Wildcats host Roughriders on Thursday

Morenci faces Horizon Honors on Friday

By Raymundo Frasquillo

MORENCI – The Joseph Garcia -coached No. 10 Morenci Wildcats (7-5 seeding, 5.1228 rating) host the No. 22 Pima Roughriders (6-5, minus 2.9154) for a 4 p.m. start on Thursday, April 16.

But first, the Wildcats are Tucson-bound to meet the No. 39 San Miguel Catholic Vipers (2-10, minus 14.9639) for a region contest on Wednesday, April 15. The ensuing home game is with non-region No. 7 Phoenix Horizon Honors (11-2, 11.0359) on Friday, April 17.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jaliyah Hernandez reaches out to slap hands with head coach Joseph Garcia as she rounds third base. The Morenci senior drilled a 2-out, 1-ball pitch over the left field fence for her fifth home run. Hernandez also posted a 2-out, 2-strike double and batted 1.000 (2-2) with five RBIs and has a .491 (28-57) average with 21 RBIs for the season from the No. 2 slot.

Two current Morenci Class of 2026 team members are 2-0 versus San Miguel, 6-0 versus Pima, and 1-3 against Horizon Honors, averaging a 16-0 (32-0) score per game or a 16-run margin against the Vipers, an 18-1 (105-7) score per game or 17-run margin against the Roughriders and a 4-12 (17-46) score per game or an 8-run deficit against the Eagles.

The Wildcats downed the Vipers by forfeit on April 16, 2025 and 31-0 (4 inn) on April 12, 2023 as well as attained abbreviated wins over the Roughriders of 15-0 (5 inn) in Pima on April 17, 2025, 15-0 (5 inn) in Morenci on March 11, 2025, 11-1 (5 inn) and 23-3 (3 inn) in Morenci on April 22, 2024, 25-3 (5 inn) in Pima on April 24, 2023, and 16-0 (5 inn) in Morenci on March 28, 2023.

Against Horizon Honors, the win is 8-7 in Morenci on April 17, 2024 while the losses are 3-22 (5 inn) in Phoenix on April 4, 0-9 (5 inn) during Benjamin Franklin tourney on Feb. 24 2024, and 6-8 in Phoenix to the eventual state champion during the state tourney first round on April 29, 2023.

This week (April 13-18):

This week in the 2A South Region, Willcox hosts Desert Christian, Morenci visits San Miguel, and Benson hosts Saint Augustine on April 15; Morenci hosts 2A East Region Pima and Tombstone visits Saint Augustine on April 16; Willcox hosts 2A East Region Miami, Morenci hosts 2A Valley Region Phoenix Horizon Honors, Tombstone hosts Bisbee, Benson visits Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills, and Saint Augustine hosts 3A South Region Tucson Catalina on April 17; and Desert Christian visits San Miguel on Saturday, April 18.

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Gloria Encinas (8) swings for a miss. The Willcox junior batted .500 (2-4) with a double and two RBIs against Morenci.*

It was Morenci 25-1 (4 inn) over 2A East Region Chandler Prep, Bisbee 23-1 (5 inn) over San Miguel, Benson 13-8 0ver 2A East Region Pima, Saint Augustine 16-1 (4 inn) over 3A Independent Tucson Palo Verde Magnet, and 1A East Region Winkelman Hayden 24-5 (4 inn) over Desert Christian on April 13.

The 2A East Region member pairings include Chandler Prep visiting 2A West Region Wickenburg and Gilbert Classical hosting 2A Central Region Tempe Prep on April 14; Pima visiting San Carlos for a double-header on April 15; Pima visiting 2A South Region Morenci on April 16; and Miami visiting 2A South Region Willcox and Gilbert Classical visiting 1A East Region Superior on April 17.

It was Miami 19-6 over 3A East Region Whiteriver Alchesay, 2A South Region Benson 13-8 over Pima, and 2A South Region Morenci 25-1 (4 inn) over Chandler Prep on April 13.

