By Don Ketchum

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The sound of pitch after pitch hitting the catcher’s mitt was music to the ears of softball players from Glendale Deer Valley.

It was a sign that senior pitcher Lauren Haeger was at the top of her game in a Class 5A Division II state-tournament second-round game at Phoenix Pinnacle on Tuesday (May 3).

Boom!

Haeger’s bat coming in contact with the ball in the third inning also was a pleasant sound. The Skyhawks took comfort in seeing the ball fly over the left-field fence, just inside the foul pole, for a home run.

Haeger gave herself the only run she would need in Deer Valley’s 1-0 victory.

Fifth-seeded Deer Valley (27-6) advances to the Pool A semifinals against either top-seeded Phoenix Horizon or No. 8 Gilbert Perry on Saturday (May 7) at 10 a.m. at Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor High. No. 4 Pinnacle (25-7) must come back on Wednesday (May 4) against No. 9 Peoria Centennial, the defending state champion, at 4 p.m. also at O’Connor.

Tuesday’s Deer Valley-Pinnacle contest had to be one of the better-pitched games of the season, by both pitchers.

Haeger gave up just one hit – a first-inning single by Katie McCallister – and struck out 16 in a truly dominating performance.

Haeger, who has signed with the University of Florida and is a member of the U.S. Junior National Team, now has a 23-5 record, a 0.31 earned-run average and has struck out 370 batters in 187 innings. She has struck out 18 in a game on two occasions and 17 three times.

She also has been a significant factor with the bat. She now has 17 home runs, 50 RBIs, 62 hits and has scored 45 runs.

Her Pinnacle pitching counterpart, Jenna Makis, also put forth a strong effort.

Makis, a senior, gave up two hits – Haeger’s home run and an seventh-inning double by Brooke Homsey – and struck out 11.

“It’s been our way to not do things very easy,’’ said long-time Deer Valley coach Carl Bakemeier. “Lauren came up with the big hit, and that was the difference. But we knew this was going to be a tough game. Jenna has really improved since she was a freshman and a sophomore and she is the best pitcher we’ve faced since the beginning of the season.’’

Bakemeier watched Haeger warm up before the game and ask her how she was feeling.

“She said she felt great and I said, “Let’s go to work,’ ’’ Bakemeier said.

And Haeger did the job.

“I felt good going in, and even better when I found out what they (Pinnacle) couldn’t hit,’’ she said. “I had a very good rise ball today and I threw my curve away. I watched what the (plate) umpire was calling early in the game, allowing the corners.’’