The District 5 Little League Majors best-of-three tournament between Marana and Thornydale began Friday night with both teams showing their nerves with 39 runs scored off an abundance of walks, wild pitches and errors.
The game won by Thornydale 21-18 at Arthur Pack was still very competitive and both teams really showed their resolve by not letting the other pull away.
The teams play in the second game of the series on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Arthur Pack. If Thornydale wins, it moves on to the state tournament that begins July 8 at Verde Valley. If Marana prevails, the teams will meet in a deciding third game Monday at Arthur Pack at 6:30 p.m.
Thornydale’s ability to keep Marana scoreless in the sixth and final inning was the difference in Friday’s game.
An assist by left fielder Sophia Calderon getting out a runner trying to reach third after a base hit was sandwiched between infield assists by third baseman Ryann Pogue and shortstop Niyah Valenzuela on groundouts.
It was the only inning Thornydale did not allow a run. It came at the right time after Marana rallied for five runs in the fifth inning to take an 18-17 lead only to allow Thornydale to answer with four runs in the bottom of the inning to take the 21-18 lead.
“They made the plays when they had to,” Thornydale manager Robert Calderon said of his team. “It’s going to happen — we’re going to make errors. It’s what you do after the errors is important.
“What we’ve also been doing alot in practice is the play after the play. The throw from the outfield is an example of that. They kept going. They didn’t stop.”
Thornydale LL Majors softball coach Robert Calderon’s team is one win away from advancing to the state tournament. They beat Marana 21-18 in the first game of a best-of-three District 5 series. pic.twitter.com/BPRhZxM87Y
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 25, 2022
Bella Kneeland provided a good example of fortitude for her teammates.
She struggled in the circle to start the game but she made up for it with her bat. She went 2 for 3 with two runs, two doubles and three RBIs.
Marana took a 7-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Instead of caving in, Kneeland and Thornydale responded with 13 runs in the first three innings to take a 13-10 lead.
Thornydale LL Majors standout Bella Kneeland had a couple of doubles to lead her team’s lineup in a 21-18 win over Marana. The teams play in Game 2 of the best-of-three District 5 championship series tomorrow at Arthur Pack at 6:30 pm. pic.twitter.com/d9LDZD8zLz
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) June 25, 2022
“It’s stressful but it’s fun at the same time,” Kneeland said what it felt like to be in the high-scoring game. “Everyone tried their best.”
The game was a constant back-and-forth affair.
After Marana rallied to tie the game at 13 in the top of the fourth inning, Thornydale answered with four in the bottom of the inning.
Marana responded with five runs in the top of the fifth to take an 18-17 lead behind an RBI single by Addison Dillard and a two-run single by Ananna Lopez, but Thornydale again rallied for four runs.
Valenzuela, who had two singles and scored three runs in the game, started the fifth-inning rally for Thornydale with walk. Valenzuela later scored as did Kenzie Pritchett and Kneeland after Prickett reached on an error and Kneeland a walk.
Jillian Iiams also scored that inning after a walk. Iiams had a double and run and Haley Allsup had an RBI double as part of Thornydale’s seven-run third inning. Allsup finished 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24
D-5 SOFTBALL 10-12: ARTHUR PACK
Thornydale 21, Marana 18
D-5 BASEBALL 8-10: MEHL
Continental Ranch 16, Tucson Mountain 3
Thornydale 15, Oro Valley 5
D-5 BASEBALL 9-11: CURTIS
Marana 13, Tucson Mountain 8 (Consolation)
Canyon View 18, Thornydale 8
D-5 BASEBALL 10-12: ORA MAE
Oro Valley 8, Continental Ranch 7
Flowing Wells 19, Thornydale 9 (Consolation)
Western vs. Canyon View (not reported)
D-5 BASEBALL 50/70: ARTHUR PACK
Thornydale 10, Tanque Verde 3
D-12 BASEBALL 9-11: FIELD OF DREAMS
Cactus 3, Copper Hills 2
Sunnyside 15, Los Ninos 0
D-12 JUNIOR BASEBALL: JESSE OWENS
Sunnyside 10, Cactus 7
Randolph 20, Southwestern 0
D-12 SOFTBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Copper Hills 2, Sunnyside 0
SATURDAY, JUNE 25
D-5 SOFTBALL 10-12: ARTHUR PACK
Marana vs. Thornydale, 6:30 p.m. (Championship)
D-5 BASEBALL 8-10: MEHL
Continental Ranch vs. Thornydale, 5 p.m. (Elimination)
Canyon View vs. Tanque Verde, 7:30 p.m.
D-5 BASEBALL 9-11: CURTIS
Oro Valley vs. Marana, 5 p.m. (Consolation)
CDO vs. Western, 7:30 p.m. (Elimination)
D-5 BASEBALL 10-12: ORA MAE
CDO vs. Marana, 5 p.m.
Oro Valley vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. (Elimination)
Tucson Mountain vs. Flowing Wells, 5 p.m. (Consolation)
D-5 BASEBALL 50/70: ARTHUR PACK
Western vs. Thornydale, 6:30 p.m.
D-12 BASEBALL 8-10: PURPLE HEART
Cactus vs. Copper Hills, 5:15 p.m.
Southwestern vs. Rincon, 7:45 p.m.
D-12 BASEBALL 9-11: FIELD OF DREAMS
Rincon vs. Cactus, 5:15 p.m.
Randolph vs. Sunnyside, 7:45 p.m.
D-12 JUNIOR BASEBALL: JESSE OWENS
Copper Hills vs. Southwestern, 5 p.m. (Elimination)
Empire vs. Cactus, 7:45 p.m. (Elimination)
D-12 SOFTBALL 8-10: FIELD OF DREAMS
Southwestern vs. Sunnyside, 5:15 p.m.
D-12 SOFTBALL 10-12: FIELD OF DREAMS
Randolph vs. Sunnyside, 7:45 p.m. (Elimination)
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