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(Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
Softball Junior West Regional
July 16-21: Arthur Pack Complex
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It took nearly five hours but Northern California (Olivehurst-Linda Little League) defeated Southern California (Burbank) 14-8 in the “If game” late Thursday night to capture the Junior League Western Region crown.
So. Cal (5-2) forced a long night by defeating No. Cal (4-1) in the first game of the night.
So. Cal scored three unearned runs for the 3-0 win in the first game. So. Cal kept No. Cal off the scoreboard thanks to the combined efforts of Daisy Rubalcava and Mia Garcia in the circle. The duo limited So. Cal to seven hits. A’Sia Morales (no relation) came up with the defensive play of the game by taking away a home run in the fourth inning.
So. Cal’s defensive problems continued in the first inning of the second game and No. Cal took advantage for an early 3-0 lead. No. Cal returned the favor in the bottom half on the inning to cut the lead down to 3-1 but another miscue gave So. Cal a 4-1 lead heading to the bottom of the second.
Danica Martin came up with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the second to cut the lead down to 4-3 and an RBI from Myra Hinojosa in the bottom of the third tied the game up 4-4.
No. Cal exploded for six runs in the fourth to take a commanding 10-4 lead but So. Cal responded with three in the fifth to cut the lead down to 10-7. No. Cal scored three in the bottom of the fifth and another in the sixth to go up 14-7. So. Cal scored a run in the seventh for the 14-8 final.
So. Cal was led by Chloe Bookmyer at the plate. The slugger had two doubles in the game. Garcia and Erika Montoya had two hits each for the team from Burbank.
Chloe Smotherman went 3-for-4 with a triple and a sacrifice RBI to lead No. Cal. Smotherman gave up one earned run in the game and gave way to Martin in the fifth. Smotherman finished the tournament with a 3-0 record and she recorded 24 strikeouts.
Izzy Mendoza went 3-5 and Alix Wofford hit a 2-RBI single in the fifth.
“We worked through the first game and then we started the second game kind of nervous,” Smotherman explained. “We all pulled together and decided it was going to take all of us tonight. Once momentum started and we scored some runs we looked really good.”
No. Cal advances to the Junior League World Series to be played in Kirkland, Washington from July 31-August 6
All-Tournament Team
Chloe Smotherman, No. California (MVP)
Alexis Steele, No. California
Izzy Mendoza, No. California
Danica Martin. No. California
A’Sia Morales, So. California
Chloe Bookmyer, So. California
Mia Garcia, So. California
Daisy Rubalcava, So. California
Becca Boyer, Utah
Japrix Weaver, Utah
Khiana Smith, Alaska
Pese Matautia, Alaska
Jayla Medeiros, Hawaii
Shaylann Grace, Hawaii
Kaylee Kannegieser, Montana
Dacee Zent, Montana
Ariana Arnone, Washington
Katie Lee, Washington
Kayla Jacobson, Flagstaff
Maddy Clouse, Flagstaff
Nikki Hernandez, Marana
Annabelle Downing, Marana
Saturday, July 16
Hawaii 6, Alaska 4
So. California 9, Oregon 3
No. California 15, Washington 0
Utah 11, Marana 1
Hawaii 13, Flagstaff 3
So. California 8, Montana 1
Oregon 8, Marana 5
Alaska 14, Washington 11
Sunday, July 17
Alaska 11, Flagstaff 4
Oregon 11, Montana 9
Monday, July 18
No. California 9, Hawaii 3
Utah 4, So. California 3
Montana 15, Washington 5
Flagstaff 24, Marana 11
So. California 13, Oregon 3
Alaska 5, Hawaii 3
Tuesday, July 19
So. California 9, Alaska 8
Wednesday, July 20
No. California 10, Utah 6
So. California 20, Utah 7
Thursday, July 21
So. California 3, No. California 0
No. California 14, So. California 8
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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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