Dobson girls softball team didn't have much luck in its first tournament 10 days ago (the rain-shortened Marcos-Dobson Invitationa), but has found the going better the past couple days at the Marcos de Niza-McClintock Invitational.

Dobson erupted for 13 run and setnt 17 batters to the plate in the third inning Monday morning to knock off host Marcos de Niza, 19-5, in a tourney game shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.

Dobson improved to 4-5 on the season and won its third game in as many tries in tournament pool play. Dobson knocked off Vista Grande and Poston Butte on the initial day of play on Saturday.

"We're playing better and really hitting well," Dobson coach Jeff Sherrer said. "We've played better defense, too."

Dobson spotted Marcos de Niza a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but came back for three runs of its own in the bottom of the frame. That 3-1 lead held up until the third inning when nine hits, two walks, a hit batter and two errors had the host Lady Padres reeling.

The big day at the plate belonged to Dobson third baseman Kelly Stumper and outfielder Alyssa Thibodeau. Stumper went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple, a single and four RBI. She also scored four times. Stumper was playing despite a bad hamstring and sore ACL. Stumper had some added pain when she dove for a ball down the line in the fourth and it took a bad hop and clipped her in the face. She remained in the game and was able to add her fourth hit.

Thibodeau stroked a pair of two-run doubles and a sacrifice fly. She finished with five RBI. Had the center-field fences at MDN's south field not been 220 feet, Dobson may well have had four or five home runs.

Dobson lefty Samantha Zamora went the distance without being overpowering. Zamora didn't walk a batter or strike a batter out. She led her defense make the plays. Dobson committed two errors, but only one by Zamora helped prolong an inning.

Also collecting multiple hits for Dobson were Alycea Chacon (two), Mariah Parks (two) and Kelsey Moron (two). Moron had three RBI and Parks had two. Marcos de Niza, which was outhit 13-8, was led by Korynn Molina with a triple, single and RBI.

Dobson played later on Monday and dropped a 5-1 decision to Perry. Perry ran its pool record to 4-0 while Dobson dropped to 3-1 along with Vista Grande (3-1). Vista Grande and Perry face off on Tuesday (March 11) at 10 a.m. at Marcos de Niza.

In other games Monday at Marcos de Niza, Vista Grande beat Poston Butte, 12-1 and Marcos de Niza, 9-1. Perry topped Cesar Chavez 8-4 and Chavez followed that with a 15-12 win over Poston Butte.

Games Monday at McClintock HS saw Skyline top McClintock 10-1, Skyline defeat Mesquite 7-3, Williams Field outslug Casa Grande, 14-8 and Casa Grande edge McClintock, 5-3. Skyline ran its record in the tournament to 4-0 in the McClintock pool. The Lady Coyotes clinched a berth in Wednesday's 2 p.m. title game at Marcos de Niza.