid-American Conference, and good-looking pro prospect Dan LeFevour is rated the eighth-best quarterback in the country, higher than anyone from the Pac-10.

17. Notre Dame isn’t in the preseason Top 25, but the Irish could get there because of an easy schedule and an offense that has a chance to be all grown up. Their receiving corps is a national top 10 group.

18. Florida’s defense is this good: The Gators have the nation’s top-rated defensive line, the second-rated linebackers and the top secondary.

19. And that Tebow guy is Lindy’s favorite to win the Heisman.

20. Alabama launched its 12-0 regular season in 2008 with a season-opening blasting of ACC favorite Clemson in Atlanta.

The Tide’s path is the same, a season opener in Atlanta vs. ACC favorite Virginia Tech.

21. Would it kill the Pac-10 to hold a coaches’ teleconference with the media in the spring like other major conferences?

22. Oklahoma State: Love ‘em or hate ‘em?

The Cowboys have the nation’s best trio of quarterback, receiver and running back. The defense hasn’t finished better than 74th nationally since 2001. Is that the right combination to challenge Oklahoma and Texas?

We might know after opening week. Georgia plays at Oklahoma State.

23. Steve Spurrier is still hoping Stephen Garcia is his long-awaited answer at quarterback for South Carolina.

But an SEC coach, speaking to Lindy’s on condition of anonymity, said this of the Gamecocks: “I don’t see them being a very good football team. And I wouldn’t be surprised if he (Spurrier) called it quits after this season.”

24. The Pac-10 has four players rated the best at their positions: O’Dowd, USC safety Taylor Mays, Cal running back Jahvid Best and UCLA kicker Kai Forbath.

25. A year from now, Tennessee, Miami, Notre Dame and Michigan could be back in the preseason Top 25. But not this summer.

Anthony Gimino’s e-mail:

agimino@tucsoncitizen.com

Citizen Staff Writer
UA BASEBALL

JOHN MOREDICH

jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com

Arizona shortstop Bryce Ortega had some empathy for Loyola Marymount on Monday, but not too much after UA rallied in the ninth for a 7-6 victory.

Ortega laid a sacrifice bunt down in the bottom of the ninth at Sancet Stadium, just trying to get Mike Weldon to second base.

Ortega got much more when Loyola pitcher John Lally retrieved the grounder, but threw wildly to first base.

The Lions went chasing after the ball in the right-field corner while Weldon sped home to tie the game and Ortega went to third with nobody out.

Brad Glenn eventually hit a walk-off sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Ortega after Dillon Baird and Jett Bandy were intentionally walked to load the bases.

“It was the easiest walk-off I’ve ever had,” Glenn said.

The Wildcats (25-23), lacking late-inning breaks all season, finally got one on Lally’s error.

“I feel bad for the other team. I’ve been in that boat walking back to the bus, but right now I don’t really care,” Ortega said.

Arizona swept the three-game series with the Lions. UA begins a home series against Washington on Saturday.

Weldon opened the home ninth by being hit by a pitch. Ortega had a drag bunt down the first base line. The throw to get him wasn’t close.

“I saw him jump and I said, ‘Oh God, it’s going down the line,’ then turned on the afterburners,” Ortega said.

The ninth-inning rally was only the second comeback the Wildcats have had all season. Glenn also drove in that winner with a two-run single for a 7-6 victory over USC on April 3.

The Wildcats, trailing 5-2 heading into the seventh inning Monday, were unable to get the big hit through most of the game, leaving runners in scoring position in the first, fifth, seventh and eighth.

Arizona didn’t need a hit in the ninth to prevail.

“It is good to get a win, although we didn’t hit the ball like we had in the past,” Glenn said. “The whole night was kind of dead with our bats. We were not hitting like we usually do, but we hung in there.”

Loyola Marymount starter Ramiro Carreon, who had a 5.31 ERA coming into the game, gave the Wildcats few good looks.

He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits, while striking out six and walking none.

The Wildcats’ biggest chance came in the fifth after Carreon retired 11 straight batters. Bobby Coyle and Hunter Pace reached with singles. Coyle scored on a Dwight Childs groundout to trim the deficit to 5-2.

Ortega singled and Baird was hit by a pitch to load the bases. But Bandy hit a harmless fly ball to right field to end the threat.

The Lions had a four-run first inning off starter Daniel Workman. The freshman, suffering from strep throat, lasted only two-thirds of an inning.

Angelo Songco highlighted the frame with a towering three-run homer. He also had a solo blast against Joe Allison in the third for a 5-1 Lions lead.

It was one of the few mistakes Allison made. The reliever kept the Lions under control, giving up four hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings. Jason Stoffel (2-1) picked up the win.

“Usually we are in the other end of these one-run losses,” Ortega said.

“(This) is a little gratifying.”

UA BASEBALL

Washington (23-24, 12-9) at Arizona (25-23, 8-13)

Saturday: 7 p.m. (1290 AM)

Sunday: 6 p.m. (1290 AM)

Monday: noon (1290 AM)

Citizen Staff Writer

BRYAN LEE

brylee@tucsoncitizen.com

As close to perfect as he dared to get in the maddening game of inches Monday, Matt Rosen relearned a valuable lesson.

“I know everybody says it, but you have to play each shot (one) at a time,” the former St. Gregory College Prep star said. “You have to be mentally into each shot.

“Well, I forgot it once. . . .”

And because of it, he missed a 2-foot putt on the Tucson Country Club par-3 No. 16 hole. At least no serious damage was done.

Rosen shot a 5-under-par 67 Monday to advance with five others – including two others with Tucson ties – to the sectional round of U.S. Open qualifying play.

Golfers doing well in the sectional round will advance to June’s U.S. Open.

Rosen, a regular member of the Phoenix-based Gateway minitour, forgot about the missed putt and got himself into the right frame of mind.

“It wasn’t easy,” he said of parring the next two holes.

“I hit a perfect approach and thought, ‘Well, let’s get out of here,’ ” he said.

Ryan Dillon of Desert Springs shot a 64 to lead the qualifiers, who also included recent former University of Arizona players Nathan Tyler (66) and Creighton Honeck (67), Chandler’s Andrew Yun and Mesa’s Andrew Augustyniak, who both won out in a six-player playoff after firing 68s.

Notable in the day’s play was the 31 of Salpointe Catholic High senior Ricky Lee on the second nine. He ended with 69, as did ex-Salpointe and UA Wildcat Brian Prouty, who missed a 6-foot putt by inches on No. 18.

Tyler has thrived on the Gateway, last year in Texas and this year in Phoenix, but is looking for his first win.

“We’re out here to peak in time for Q School (PGA Qualifying School),” Tyler said.