Feb. 26-28: Marana Mike Jacob Sports Park

The 21st Annual Dorado Softball Classic is now in bracket play and will continue Saturday with the championship game scheduled for 4 p.m.

Tucson Sabino and Chandler Basha met each other during pool play and are scheduled to meet up again in the second round of the winner's bracket after Basha defeated Tucson Desert View 8-2 and Sabino defeated Scottsdale Cactus Shadows 12-11 in the first round on Friday.

Basha defeated Sabino 16-4 Friday morning with the Sabercats unable to cash in on several scoring opportunities and the Bears taking advantage of several miscues combined with excellent hitting.

Sabino took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but left two runners on while the Bear's first six batters reached home in the bottom half. Sabino left the bases loaded in the third, left two on in the fourth and left the bases loaded again in the fifth.

Basha scored in every inning with senior Brook Breland leading the way by going 3-3 with a homerun.

"We lost ten seniors but the team has responded really well," explained Basha head coach Scott Hoffmeyer. "We need to see how the season goes and playing teams like Sabino and Canyon del Oro will give us a test on where we need to be."

Hoffmeyer coached the Bears two back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009 and to two second place finishes in 2011 and 2012.

On the other hand, Sabino is being led by first-year coach Chelsea Slama.

Slama played on the Sabercat's 2005 state championship team before moving on to becoming an All-Conference player at Pima.

"We are returning only three starters from last year," said Slama. "We are young but they are filled with fire. We need to work on communicating and being positive and we should be okay."

Hannah Freer went 2-2 for the Sabercats with a double.

"I'm really excited and I see it as a blessing to wear the Sabercat logo again," added Slama.

 

BRACKET PLAY

Friday, Feb. 27

Phoenix O'Connor 14, Tucson Flowing Wells 1

Marana Mountain View 19, Tucson Palo Verde 0

Gilbert Mesquite 12, Rio Rico 6

Sabino 12, Scottsdale Cactus Shadows 11,

Chandler Basha 8, Desert View 2

Queen Creek 7, Marana 4

Oro Valley Canyon del Oro 10, Sahuarita 0

Tucson Sunnyside 11, Phoenix Shadow Mountain 2

Casa Grande Vista Grande 3, Rio Rico 0

Mesa Mountain View 8, Tucson Cholla 4

 

Saturday, Feb. 28

Cactus Shadows/Desert View, 8 am

Marana/Sahuarita, 8 am

Shadow Mountain/Rio Rico 8 am

Cholla/TBD, 8 am

O'Connor/Marana Mountain View, 10 am

Sabino/Basha, 10 am

Mesa Mountain View/TBD, 10 am

Sunnyside/Vista Grande, 10 am

Queen Creek/CDO, Noon

Flowing Wells/Palo Verde, Noon