The softball rivalry between Peoria Centennial and Glendale Cactus goes back quite a ways. The programs have played for championships, neighborhood bragging rights and everything in between.

Some of the teachers at Centennial are Cactus graduates and perhaps a few vice versa. Current Cactus coach Bartt Underwood formerly coached at Centennial and led the Coyotes to a state title in 2010.

The latest chapter unfolded on Tuesday (April 9) at Centennial.

Centennial scored a run in the second inning and two more in the fourth. Cactus finally got on the board with one in the sixth and Centennial broke it open with six in its half of the sixth before holding off Cactus in the seventh for a 9-4 victory.

Centennial, seeded fourth among Division I teams in the power ratings raised its record to 12-5. Cactus, 16^th in Division II, slipped to 13-9.

The game served as a good ignition point for Centennial as it moves into the final few weeks of the regular season and the state tournament.

Centennial coach Mike Repak believes he has a good nucleus of young players sprinkled with a few key seniors. The Coyotes also are getting close to full health after an auto accident sidelined two players and some other ailments, including the flu, sidelined some players and even Repak and his group of assistant coaches.

“We’re coming together,’’ Repak said. “Of our nine kids on the field today, six were sophomores.

“They are getting an opportunity to see pitches. We can hit. We have a good balance of athletic ability and power. If we can continue to hit, we feel we can hang with anybody.’’

Pitcher Savannah Gomez, one of four seniors on the roster, kept Cactus under control most of the way.

She kept the Cobras off the board on just four hits through the first five innings, but they scored a run on four hits in the sixth.

After Centennial scored six runs in the sixth for a 9-1 lead, she gave up a three-run home run to Jordan Waddell and then left the game with one out to go after a line drive by Giselle Juarez skipped off the ground and deflected off her left leg for a hit.

She limped off the field and Ali Estrada came on to get the final out. Gomez was believed to be OK, and should be back in the circle soon.

Paige Mills drove in a pair of runs in the sixth with a ground-rule double and Autumn Vallie, Karina Ojeda and Tayler Paradiso each drove in a run. The sixth run scored on an error.