San Manuel softball coach Deanne Brewer and her coaching staff had the bills of their caps flipped up.

The large group of red and blue-clad fans who made the 2 ½-hour trip from the southern Arizona community to north Phoenix were screaming in support their team on Saturday night (May 11).

But could the Miners really do it? Could they rally from a late 2-1 deficit and defeat Phoenix Northwest Christian for the Division IV state championship?

The team’s hitters took care of their part of the deal, collecting four straight hits with two outs in the top of the seventh inning for a 5-2 lead.

But the bottom of the seventh remained, and top-seeded Northwest Christian wasn’t going to fade away into the sunset in the battle of the top two seeds. The Crusaders scored twice and had the tying run at first, but San Manuel freshman pitcher Lyana Waddell and her defense came through, holding on for a 5-4 triumph at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex.

It was the first state title for San Manuel (28-8) since 1994 and fifth crown overall. Northwest Christian (28-6) finished as state runner-up for the third time, the most recent in 2008. The Crusaders also had won five titles.

A bases-loaded walk to Alyssa Cuellar forced in the first run of the seventh and a 2-2 tie for San Manuel, followed by a two-run single to short right field by Felicia Medina and a run-scoring single to left by MacKenzie Vindiola.

In the bottom of the seventh, Northwest Christian got doubles from its first two batters, Elizabeth Bostwick and Brianna James. Gabby Marrama hit a sacrifice fly for one run and James scored on an error.

Waddell then retired one batter on a fielder’s choice and got the final out herself on a tapper back to the circle.

Brewer said she wasn’t one bit worried about her team being able to come back, because it had done so before in a tournament at Winkelman Hayden.

“I’m just so proud of the team. We fought and fought and fought,’’ she said.

Asked about the caps, she said, “The rally hats are the way to go!’’

San Manuel, which took a 1-0 lead in the second on a home run by Angelica Zuniga, had the bases loaded with only one out in the fifth. However, Northwest Christian was able to wiggle off the hook without any damage.

Cuellar had been struggling at the plate, and Brewer tried to calm her down and build her confidence.

“I was scared. I was really nervous. I didn’t know what to do,’’ the sophomore said as tears of joy streamed down her cheeks. “(Brewer) just told me to wait for my pitch.

“This is great. We have an outstanding team.’’

Brewer also lauded Waddell.

“She might get rattled a little, but it doesn’t last long. She comes right back and does the job,’’ said Brewer, who has all but one of her players coming back next year.

Waddell admitted that she, too, was nervous, “but I knew that my team had my back. I just tried to go pitch by pitch. It is great to win. We all worked hard together.’’

Fred Haeger, who took over as Northwest Christian coach this season, said this group of players had the most fun and were the hardest-working group of athletes he has had in 30 years of coaching.

“The kids never quit. I know that’s a cliché that every coach says, but it’s true,’’ he said.