Peoria Sunrise Mountain entered Saturday’s (March 30) final round of the Sandra Day O’Connor Softball Festival in north Phoenix with the No. 5 spot in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s Division II power rankings.

After an impressive showing on Saturday, the Mustangs could be nearing the top of the ladder soon.

They defeated Yuma Gila Ridge 5-1 in the first game of the day, followed by a 6-2 triumph over Avondale Westview in the semifinals and the crowning achievement, an 11-1, 6-inning win over host O’Connor for the tournament title.

Sunrise Mountain climbed to 20-1. O’Connor, which defeated Glendale Raymond S. Kellis 15-5 in its semifinal, fell to 11-10.

Sunrise Mountain jumped on top early with four runs in the first inning on two walks, a hit and a pair of errors.

The Mustangs’ pitching ace, left-hander Taylor Nowlin, stepped into the circle and kept O’Connor under control, although it wasn’t as dominating of a performance as she is capable of having.

She gave up seven hits, walked none and struck out four. O’Connor’s run came in the fourth inning on a single by Ally Colyar.

The Mustangs were at full gallop in the top of the sixth, scoring seven runs on seven hits, including two-run home runs by Molly Stern and Whitney Chamberlain.

Chamberlain’s shot hit the top of the left-field fence and went over.

Sunrise Mountain has three games in the coming week. On Tuesday (April 2), the Mustangs travel to face a rejuvenated Glendale Cactus team, then have home games on Thursday (April 4) against Kellis and Friday (April 5) against Glendale Copper Canyon.