No. 39 San Miguel Vipers (2-10 seeding, minus 14.9639 rating)

San Miguel (2-10 overall, 2-10 seeding, 0-4 region) is averaging a 5-17 (59-205) score per game or a 12-run deficit through 12 games.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Jaim’ee Marie Rodriguez delivers a pitch. The Class of 2019 Morenci grad lost her life on Dec. 15, 2020. The game with Chandler Prep was dedicated to her memory and love for the game of softball. She is survived by her parents, Corrina and Victor Rodriguez.

The Pete Rios-coached Vipers have seeding wins over Tucson Catalina (18-5 in 5 inn, March 12) and Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (17-0 in 5 inn, March 17) along with losses to Tombstone (5-25 in 5 inn, Feb. 25), San Manuel (4-21 in 4 inn, March 9), Kearny Ray (0-16 in 4 inn, March 20), Willcox (0-21 in 4 inn, March 23), Benson (0-20 in 5 inn, March 26), Phoenix Christian (0-21 in 4 inn, March 28), Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (7-21 in 3 inn, March 30), Desert Christian (7-18 in 5 inn, March 31), Saint Augustine (0-13 in 5 inn, April 10), and Bisbee (1-23 in 5 inn, April 13).

San Miguel is competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowgirls, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, and the Santa Rita Eagles.

No. 22 Pima Roughriders (6-5 seeding, minus 2.9154 rating)

Pima (12-8 overall, 6-5 seeding, 2-1 region) is averaging a 12-8 (243-157) score per game or a 4-run margin through 20 games.

The Greg Cooper-coached Roughriders have seeding wins over Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (20-0 in 4 inn, March 4), Fort Thomas (17-4 in 5 inn, March 10), Mesa American Leadership – Mesa North (25-7 in 4 inn, March 25), Chandler Prep (9-4, March 27), Gilbert Classical (25-3 in 5 inn, April 8), and Elfrida Valley Union (20-7 in 5 inn, April 11) along with losses to Morenci (0-14 in 5 inn, March 11), Horizon Honors (0-20 in 4 inn, March 30), Kearny Ray (7-10, March 31), and Miami (5-8, April 9).

Additionally, the Eagles went 3-2 during the Valley Union tourney and 3-1 during the 2-day Horizon Honors tourney. The wins were over Fort Thomas (8-4 in 5 inn, March 7), Duncan (10-7 in 5 inn, March 7), Winkelman Hayden (11-6 in 5 inn, March 7), Avondale Highland Prep West (17-13 in 5 inn, March 19), Pinon (21-1 in 4 inn, March 20), and Salome (19-9 in 5 inn, March 20). The losses were to Hayden (7-8 in 5 inn, March 7), Bisbee (5-6, March 7), and Keams Canyon Hopi (9-10 in 5 inn, March 19).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Gianni Celentano (4) fouls off a pitch against Morenci. The Chandler Prep junior outfielder got two hits as she batted 1.000 (2-2) on the afternoon. The visitors batted .118 (2-17) compared to .481 by the host Wildcats.

A 15-member roster has five seniors, two juniors, five sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Tatum Brinkerhoff (15), Paige DeRusha (17), Hope Perez (10), Maisy Strowd (18), and Bivianna Vega (2); juniors Rhilee John (1) and Ana Montiel (12); sophomores Liliana Apodaca (7), Lynzee Kouts (3), Josie McEuen (5), Isabelle Ontiveros (9), and Cadence Thompson (8); and freshmen Izzee Crockett (13), Ximena Hernandez (6), and Jasmine Taylor (11).

Pima is competing in the 5-member 2A East Region with the Chandler Prep Titans, the Gilbert Classical Spartans, the Miami Vandals, and the San Carlos Braves.

