Featured

San Xavier wins Senior League Baseball state championship; Willcox wins Little League Softball state title

By Andy Morales

Posted on July 12, 2024

San Xavier Senior League. (District 12 Photo)

SOUTHERN ARIZONA LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL STATE CHAMPIONS/REGION TEAMS
1954: Douglas (Quarterfinals)
1959: Tucson (Semifinals)
1963: Tucson (Runner-up)
1971: Pantano (4th place)
1973: Cactus (WORLD SERIES)
1974: Cactus (Semifinals)
1975: Douglas (Quarterfinals)
1978: Nogales (Quarterfinals)
1979: Sunnyside (Semifinals)
1980: Nogales (Opening Round)
1981: Western (Semifinals)
1983: American (Semifinals)
1984: Sunnyside (Runner-up)
1985: Nogales (Quarterfinals)
1986: International (WORLD SERIES)
1987: Nogales (Opening Round)
1988: Nogales (Opening Round)
1991: Sunnyside (Semifinals)
1992: Western (Quarterfinals)
1996: Santa Rita (Quarterfinals)
1997: American (Quarterfinals)
2000: Canyon del Oro (Semifinals)
2001: San Xavier (Semifinals)
2011: Rio Rico (Quarterfinals)
2012: Rincon (Semifinals)
2018: Sunnyside (Quarterfinals)
2019: Sunnyside (Runner-up)
2023: Canyon View (Semifinals)

FRIDAY, JULY 12

BASEBALL JUNIORS AT SURPRISE
Douglas 15, Casa Grande 0 (Elimination)
Sunnyside 12, Payson 2 (Elimination)
Douglas 7, Sunnyside, 6 (Elimination)

BASEBALL SENIORS AT NOGALES
San Xavier 5, Nogales 4 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

San Xavier is returning to the Senior League West Regional Tournament that starts Wednesday at Oakland, Calif., after defeating Nogales 5-4 on Gregory Ortiz’s two-run single in a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth inning.

San Xavier won two games in the West Regional at Oakland last season but was eliminated. It has all but two players back from that team.

The Senior League World Series is at Easley, S.C., from July 27 to August 3.

Ortiz’s game-winning hit in the extra-inning game came with two outs on an 0-2 pitch. It scored Ryan Robles and Jordan Lesley.

Robles led off the inning reaching on a fielder’s choice bunt, allowing the automatic runner to move from second to third.

Nogales turned a double play on fly out to right field and a runner thrown out at home trying to score from third base.

Robles advanced to third base on the throw.

Lesley then walked and stole second base before Ortiz’s clutch hit.

Lesley was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Junior Martinez was 2 for 4.

San Xavier won five straight games in the state tournament, including Nogales twice in the last two days, after losing the opening game against South Mountain last week.

SOFTBALL 8-10 AT COTTONWOOD
Willcox 17, Mt. Graham 0 (Elimination)

SOFTBALL LITTLE LEAGUE AT COTTONWOOD
Willcox 5, Cactus Foothills 2 (CHAMPIONSHIP)

Willcox capped a 4-0 run in the Little League softball state tournament behind a stellar performance by pitcher Hattie Macumber. She pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts and and no walks. The two runs scored by Cactus Foothills were unearned.

Willcox advances to the West Regional tournament at San Bernardino, Calif., with the games starting July 20.

Willcox made it to the West Regional last season and went 1-2.

Julie Larson went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs in the win over Cactus Foothills. Kassandra Ramirez was 2 for 2 with a double.

SATURDAY, JULY 13

BASEBALL 8-10 AT GILBERT
Tanque Verde vs. Sierra Vista, 8 a.m.
Empire vs. Casa Grande, 10 a.m.

BASEBALL 9-11 AT MARICOPA
Sierra Vista vs. Continental, 5:30 p.m.
Rincon vs. Casa Grande, 8 p.m.
CDO vs. Prescott, 8 p.m.

BASEBALL JUNIORS AT SURPRISE
Douglas vs. Queen Creek, 6:30 p.m.

SOFTBALL 8-10 AT COTTONWOOD
Willcox vs. Goodyear, 8:30 a.m. (Elimination)

MONDAY, JULY 15

BASEBALL LL AT SIERRA VISTA
Rincon vs. D-6, 5 p.m.
Nogales vs. D-13, 5 p.m.
Canyon View vs. D-14, 7:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17

BASEBALL 50/70 WEST REGION AT NOGALES
Douglas vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.