Frog & Firkin Softball Playoffs Report: Tucson’s Run Ends, Benson Continues Dominance

By Javier Morales

Posted on May 10, 2019

Mixed results for Southern Arizona softball teams in Phoenix Friday night with No. 12 Tucson losing to No. 1 Pinnacle in the Class 6A semifinals and Class 2A top seed Benson beating No. 4 Morenci to continue its drive for a third straight state championship.

The Badgers (18-9) were eliminated with the 4-2 loss at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex. After starting 2-7, Tucson won 15 straight games before falling short against Pinnacle in two of the Badgers’ last three games.

Arizona commit Carlie Scupin, a junior first baseman, hit a home run in her first at-bat in the first inning to give Tucson a 1-0 lead. She was coming off a game Wednesday night in which Yuma Cibola intentionally walked her five times.

Carlie Scupin (Javier Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

The home run was Scupin’s 17th this season. She finished with a team-high 41 RBIs.

Mari Castro also hit a home run. The Badgers were led in the circle by ace Ana Rodriguez, who allowed four hits in six innings with three strikeouts and two walks.

Scupin and Rodriguez return next year for their senior seasons.

Benson earned its 18th straight win in the victory over Morenci. The Bobcats (30-3) face No. 3 Camp Verde for the Class 2A championship on Tuesday night at ASU.

Emily Darwin and Abby Workman each went 3 for 4 for Benson and senior ace Katie Sherman allowed only three hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Sherman also hit a double.

In Saturday’s action, four Southern Arizona teams will play at Rose Mofford at 10 a.m.

No. 3 Ironwood Ridge faces No. 5 Horizon and No. 6 Empire goes against No. 2 Centennial in the 5A tournament. Ironwood Ridge and Empire, both emerging from the elimination bracket, must beat their opponents twice to move on to the state championship Monday at ASU at 5:30 p.m.

In the 4A tournament, No. 1 Salpointe will play No. 3 Bradshaw Mountain and No. 6 CDO faces No. 2 Cactus. If the Lancers and Dorados — both coming out of the winners’ bracket — survive to the championship game Tuesday, the game may be moved from ASU to the Tucson area.