No. 7 Horizon Honors Eagles (11-2 seeding, 11.0359 rating)

Horizon Honors (18-3 overall, 11-2 seeding, 4-1 region) is averaging a 10-4 (219-76) score per game or a 6-run margin through 21 games.

The Bobby Madrid-coached Eagles have seeding wins over Tempe Prep (1-0, March 4), Benson (11-1 in 5 inn, March 17), Eloy Santa Cruz (6-2, March 26), Desert Christian (27-2 in 5 inn, March 27), Pima (20-0 in 6 inn, March 30), Arizona Lutheran (6-2, March 31), Joseph City (10-0, April 4), Saint Johns (6-4, April 4), Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (17-0, April 7), Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (15-0 in 6 inn, April 9), and American Leadership – Anthem South (13-3 in 5 inn, April 13) along with losses to Laveen Heritage (8-9 in 9 inn, March 25) and Camp Verde (3-4, April 10).

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Lyla Ferrell (16) swings on a no-outs, 2-ball pitch for a third-inning double. The Morenci freshman batted 1.000 (1-1) with an RBI.*

Additionally, the Eagles went 3-1 during the 3-day Benjamin Franklin tourney and 4-0 during their own 2-day tourney. The wins were over Flagstaff (8-5 in 6 inn, Feb. 26), Douglas (12-11 in 6 inn, Feb. 27), Snowflake (14-3 in 5 inn, Feb. 28), Phoenix Thunderbird (10-3 in 8 inn, March 19), Eagar Round Valley (11-10 in 5 inn, March 19), Vail Empire (11-8 in 6 inn, March 20), and Laveen Heritage (8-5, March 20). The loss was to Queen Creek Crismon (2-4, Feb. 27).

A 15-member roster has five seniors, three sophomores, and three freshmen. The seniors are Audriana Anglada (27), Josie Barden (17), Lindsey Johnson (7), Isabella Singleton (25), and Nicole Topete (2); sophomores Isabelle Arellano (10), CeCe Brown (00), and Tatum Spindler (12); and freshmen Zariana Osorio-Lopez (11), Alexandra Siderewicz (16), and Annika Smith (13).

Horizon Honors is competing in the 6-member 2A Valley Region with the Eloy Santa Cruz Dust Devils, the Florence American Leadership – Anthem South Titans, the Laveen Heritage Heros, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Coyotes, and the Phoenix NFL Yet Eagles.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Ava Basteen (2) waits for the ball to arrive versus Chandler Prep. The Morenci sophomore singled in a second-inning run to end .500 (1-2) for the game. She is batting .464 (26-56) with 22 RBIs to date.

No. 10 Morenci Wildcats (7-5 seeding, 5.1228 rating)

Morenci (12-8 overall, 7-5 seeding, 3-1 region) is averaging an 11-7 (218-141) score per game or a 4-run margin through 20 games. 25-1

The Joseph Garcia-coached Wildcats have seeding wins over Miami (9-4, March 4), Pima (14-0 in 5 inn, March 11), Bisbee (18-3 in 5 inn, March 13), Tombstone (8-7, March 23), San Carlos (25-1, April 7), and Desert Christian (14-3, April 10), Chandler Prep (25-1 in 4 inn, April 13) along with losses to Saint Johns (4-5 in 8 inn, March 17), Empire (5-11, March 25), Willcox (1-12 in 6 inn, March 26), Round Valley (1-19 in 4 inn, March 30), Willcox (1-11, April 2).

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Khloee Kouts (11) eyes the ball as it leaves the infield for a first-inning bases-clearing triple. The Morenci sophomore batted .500 (2-4) with four RBIs and has a season average of .418 (23-55) with 26 RBIs.

Additionally, the Wildcats went 1-3 during the 3-day Benjamin Franklin tourney and 4-0 during the 2-day Horizon Honors tourney. The wins were over Kearny Ray (15-9 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), North Phoenix (20-2 in 3 inn, March 19), Kayenta Monument Valley (17-13 in 4 inn, March 19), Parker (14-6 in 4 inn, March 20), and Winkelman Hayden (10-2 in 5 inn, March 20). The losses were to Snowflake (9-11 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), Queen Creek Crismon (6-10 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), and Douglas (1-11 in 4 inn, Feb. 28).

