Tucson High, Cienega and Mica Mountain staved off ending their seasons in their respective state playoffs Thursday with walk-off victories in the elimination bracket.
6A SOFTBALL ELIMINATION
No. 10 Tucson 6, No. 11 O’Connor 5
The Badgers (25-7) notched a walk-off win on Julissa Lopez’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Tucson advances to the third round of the elimination bracket, where it will face No. 2 Chandler Basha (26-4-1) on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Quail Run Park in Mesa.
With two outs in the seventh inning Thursday and runners on first and second because of walks, Lopez hit her RBI single to center field.
Tucson led 3-0 after the first inning and trailed 4-3 after O’Connor rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth.
The Badgers scored twice in the sixth on Lopez’s RBI double and Jiselle Nunez’s RBI single to take a 5-4 lead.
Lopez went 3 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs and Nunez was 2 for 3 with a run and four RBIs.
O’Connor tied the game at 5 on Sydnee Williams’ home run to lead off the seventh.
Jorgina Gant earned a complete-victory in the circle, scattering seven hits to go with six strikeouts and five walks.
Jaliyah Grigsby finished 2 for 4 with a run and Alyssa Torres was 2 for 3.
No. 1 Mesa Red Mountain 2, No. 12 Sunnyside 1 (8 innings)
Sunnyside’s season came to an end with a 21-11 record after the visiting Blue Devils took top-seeded Red Mountain to the limit, losing in eight innings.
Red Mountain had a triple and then a single in the bottom of the eighth to win the game.
The Blue Devils couldn’t score after Leylanni Lopez led off the eighth inning with a triple.
Sunnyside took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth on Lauryn Carbajal’s RBI triple with two outs.
Red Mountain responded with a home run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game.
5A SOFTBALL ELIMINATION
No. 5 Cienega 4, No. 8 Gilbert Higley 3
Cienega took advantage of two errors by Higley in the bottom of the seventh inning for the walk-off win.
Maya Fimbres reached on a throwing error following a grounder to shortstop and advanced to second base on the play.
Alli Mullen then bunted and reached on a throwing error, which allowed Fimbres to score the winning run.
The Bobcats (21-7) rallied from a 3-1 deficit going into the bottom of the sixth to advance.
They will play Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Phoenix’s Papago Softball Complex in a third-round matchup of the elimination bracket against either No. 4 Willow Canyon and No. 1 Desert Mountain. Willow Canyon and Desert Mountain play a winners bracket third-round game Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at the Papago Softball Complex.
With two outs in the sixth against Higley, Cienega’s Micaela Valenzuela and Valerie Rodriguez scored on an error. Valenzuela singled and Rodrigez reached base on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning.
Valenzuela finished 2 for 3 with a run.
Cinega’s Kylie Bristol had a no decision after pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing five hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking two.
Fimbres was the winning pitcher pitching 2 2/3 hitless innings with seven strikeouts and a walk.
No. 6 Campo Verde 7, No. 11 Mountain View 6
Mountain View ended its season 24-9 following the loss that included Campo Verde rallying for three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings for the victory.
Mia Quinonez went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.
Megan Newton was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Alycia Gordin was 2 for 4 with a run and RBI and Adelina Noriega finished 2 for 4 with a run.
4A SOFTBALL ELIMINATION
No. 7 Mica Mountain 3, No. 11 Sahuarita 2
The Thunderbolts’ walk-off win has them in the third round of the elimination bracket Tuesday at Phoenix’s Papago Softball Complex at 6:30 p.m. against either No. 3 CDO or No. 2 Arcadia.
CDO and Arcadia play in a winners’ bracket third-round game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at the Papago Softball Complex.
Mica Mountain is 19-8. Sahuarita finished its season at 25-7.
Violet Redondo led off Mica Mountain’s seventh inning Thursday against Sahuarita with a single. With one out, Mia Garcia hit a double and Redondo stopped at third.
After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Dezerre Lopez Taylor hit an infield single that scored Redondo with the winning run.
Sahuarita tied the game at 2 in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by Eliana Romero and a sacrifice fly by Kealey Myhre.
Acelynn-Rose Heston scattered six hits with five strikeouts and no walks in her complete-game win. She also had two RBIs.
Redondo was 2 for 3 with two runs, Shaylee Fuell finished 2 for 4 with a run and Garcia was 3 for 4.
Sahuarita was led by Isabella Garcia (2 for 3 with a run) and Romero (2 for 3 with a run and RBI).
5A BASEBALL ROUND 3
No. 2 Peoria Sunrise Mountain 8, No. 3 Nogales 1
Nogales (17-10) moves to the elimination bracket after the loss to Sunrise Mountain at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
The Apaches will play No. 7 Campo Verde on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Diablo Stadium in a third-round game of the elimination bracket.
Ralph Felix went 2 for 3 and David Zazueta was 1 for 3 with an RBI for the Apaches.
5A BASEBALL ROUND 2 ELIMINATION
No. 7 Campo Verde 5, No. 6 Catalina Foothills 3
The Falcons ended their season 22-9.
Campo Verde over Catalina Foothills 5-3 #azpreps365 https://t.co/bul9plFvYQ
— AZPreps365 (@AZPreps365) May 3, 2024
Recommended for you
