Sunnyside freshman pitcher Ashley Rosthenhausler has accomplished a feat seniors have difficulty achieving.
She threw a no-hitter and one-hitter in a span of 48 hours in 6A playoff elimination games.
Making the feat more impressive is outdueling Alabama signee Jocelyn Briski of visiting Phoenix Desert Vista with the one-hitter in a 1-0 victory Thursday.
Rosthenhausler pitched a no-hitter in Tuesday’s 1-0 win against Sunnyslope at Sunnyside.
She is thriving in pressure-packed win-or-go-home situations.
“That’s what I work on a lot — my mental (approach) and trying to stay focused,” said Rosthenhausler, who struck out five and walked one against Desert Vista.
.@SHSDevilSports freshman Ashley Rosthenhausler allowed one hit in a 1-0 win over Desert Vista after pitching a no-hitter against Sunnyslope on Tuesday. Both of them 6A elimination games. She also outdueled Alabama signee Jocelyn Briski of Desert Vista. pic.twitter.com/FpJ8ZZKIdN
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 5, 2023
Third-seeded Sunnyside (28-6) will play No. 10 Tucson (25-8-1) for the third time this season when they play in Saturday’s third round of the 6A elimination bracket at Amphi High School at 2 p.m. The teams split in the regular season with each winning on their home field.
A significant development for Sunnyside and Rosthenhausler: junior catcher Amerika Lopez returned from an injury on Tuesday in the win over Sunnyslope. She missed 14 games from March 25 to April 29.
“Me and Amerika, looking at her glove, throwing it right there and I know my defense is there to protect me,” said Rosthenhausler, member of the famed Rosthenhausler family that has now produced 12 baseball and softball players at Sunnyside.
Sunnyside played error-free defense in Rosthenhausler’s gems against Sunnyslope and Desert Vista.
SUNNYSIDE ADVANCES IN 6A ELIMINATION BRACKET BEHIND FRESHMAN ASHLEY ROSTHENHAUSLER
Outduels Alabama signee Jocelyn Briski in 1-0 win.
One-hitter after pitching no-hitter vs. Sunnyslope on Tuesday.
Something special.#prospectalert pic.twitter.com/TbZhzmQgMK— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 5, 2023
She did not allow another hit after the Thunder’s leadoff hitter Ava Briski (Jocelyn’s sister) singled to center field to start the game. After Ava Briski advanced to second on a wild pitch, she was thrown out at third base by shortstop Tatyana Vega trying to advance on a groundball.
Desert Vista did not have another runner advance beyond first base.
Rosthenhausler issued a walk with one out in the third inning and proceeded to retire Desert Vista’s last 14 batters.
.@SHSDevilSports coach Ruben Cazares and his staff have led the No. 3 Blue Devils to the third round of the 6A elimination bracket after today’s 1-0 win over Desert Vista. Blue Devils (28-6) play No. 10 Tucson (25-8-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Amphi HS. pic.twitter.com/KqM9sRglYJ
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 5, 2023
“She has matured and developed the stamina that is needed,” Sunnyside coach Ruben Cazares said. “She has become a workhorse now in the playoffs. We don’t hesitate to go to her. We’ve never shied away from going to our freshmen in our program.”
Vega was a freshman ace in the circle for Sunnyside last year when it won two games in the 5A state playoffs.
Briski allowed four hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Two of the hits came in the consequential fourth inning that started with senior Natalya Rivera reaching on an infield single. Rivera stole second base and moved to third on a groundout.
Lauryn Carbajal followed with a single to left field that plated Rivera with the game’s lone run.
.@SHSDevilSports senior Natalya Rivera helped manufacture Sunnyside’s lone run in the fourth in the 1-0 win over Desert Vista in a 6A elimination game. She reached on an infield single and stole second. She later scored on Lauryn Carbajal’s single with one out. pic.twitter.com/aMub7gr8SY
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 5, 2023
“Honestly, Ashley’s been doing her job really, really good,” said Rivera, who is headed to Pima College’s program. “I give her so much props for that especially being a freshman. I know the pressure can really be on especially when you’re new to varsity. She handled it really well and I’m really proud of her for that.
“Us as team, I know that when it comes down to it, we always want it. It’s always been us. We want it more, always. I’m proud of us of how far we’re going. There’s been setbacks but us as a team, we’ve been really glued together. I think that’s what’s making us go really far right now.”
NOTES: Due to new NCAA recruiting rules, Division 1 college coaches can’t communicate directly with Rosthenhausler or any other young prospect until Sept. 1 of their junior year in high school. In past years, Arizona coach Mike Candrea could communicate with players during their youth-league days. Arizona junior first baseman Carlie Scupin, a Tucson High graduate, committed to Candrea when she was 14. … The winner of the Sunnyside-Tucson game Saturday will play either No. 6 Mesa Red Mountain or No. 2 Phoenix Basha on Tuesday night at 6:30 at Quail Run Park in Mesa.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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