(Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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The Sahuaro Fastpitch All-Stars defeated Las Niñas 5-4 Saturday night at Jesse Owens Park to capture the 10U Baja Fastpitch City Championship. Audri Elias brought in the winning run in the bottom of the fourth on a walk-off grounder that brought in Maya Fimbres.
Sahuaro took an early 1-0 lead in the game after December Hernandez, Alexa Yarger and Angelina Dehler drew three straight walks to start the game off and Avery Nielson followed with a fielder’s choice to score Hernandez. Soleil Ponce regrouped and picked up two strikeouts to limit the damage to the one run.
Las Niñas scored three runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Ponce started the inning off with a single, Ashley Rosthenhausler drew a walk, Kamilah Price knocked Ponce in on a fielder’s choice and then Mia Gonzales did the same to score Rosthenhausler and Mariah Gallegos scored Price on a walk later in the inning. Nielson collected three strikeouts to get out of the inning.
Both teams were held scoreless until Sahauro plated three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 lead.
Hernandez walked to lead off the inning and Yarger singled to put two on. Dehler hit a sacrifice fly to score Hernandez, Nielson singled to bring in Yarger and then Nielson scored on an error on the play.
Las Niñas tied the game up in the top of the fourth after Price was walked to start things off and Gallegos drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to bring in Price.
Frimbres reached in the bottom of the fourth to give Sahuaro a shot and the Kendall Freidinger reached on a bunt to put two on. Elias put the ball in play one out later and Fimbres raced home for the win.
“We worked really hard to get that moment,” Elias said. “We finally got here.”
Ponce had four strikeouts for Las Niñas and she went 2-for-2 at the plate. Vianney Cruz also saw pitching action and she picked up a hit in the game. Gallegos had two RBI for Las Niñas.
Callie Drawbaugh started the game for Sahuaro and Nielson had three strikeouts in the second inning. Elias also picked up three strikeouts from the circle. Emily Marsh, Freidinger, Fimbres, Nielson and Yarger all had hits for Sahuaro. Nielson had two RBI.
Soleil Ponce (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)
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Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he 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 and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com
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