The Tucson-Sunnyside softball rivalry has intensified since the Blue Devils joined the Badgers at the 6A level in the 2023 season.
Tuesday’s 6A South opener for both schools, won by the Badgers 2-0 at Sunnyside, was another example of the very close competition.
“It’s always been like southside-westside, it’s kind of like the sides of town we’re on,” Tucson ace Alyssa Torres said. “The players — we’ve played against them since we were young. It’s always been a friendly competition, a really good competition.”
Torres’ performance in the circle Tuesday helped increase the Badgers’ winning streak to three games in the series, dating to last year’s two victories in extra innings.
Two seasons ago, Sunnyside won two of the three meetings against the Badgers, including a 4-2 victory at Amphi in the 6A playoffs that put the Blue Devils in the elimination-bracket final.
The Tucson-Sunnyside rivalry is one of the best in softball and both teams again delivered a tight game after two extra-inning games last season win by the Badgers. Claudeona “Nana” Lesley and Alyssa Torres were two of the Badgers’ standouts in their 2-0 win. Lesley had two hits… pic.twitter.com/exETg1DQng
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) April 2, 2025
The two seniors in the circle Tuesday night — Torres and Sunnyside’s Tatyana Vega — know each other well from their club-ball days since they were in grade school. Many of the players share the same background, some as teammates in the club circuit.
“We knew we were probably going against Taty on the mound — she’s a great competitor,” Tucson coach Andy Camen said. “She’s one of the best players in the state. Playing her twice last year — here, extra innings, and at our place last year, extra innings, all the way to the 11th inning — we know we’re going to get a seven-inning-plus fight from them.
“It’s a fun game to play, win or lose. This is why we compete in games like this where both teams leave it all on the field.”
Vega and Torres were matched in a pitcher’s duel throughout although it looked as though in the early innings that runs could be scored.
Through the first three innings, each team left five runners on base, including a bases-loaded situation for Tucson in the top of the third. Sunnyside stranded a runner in scoring position in the first and third innings.
The Blue Devils also left runners on the corners to close the fifth inning with the game still scoreless.
Tucson High coach Andy Camen comments on his fifth-rated team in the state beating No. 13 Sunnyside 2-0 tonight on the road. The Badgers have reloaded after losing slugger Jiselle Nuñez to Pima CC and other talented players, including ace Jorgina Gant to Jackson State. pic.twitter.com/AR2mNPtiIN
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) April 2, 2025
Torres said she weathered the early storms with support of her teammates.
“I definitely think it was my team backing me up on the field and in the dugout,” Torres said. “(It was) us staying positive no matter what happened. Just keep it clean. Just cheering on each other, make everything good.”
After Vega retired seven straight batters, Tucson started to manufacture runs in the sixth inning.
Claudeona Lesley started the inning by reaching on an error. Sofia Trejo followed with a bunt single, moving Lesley to second.
A fielder’s choice got Lesley out at third base before Alma Teillon hit a single up the middle that scored Trejo for the game’s first run.
“After the third time seeing her (Vega), we all knew we had to hit,” Lesley said. “We were all on her.”
Lesley, who finished 2 for 4 with an RBI, drove in the second run of the game in the seventh inning. She hit a double and went to third on the throw, driving in Jaliyah Grigsby after Grigsby reached on an error and advanced to second on that error.
“Just seeing that ball, I knew it was in the gap and I went three,” Lesley said.
Vega got the last two batters to ground out, keeping the Blue Devils down two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Vega’s potent bat — she leads the Blue Devils with five home runs — forced Camen to intentionally walk her twice, including in the seventh with two outs and a runner on first after that player reached on an error.
The game ended with the uncommon ground out of right fielder to first base. Grigsby was playing close to the dirt and threw out the runner after fielding the hard-hit grounder.
Torres scattered four hits in her complete-game shutout. She had six strikeouts and six walks. Sunnyside stranded 11 runners.
Vega gave up seven hits in her seven innings, allowing two runs (only one of them earned) with nine strikeouts and a walk.
The rivalry also featured two of the top-rated teams in the 6A. The AIA released its first power ratings of the season Tuesday and Tucson (12-7) was rated No. 5 and Sunnyside (14-6-1) was at No. 13.
The Badgers have a lofty rating despite losing their ace Jorgina Gant to Jackson State and slugger Jiselle Nuñez to Pima College from last year.
“I didn’t think we’d see ourselves that high in the rankings, but scheduling the tough schedule that we did, I think that’s going to help us come the state playoffs,” Camen said. “Getting us a better ranking will hopefully get us that first-round bye and then we’re going to be battle-tested once we get to the playoffs.
“Playing the schedule that we’ve had. We’ve played quite a few Phoenix teams and have a couple more on the schedule. We’re never going to shy from the competition. We want the competition. We want to play the best because we know to be it, we’ve got to beat them.”
Sunnyside is one of the best the Badgers must face in region play.
The Blue Devils and Badgers will resume their rivalry April 10 at Cherry Field. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
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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 in 2016 and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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