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CDO freshman Halle Morris got the start. Reina Bondi is at 2nd base while Isabel Pacho is up to bat. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Dorado Softball Classic
Feb. 25-27: Sports Park
MORE PHOTOS HERE
Canyon del Oro defeated Ironwood Ridge 7-4 Saturday afternoon to capture the 14th edition of the Dorado Classic. Though it’s much too early to draw any long-term conclusions from the tournament, we did learn a few things:
1. Canyon del Oro reloaded. Again.
Kelly Fowler led the Dorados to a 32-7 record last year and lost seven seniors to graduation. One measure of a successful high school program can be the number of former players playing in the next level and all seven of those seniors either signed or made college rosters this year. Even better, freshman Halle Morris took the circle in the championship game against Ironwood Ridge. A freshman.
CDO went 7-0-1 in the tournament with a curious 7-7 tie against Mesquite. Again, not much can be made of that because this is softball and those kind of games will come and go.
2. Ironwood Ridge is stacked. Again.
Rich Alday lost All-State outfielder Merrilee Miller to the University of Arizona but the coaching legend has 12 seniors on his roster this year and that group is almost all college bound. Still, Alday emptied his bench this past weekend in what he described as “Spring Training.”
The Nighthawks took out defending Division I champion O’Connor not once but twice in the tournament including an 8-5 win in a semifinal game. Like CDO, Ironwood Ridge had a curious game and it came earlier on Saturday against Marana Mountain View.
Mountain View led 7-0 but the Nighthawks scored eight runs in the last inning for the win. But, unlike CDO, we can draw a couple of conclusions from that game and both involve Mountain View.
3. Mountain View is almost ready.
Mountain View is fast with good pitching. Ashley Monceaux guided the Mountain Lions to a rare playoff appearance last year but the arrival of a group of speedy freshmen from the highly successful Thornydale Little League program has given Mountain View the chance to make the playoffs an expectation.
Senior pitcher Alyssa Lovato had Ironwood Ridge on the ropes but the team couldn’t stop the Nighthawks at the end. The same happened against Desert View. Almost ready. The Mountain Lions need to develop a killer instinct and finish.
4. Desert View and Pueblo are for real.
These are the two teams to watch. Both are loaded with club athletes and good coaching and the results speak for themselves. It is further proof that, if given the opportunity, girls can be successful anywhere.
Desert View took fourth place in the tournament.
5. Catalina Foothills and Sahuaro still mystery teams.
A Division III placement could just be what the Falcons need to get over the hump to make the playoffs. The program has good pitching and hitting now we will wait and see.
It seems like Sahuaro has the most talent year in and year out and this year is no different. It would be a mistake to judge the Cougars by their performance during the Dorado Classic but the regular season starts in two days.
CHAMPIONSHIP STORY AT AZPreps365.com
RESULTS
Thursday Feb. 24
Catalina Foothills 14, Marana 5
Marana Mountain View 18, Palo Verde 0
Pueblo 9, Desert View 5
Del Valle (TX) 15, Coconino 8
Marana 17, Shadow Mountain 2
Marana Mountain View 2, Desert View 2
Pueblo 11, Catalina Foothills 2
Vista Grande 11, Sabino 8
Cactus Shadows 15, Del Valle 3
Desert Vista 15, Shadow Mountain 0
O’Connor 10, Sabino 3
Canyon del Oro 11, Basha 1
Ironwood Ridge 11, Mesa Mountain View 1
Sahuaro 4, Mesquite 2
Cactus Shadows 9, Coconino 6
Vista Grande 21, Palo Verde 0
Desert Vista 10, Basha 0
CDO 12, Mesa Mountain View 2
Ironwood Ridge 17, Mesquite 2
O’Connor 11, Sahuaro 2
Friday Feb. 25
Catalina Foothills 15, Shadow Mountain 0
Del Valle 13, Marana 7
Pueblo 3, Marana Mountain View 2
Desert View 22, Palo Verde 0
Vista Grande 2, Cactus Shadows 1
Desert Vista 20, Coconino 2
Mesa Mountain View 12, Sabino 2
CDO 7, Mesquite 7
Ironwood Ridge 6, O’Connor 0
Basha 6, Sahuaro 4
O’Connor 10, Catalina Foothill 0
Desert Vista 18, Marana 0
Mesa Mountain View 21, Palo Verde 0
Ironwood Ridge 16, Cactus Shadows 0
Marana Mountain View 7, Coconino 2
Basha 6, Vista Grande 5
Desert View 8, Sahuaro 0
Del Valle 5, Mesquite 2
Sabino 8, Shadow Mountain 0 (F)
CDO 14, Pueblo 4
Saturday, Feb. 26
O’Connor 6, Desert Vista 5
CDO 11, Sabino 3
Marana 7, Palo Verde 0
Cactus Shadows 19, Coconino 6
Desert View 6, Basha 3
Ironwood Ridge 8, Marana Mountain View 7
CDO 21, Del Valle 1
O’Connor 10, Mesa Mountain View 0
Vista Grande 3, Sahuaro 2
Mesquite 15, Catalina Foothills 5
Pueblo 8, Cactus Shadows 5
Ironwood Ridge 8, O’Connor 5
CDO 8, Desert View 4
Third Place
O’Connor 9, Desert View 1
Championship
CDO 7, Ironwood Ridge 4
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here, on AZPreps365.com and on the pages of the Vail Voice and the Tanque Verde Voice. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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