One final score indicates a pitcher's duel. The other not so much. But trust me, both were dominated by the gals in the circle.

Payson earned a third successive trip to the Diivision III softball title game by scoring an inocuous run in the first inning and making it hold up in a 1-0 triumph over top-seed Cibola at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex. On the same field a little over three hours later, Campo Verde erupted for eight runs in the top of the 11th inning to beat  Desert Ridge, 8-3, in a Division I elimination game.

Payson's opponent in the D-III championship game is Catalina Foothills, a 12-0 winner over River Valley. That game is Tuesday (May 10) at 6:30 at ASU's Farrington Stadiium. Payson moved on with a gem from pitcher Aubrie Paulson, who scattered eight hits, fanned 10 and and walked one. She escaped a seventh-inning jam, with help from Cibola, to preserve the win.

Paulson recorded the first out on sharp lineout to short by Cibola's Daniela Castro. Chandler Arvizo then singled up the middle. A bit to eager to get into scoring position, Arvizo appeared to steal second. She was successful, but called out for leaving early by the base umpire. The next batter, Alicia Young reached on an infield hit. Instead of two on an one out, the Raiders had life, but with a runner at first only. No. 3 hitter Kamryn Moctezuma popped out to third for the final out.

Cibola pitcher Madison Sierra was equally good in the circle. Sierra fanned 12, walked two and gave up only four hits. The run that scored in the first was unearned. Rebecca Bauer singled to begin the game and was sacrificed to second. After Paulson struck out, a weak ground ball to second was bobbled and Kalea Smith reached. During the bobble Bauer raced around third and scored. That ended up being the ball game.

Catalina Foothills broke out the bats and got the usual exceptional pitching from Nic Conway to advance to the D-III final. Conway pitched a six-inning, two-hiiter and struck out 14. She didn't allow a hit until the fifth.

In the D-IV semifinals, No. 2 seed Camp Verde topped No. 11 Morenci. 4-2. The Cowboys play Pueblo, a 10-0 winner over River Valley, in the final on Monday (May 9) at 7:45 p.m. at Farrington Stadium. The D-V finalists are No. 1 Ray, a 10-0 winner over Valley Union, and No. 2 Santa Cruz, a 7-5 victor over Superior..  Ray and Santa Cruz play Monday (May 9) at Farrington Stadium.

D-I ELIMINATION BRACKET:

CAMPO VERDE 8, DESERT RIDGE 3: Lauryn Henderson ripped a two-run homer to ignite an eight-run, 11th inning that carried the Coyotes past the Jaguars. 

Campo Verde's Myka Sutherlin and Desert Ridge's Bailey Klitzke matched goose eggs for 10 innings, dancing around trouble here and therre. But Henderson's homer, after a solid single by Haley Johnston, lit a fire under Campo hitters. Campo Verde collected six hits in the inning and sent 12 batters to the plate against Klitzke and reliever Shaylee Ackerman. The outburst was capped by Johnston's second hit of the inning, a long three-run bomb to right-center off Ackerman.

Klitzke, a senior, entered the 11th inning having allowed eight hits, no walks and 17 strikeouts. She exited after four well-struck hits in succession in the 11th. Sutherlin wasn't as overpowering, but just as effective. The sophomore allowed seven hits over the first 10 innings with seven strikeouts and two walks. Starting to tire as the game wore on and after the long top of th 11th, Desert Ridge averted a shutout scoring three times on four hits.

Campo Verde coach Joe Delsante wasn't sure his team would get the chance to win after it missed out on a good chance in the fifth. He was glad to have Henderson in the lineup as she's always a power threat. One that was missing the first half of the season due to injury.

"We wanted and needed her back," Delsante said. "She hit a big home run last year, a walkoff to beat Williams Field. As far as I'm concerned, this one was a game winner. This game was stressful, but fun at the same time."

In the other D-I eliimination game, defending champ Sandra Day O'Connor stayed alive, defeating Perry, 5-2.  Emma Vesely pitched a two-hitter and Hayley Busby homered an drove in three runs.

 

D-II ELIMINATION GAMES

ARCADIA 5, CANYON DEL ORO 3: Morgan Ash knocked in two runs and Emily Ingles kept the Dorados at-bay at the plate as the Titans stayed alive.

Ari Abalos and Haley Denning drove in two runs apiece -- -- Abalos with a single and bases-loade walk and Denning a two-run single that helped Arcadia go up 5-0 in the top of the third. Morgan Ash led Arcadia with three hits. Ingles allowed five hits and struck out six.

SALPOINTE 7, CASA GRANDE 5: Malaelani Baray-Rocha hit a grand slam in the second inning and a solo shot later pacing the Lancers past the Cougars. Baray-Rocha finished with five RBI. Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage went the dstance for Salpointe and struck out 10.