LINK: FREE NEVADA/ALASKA PHOTOS
Sunnyside lost to Southern California 6-3 Wednesday night in Nogales and the lost dropped the Arizona state champion to the third place game against the loser of either Washington or Hawaii Thursday night.
Nevada 17-0 https://t.co/C32Wpb0blZ pic.twitter.com/fJr5vQvSXh
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 28, 2022
Nevada beat Alaska 17-0 Wednesday night at Arthur Pack to capture the Junior West Softball Region championship and the berth to the Junior League World Series slated for Kirkland, Washington. Nevada will face Latin America (Curacao) on Sunday, July 31 at 8 a.m. to start the tournament off.
Summerlin South Little League (Nevada) made it to the Softball World Series last year in North Carolina where the team finished 2-3 in the modified bracket that did not include international teams due to COVID restrictions. Six players from that squad are on the Junior Softball team headed to Kirkland according to the coaching staff.
Ava Koenig led Nevada (4-0) with four wins from the circle with 30 strikeouts in 19 innings of work with no runs given up. As a team, Nevada outscored opponents 56-1 at the West Regional. Alaska (4-2) battled back through the Elimination Bracket after losing their second game to Washington on Sunday.
Nunaka Little League eliminated Southern California 7-5, Marana 9-2 and Washington 9-8 to set up the championship final Wednesday night. Nunaka coach Tiara Page played for Alaska in 2012 when the team won the West Region and then won the Junior Softball World Series over Canada 6-2.
Former 2-time Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year and Conference USA standout with Louisiana Tech Taria Page won the Junior West Region as a player and she guided Alaska to the Championship round using her positive approach to the game some 10 years later @AZDistrict5LL pic.twitter.com/W2njgeUim4
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 28, 2022
Curacao (Soraida Juliana Little League) beat Rio Rico 2-0 to claim the championship of the Latin America Region. The Czech Republic (Moravia Little League), Connecticut (Milford Little League) and Texas East (Columbus Little League) are the other teams in Pool B along with Nevada.
ESPN Plus with carry all pool play and bracket games and ESPN 2 will show the championship game on Saturday, August 6.
Nevada only gave up one run this week at Arthur Pack. Pitcher Ava Koenig was a big reason https://t.co/LxGBRRgxJo pic.twitter.com/nEyHIsdhcp
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 28, 2022
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27
50/70 WEST REGION: NOGALES (D-8)
So. California 6, Sunnyside 3 (Semifinal)
THURSDAY, JULY 28
50/70 WEST REGION: NOGALES (D-8)
Sunnyside vs. Washington/Hawaii, 5 p.m. (Third Place)
FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER
Named one of “Arizona’s Heart & Sol” by KOLD and Casino del Sol, Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and a 2019 AZ Education News recognition. He was a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is a Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. He earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater and he was recognized by City Councilman Richard Fimbres. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com