Copper Hills, representing Arizona, trailed 5-1 against Hawaii entering the bottom of the sixth inning Monday morning, needing at least four runs to keep the game going and five to stay alive and move forward in the Little League Softball West Region Tournament at San Bernardino, Calif.
The Sahuarita-based team rallied for the five runs, capped by Madison Braden’s walk-off two-run single with two outs to beat Hawaii 6-5 in an elimination game.
Copper Hills will next face Southern California, which defeated Utah 9-0 in another elimination game Monday. The Copper Hills-Southern California game will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. on ESPN+.
Five singles, a walk and fielder’s choice set up Braden’s heroics.
Tia Pacheco started the Copper Hills rally in the sixth against Hawaii with a single. An out later, Azalia Vizzerra hit a single that moved Pacheco to third base. Blake Moreno followed with another single that brought home Pacheco to cut the lead to 5-2.
A single by Aubrey Wesner loaded the bases. Alexis Ortega‘s single scored Vizzerra, cutting the deficit to 5-3, and also kept the bases loaded.
After Alani Parra walked to force in Moreno, a fielder’s choice grounder to third base caused an out at home plate.
Copper Hills trailed 5-4 with two outs when Braden came to the plate. On the first pitch, Braden lined a single to right field that scored Ortega and Parra ran home on the throw for the winning run.
Braden, whose father Ryan Braden manages the team, finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Ortega was 2 for 3 with a run and RBI, and Moreno went 2 for 3 with a run and RBI.
Copper Hills had 11 hits, all singles.
Wesner earned the complete-game victory, scattering seven hits over six innings with five runs (four earned) with three walks and six strikeouts. She threw 118 pitches, 71 of them strikes.
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