DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, May 18: Farrington Softball Stadium (ASU)

No. 4 Vail Cienega 9, No. 2 Tucson Salpointe 2

 

There is a popular sports myth that puts forth the "wisdom" that it's difficult to beat a team three times in one season. Tell that to the Cienega softball team.

The Bobcats defeated Salpointe 9-2 Monday night to capture the Division II championship and the win was the third over the Lancers this year. No, the third time may not have been difficult, but it was impressive.

The Bobcats (26-8) had the toughest strength of schedule in Division II (8.8743) with Salpointe (29-8) heavily factored into that formula. The second-seeded Lancers were clearly the class of the regular season but No. 4 Cienega always found a way to get the win.

Cienega beat Salpointe 3-2 in late March and 3-1 in the semifinal round.

The championship game may not have lived up to drama that was building during the playoffs mainly because Cienega knew what Salpointe was capable of. A team of destiny after they defeated No. 3 Glendale Cactus in extra innings last Tuesday, their legend grew even larger after the Lancers came back from a 4-1 deficit in the seventh inning to get past No. 9 Peoria Sunrise Mountain in the semifinals.

No lead was safe against a team full of heart and Cienega knew it.

"We knew we had to play at a different level and score as much as we could," Green explained. "It was never enough because Salpointe is a great team."

Cienega scored three runs in the bottom of the first with senior outfielder Shelby Kennedy starting things off. Kennedy holds the stolen base record for Cienega for a reason.

Kennedy reached on a walk and then stole second base. After a strikeout, Kennedy took third base and scored on an error on the attempt to throw her out. Melanie Cross followed with a single and Miranda Carley was hit-by-pitch to put two runners on.

Salpointe pitcher Delfina Morales picked up another strikeout but Taylor Lambert delivered on a triple to the fence to score two more runs.

Green was aided by a couple of incredible catches in the outfield by Lambert and Tori Brown but it was a lucky bounce and roll in the second inning that prevented Salpointe from scoring and changing momentum.

With Avri Jimenez at third and Megan Flores standing at first with two outs, leadoff batter Allie Curtis hit a hard bouncer to shortstop Mickaela Keiser. Keiser was able to deflect the ball and it rolled behind second base where Bailey Pavelich was able to stretch out and grab it for the force out at second base.

Salpointe would not threaten again until the top of the seventh.

Meanwhile Brown hit an RBI double in the second inning to make it 4-0 and three more runs crossed in the fourth to make it 7-0. Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage had replaced Morales in the second inning and she retired six of the last seven batters she faced but Shae Bushey and Brown hit back-to-back singles to put Cienega back in business.

Aguilar-Beaucage picked up a strikeout but Keiser loaded the bases on an infield hit and Cross cleared the bases on a double. Kennedy added an RBI in the fifth and Salpointe was down 8-0 and thoughts began to turn to a run-rule by Cienega.

Cienega loaded the bases again in the bottom of the sixth and a single could have ended the game but Salpointe limited the damage with Keiser scoring on an error to make it 9-0.

Green was able to keep Salpointe's hitters at bay but the Lancers went down with a fight in the seventh inning.

"I was thinking no lead was safe but I had faith in Kayla and our defense," Kennedy said. "It wasn't over until the last out."

Curtis reached on fielder's choice and Yannira Acuña followed with an infield single. Annie Scarangella scored Curtis and Salpointe was on the scoreboard. Green picked up her fifth strikeout of the game but Erika Marquez singled home Acuña to make it 9-2.

But the deficit was too big and Green induced a pop fly to end the game.

"We started a little too late this time but we showed we had heart," Scarangella said. "Cienega is a good team. This was a great experience and I couldn't have asked for a better group of girls or coaches for my senior year."

Green saw redemption in the face of previous playoff losses that had sent talented Bobcat teams home much too early in her first three years.

"I feel we choked in the past because we were much better," she explained. "The difference with this team was that we knew we had to compete at a different level just like we did tonight. If we played the same then Salpointe would have won."

Cienega outscored their playoff opponents 60-11 in five games with only Salpointe giving them a scare. The Bobcats definitely took it to the next level.

"We peaked much too early in the past," Kennedy offered as the reason for their past frustrations. "We came on strong and I wouldn't want it any other way. We came to this school to win and our dreams came true."

The win was the second title for Cienega under head coach Eric Tatham but it was Salpointe's Amy Rocha's first trip to the final since winning two as a player in 1993 and 1996.

There were no underdogs this year. All the top teams could have easily won the championship. With skill level this high, coaching does not become easier. In many respects, it gets more difficult with playing time, strategy and parents who expect results after years of year-round competition.

Rocha handled all postgame interviews like a seasoned pro and the dugout was already being used by the next team when she turned to collect her belongings some 20 minutes after the game.

She exited the stadium down a long corridor to find her team and was greeted by her players and their parents with a standing ovation. One parent yelled out, "We love you Amy!"

"I told my players to remember this feeling and everything starts this fall," Rocha said. "I am very proud of the players who were put in my path. They played with heart and they always went after the next pitch."

Tatham was named Arizona Coach of the Year when he had fewer stars with even fewer headlines. Reaching 200 career wins, he has proven he could coach with any roster handed to him.

He will say goodbye to seniors Kennedy, Keiser, Pavelich, Green, Cross and Hailey Kinseth. Kinseth picked up five wins from the circle this year which means every senior contributed fully to their success.

But Tatham also has youth coming back as does Rocha. So does Canyon del Oro, Ironwood Ridge and Sahuaro.

Do we really have to wait another year?

 

GAME NOTES

Salpointe senior Ashley Broder broke her nose in the second inning diving into third base.  She will be fine.

Eric Tatham won a state championship playing baseball for Tucson High under Oscar Romero.

Former Canyon del Oro and University of Arizona pitcher Kenzie Fowler was the commentator for Fox Sports Arizona.

Cienega assistant Morghan Doughty won a championship for the Bobcats in 2010. Her sister Abby is a freshman on the team this year.