Fitting that Empire’s four-year ace Kendall Freidinger finished her last home game at the school Wednesday night by making the final out, fielding a grounder in the circle and throwing to first base.
It was not a strikeout, but Freidinger already had 14 of those in the 6-0 victory over Sabino. She wiped away tears because of it being her last home game after hugging teammates and coaches following the victory.
“It was a super-emotional game throughout the whole thing from the stress, the highs and lows and everything,” Freidinger said. “I’m just glad it ended in such a good way, go out there with a bang, beat a really good team and have that as our end.”
Empire senior ace Kendall Freidinger, bound for Weber State, became emotional after leading the Ravens to their 6-0 win over Sabino in the 3A quarterfinals because she pitched at Empire’s field for the last time in her career. Standing with her is longtime Empire assistant… pic.twitter.com/QW9JfgJpyV
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 8, 2025
Freidinger and her teammates hope they have two games remaining, culminating with a successful defense of their championship earned last season.
The top-seeded Ravens (26-1) will play 3A South nemesis, No. 5 Tanque Verde (26-5), on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Amphi High School in the semifinal round.
A Southern Arizona team is assured to be in the 3A championship game (Monday night at 8 at ASU’s Farrington Stadium) for the eighth consecutive time. Empire (2017 and 2024 champs), Sahuarita (2018), Sabino (2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023) have won in the previous seven title games (the postseason was canceled in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions).
The Hawks, who beat No. 13 ALA-West Foothills 7-0 on Wednesday, are the only team that defeated Empire this season. They ended the Ravens’ 39-game winning streak dating to last season with a 5-1 win at home April 21.
Sophomore ace Claire Achilles led Tanque Verde in that game, scattering three hits with 12 strikeouts and a walk.
“I’m super excited,” Freidinger said of the rematch. “I’ve said from the beginning of the playoffs that I hope we’re able to face them again just because Claire and their offense is so good.
“Just to get another chance to play against such a good team, it will be such a blessing. That’s the type of games we practice for and those are the types of games that we play for.”
Freidinger, who is bound for Weber State, has led the Ravens through many of these type of games with victories.
In her 79 career appearances, Freidinger has a career record of 64-4 with a 1.27 ERA. She has 823 strikeouts with only 68 walks in her 390 1/3 innings of her career.
“It’s been such a blast before she (Freidinger) even got here,” said Kandice Tiggas, an assistant under head coach Shannon Woolridge over the last 12 years. “She came to some camps and we were like, ‘She’s got something.’ I think her freshman year she did a real good job of watching who was above her, and then sophomore year, it was like, ‘Look what we have. Look what we have.’
“We were excited. She is exactly what you see. She is cool. She’s calm. She’s collected. She’s just that pitcher. She’s got the poise. She’s got everything, mentally and physically. We couldn’t be luckier seriously.”
Along with her 14 strikeouts of Sabino (16-12) on Wednesday, Freidinger also allowed only five hits and walked two batters. She battled through the pitching duel with Sabino ace Avery Nielson, who capped her illustrious career with 16 strikeouts in the game.
While Empire may be lucky to have her in the circle, the Ravens won again with their skill and coaching prowess of Woolridge, Tiggas and the rest of the staff.
The Ravens manufactured their runs with numerous bunts and aggressive baserunning with nine stolen bases.
Symbolic of that was when Empire broke out of the scoreless tie in the third inning with small-ball producing three runs.
Emylie Alkire, who was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. She scored on a bunt by Lainey Kroeger with one out. Kroeger then moved to third on Gabrianna Brooks’ bunt single. Yet another bunt, by Abby Zsitvay, scored Kroeger.
On a double steal, Brooks came home after a throwing error occurred to third trying to get her out.
Tiggas’ daughter Kapri, a freshman first baseman, was part of Empire’s lineup productivity with a double and run.
“She’s doing well; she’s got some real great leadership that she has looked up to,” Kandice said. “I think she stepped up this year just because of that. She knew the culture. She’s known the culture since she was 3 since she’s been coming to this ballfield.
“What she has in front of her, these leadership roles these kids have been playing. She knew what she was getting into and she’s ready to step up.”
No. 1 Empire 6, No. 8 Sabino 0
SABINO
SS Alyssa Aguirre, 2-4
1B Anouk Alzaga, 2-3, double
P Avery Nielson, 6 IP, 4H, 6R, 4ER, 5BB, 16Ks
EMPIRE
CF Gabrianna Brooks, 1-3, run, 3 stolen bases
C Abby Zsitvay, 1-2, run, RBI, double, 2 stolen bases
SS Angelina Dehler, 1-4, run, RBI
1B Kapri Tiggas, 1-3, run, double
LF Emylie Alkire, 0-2, run, 3 stolen bases
RF Lainey Kroeger, 0-1, run, RBI, stolen base
P Kendall Freidinger, 7 IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 14Ks (win)
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