Thornydale Juniors All-Stars capped its 4-0 run through the state tournament in dramatic fashion rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night to beat Williams 8-7 at Avondale.
Thornydale advances to the West Regional that will be held at Arthur Pack starting next Friday.
Rhiannon Plunkett started the seventh inning with a triple for Thornydale. Nayana Vandersloot followed with an infield single to force Plunkett home to tie the game at 7.
With one out, Kaylee Busby reached on a bunt single, advancing Vandersloot to second base.
West Regional tickets punched :
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🎟️Thornydale Juniors (Arthur Pack 7/22-28)
🎟️Marana Juniors (host)
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🎟️Nogales Seniors (Oakland 7/20-27)
🎟️Nogales Juniors (Bend, Ore., 8/3-11)
🎟️Sunnyside Intermediate (50/70) (Nogales 7/20-28)
🎟️Nogales Intermediate (50/70) (host)— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) July 16, 2022
Alyssia Robles came to the plate with two outs and belted a single to center field on a 1-1 count to score Vandersloot from second base for the winning run.
Thornydale rallied after trailing 6-2 after three innings.
Rylee Harper cut the lead to 6-3 with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs tied the game at 6. The rally included Robles producing an RBI triple and scoring on Elizabeth Lujan’s single. Lujan later came home on a wild pitch.
Williams put the pressure on Thornydale again by scoring a run in the top of the seventh.
Plunkett’s triple got the ball rolling to the winning rally. Plunkett, who went 3 for 4 with two runs, is one of seven Thornydale players who recorded at least two hits.
The others are Lindsey Sanchez (3 for 4), Harper (3 for 5 with two runs), Robles (2 for 5 with a run and two RBIs), Lujan (2 for 4 with a run and RBI), Vandersloot (2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs) and Busby (2 for 2 with one run).
Kaylee Moussette was the winning pitcher scattering nine hits in seven innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
FRIDAY, JULY 15
STATE 8-10 BASEBALL: MESA (D-7)
Canyon View vs. West Flagstaff, 8 p.m.
Nogales vs. Casa Grande, 8 p.m. (Elimination)
STATE 9-11 BASEBALL: PHOENIX (D-3)
Canyon View vs. Rincon, 5:15 p.m.
STATE 50/70 BASEBALL: NOGALES (D-8)
Prescott 16, Western 8 (Elimination)
Sunnyside 21, Prescott 1 (4) (Championship)
STATE JUNIORS BASEBALL: CURTIS (D-5)
Nogales 12, Western 2 (5) (Championship)
12-2 Nogales National in 5. @NogalesSports @nogalesnews @ApacheBaseball1 Next stop West Regional https://t.co/SnGZO3LP7W pic.twitter.com/HLQutnMEAu
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 16, 2022
STATE SOFTBALL 8-10: SIERRA VISTA (D-8)
Sunnyside vs. Phoenix Arcadia, 5 p.m.
Thornydale vs. Pinal Mountain, 7:30 p.m.
Willcox vs. Goodyear, 7:30 p.m.
STATE JUNIORS SOFTBALL: AVONDALE (D-2)
Thornydale 8, Williams 7 (Championship)
SATURDAY, JULY 16
STATE 8-10 BASEBALL: MESA (D-7)
Rincon vs. Arcadia, 8 p.m.
STATE 9-11 BASEBALL: PHOENIX (D-3)
Nogales vs. TBD, 7:45 p.m.
STATE LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL: LITCHFIELD (D-2)
Marana vs. Mesa, 8 a.m.
Douglas vs. West Flagstaff, 5:30 p.m.
Sunnyside vs. Mt. Graham, 5:30 p.m.
