Ruben Celaya picked up six strikeouts to help Nogales beat Oro Valley (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

STATE 8-10 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

Nogales International beat Oro Valley 17-0 Wednesday night to advance to the champion game of the winner’s bracket at the state 8-10 Baseball tournament taking place at Freedom Park. Nogales (3-0) will take on Red Mountain (3-0) Saturday night at 6:30 p.m.

Oro Valley (2-1) will face Ahwatukee (3-1) Friday night in an elimination game. Oro Valley has to survive three elimination games and then beat the winner of Nogales/Red Mountain twice to win the championship.

Ahwatukee beat Sunnyside 6-5 in extra innings to set up the game with Oro Valley. Sunnyside (2-2) battled back through the elimination bracket but came up just a little short Wednesday night.

WESTERN REGION JUNIOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

Sammamish, Washington (Eastlake Little League) will face Santa Clara, Utah (Snow Canyon Little League) Thursday at 5 p.m. for the championship of the Junior League Softball Western Region playoffs taking place at Arthur Pack.

Washington (4-1) has to beat Utah (3-0) twice to win the championship under the double-elimination format. Utah beat Washington 4-2 Tuesday night.

The second game, if needed, will be played following the first game.

The winner of the tournament will advance to Kirkland, Washington to play in the Junior League Softball World Series, starting on July 29.

STATE ROUNDUP

Rincon (3-0) is facing Queen Creek (2-0) Thursday night at the 9-11 Baseball Tournament taking place in Mesa. The winner will advance to the championship game scheduled for Tuesday, July 24.

Copper Hills lost Queen Creek 5-2 in the championship game of the 8-10 Softball Tournament taking place in Avondale.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18

STATE 8-10 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Nogales 17, Oro Valley 0 (3)
Ahwatukee 6, Sunnyside 5 (7)

FRIDAY, JULY 20

STATE 8-10 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Oro Valley vs. Ahwatukee, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, JULY 21

STATE 8-10 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
Nogales vs. Red Mountain, 6:30 p.m.

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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 is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com