The last time high school senior softball players in Southern Arizona gathered for an all-star game was three years ago at Sports Park — when today’s seniors were freshmen.
Following COVID-19 in 2020, the effort lost steam gathering top softball players for an all-star event in Tucson.
The high school all-star games for baseball in Southern Arizona continued, however, with Bill Leith of Kino Baseball League organizing the annual event at the Kino Annex Fields.
Southern Arizona has such a hotbed of softball talent (see Salpointe’s six consecutive 4A state titles and 3A schools Sahuarita, Sabino and Empire winning the last seven state titles at that classification).
All-star games had to return.
Behind the effort of Andy Morales of AllSportsTucson.com and John Mertes of the Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association, the gathering of top senior softball players returned in a grand way to Tucson at Arthur Pack on Monday night.
Almost 90 senior standouts gathered for three separate games, pitting players against eacher in these classifications: 5A/6A, 3A/4A and 1A/2A.
A few hundred fans attended the games including Lute Olson’s granddaughter Julie Brase-Hairgrove and grandson Matt Brase. They were present to cheer on Catalina Foothills’ Madison Hairgrove, Julie’s daughter and Matt’s niece.
Former Arizona players Alicia Hollowell-Dunn, Felecity Willis and Sophia Carroll served as coaches along with Salpointe assistant Alma Mejia-Garcia, CDO assistant Maggie Morales and Mountain View graduate Zaylie Calderon (who completed her career at UTEP this spring).
A player who drew most of the applause was Amphi senior Zoey Hitchcock, who was an inspiration to the Panthers throughout her career. Her exuberance symbolized the love for the game each of the players have who particpated in the event at Arthur Pack.
Zoey Hitchcock of Amphi is living the dream as always. Tonight, she is joining other All Sports Tucson/Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association Senior All-Stars. She got a single and later came around to score. When she was at third, a foul tip hit an umpire and she yelled,… pic.twitter.com/coDUMPYyzT
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
Lute Olson’s great granddaughter Madison Hairgrove is graduating from Catalina Foothills, where her mom Julie Brase-Hairgrove was a star basketball player. Madison is playing in tonight’s All Sports Tucson/Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association Senior All-Star Game at… pic.twitter.com/3pzmeEpjd9
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
.@schssoftball_ standout Alma Garcia is headed to Benedictine to further her academic and softball career. She participated in the All Sports Tucson/Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association tonight. pic.twitter.com/SC8XCPMOJN
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
.@schssoftball_’s Jae Castillo and Anna Flores are four-time state champions with the Lancers. Castillo is headed to Utah State and Flores to Pima. They played in tonight’s All Sports Tucson / Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/e9yW2weysy
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
.@SHSDevilSports standouts Amerika Lopez, Lauryn Carbajal and Gabriela Morales took part in the All Sports Tucson / Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/6TKDcXjsRD
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
.@THMSAthletics’ Jiselle Nuñez, Ariana Camen, Julissa Lopez and Jorgina Gant are representing the Badgers in the All Sports Tucson/Southern Arizona Softball Umpire Association Senior All-Star Game. pic.twitter.com/4umzQ0FHq1
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 21, 2024
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