A 14-member roster has two seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and four freshmen. The seniors are Jaliyah Hernandez (14), and Shaylee Wichmann (13); juniors Tiara Jones (15), Kieralyn Madrigal (6), Malina Martinez (3), Mayeli Salazar (5), and Kailee Sandoval (8); sophomores Ava Basteen (2), Khloee Kouts (11), and Leiah Strong (17); and freshmen Sophia Araiza (10), Angelina Chavez (9), Lyla Ferrell (16), and Allison Redhouse (4).

Morenci is competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowboys, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.

*Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Art Gherna sweeps off the pitcher’s strip between innings. The area official did so during the Willcox at Morenci April 2 region contest.*

2A South Region Standings

The South Region standings on April 13 had Willcox (17-6 overall, 10-3 seeding, 4-0 region), Morenci (12-8, 7-5, 3-1), Tombstone (13-11, 6-6, 2-1), Bisbee (9-5*, 5-5, 2-1), Benson (5-16, 5-7, 2-2), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (7-5, 7-5, 1-2), Tucson Desert Christian (2-9, 2-9, 1-4), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (2-10, 2-10, 0-4), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-1, 0-1, 0-0).

Fifteen region pairings to date have Willcox over San Miguel (21-0 in 4 inn, March 23), Morenci (12-1 in 6 inn, March 26), Benson (11-0 in 6 inn, April 7), and Saint Augustine (20-0 in 4 inn, April 8); Morenci over Bisbee (18-3 in 5 inn, March 13), Tombstone (8-7, March 23), and Desert Christian (14-3 in 5 inn, April 10); Tombstone over Desert Christian (29-0 in 5 inn, April 7) and Benson (14-0 in 5 inn, April 9); Bisbee over Desert Christian (21-7 in 5 inn, March 23) and Saint Augustine (17-1, April 7); Benson over San Miguel (20-0 in 5 inn, March 26) and Desert Christian (25-11 in 5 inn, April 2); Saint Augustine over San Miguel (13-0 in 5 inn, April 10); Desert Christian over San Miguel (18-7 in 5 inn, March 31); Benson over San Miguel (20-0 in 5 inn, March 26);

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Hattie Macumber (98) delivers the heat in Morenci. The Willcox freshman struck out 17 and yielded two hits while facing 24 batters during seven innings. She has a 17-5 record and 0.74 earned run average, 236 strikeouts, 32 walks, three grazed, and 55 allowed hits while facing 441 batters during 113 of 132 2/3 innings.

2A East Region Standings

The East Region standings on April 13 had Miami (*10-5-1 overall, 10-4-1 seeding, 2-0 region), Pima (12-8, 6-5, 2-1), Chandler Prep (*3-6, 3-5, 1-1), San Carlos (2-9, 2-9, 1-1), and Gilbert Classical (1-10, 1-10, 0-3).

Six region pairings have resulted in wins for Miami over Gilbert Classical (18-1, March 27) and Pima (8-5, April 9); Pima over Chandler Prep (9-4, March 27) and Gilbert Classical (25-3 in 5 inn, April 8); Chandler Prep over San Carlos (22-2, April 8); San Carlos over Gilbert Classical (23-1, April 2).

*Miami, Chandler Prep, San Carlos, and Pima participated in the Horizon Honors tourney on March 19-21.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Lily Williams (15) tucks in the ball as Morenci junior Kieralyn Madrigal is out. The Willcox freshman first baseman made five putouts and is batting .460 (29-63) with 25 RBIs for the season.

2A State Rankings

The statewide rankings as of noon on April 14 had Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (12-1 seeding, 18.4388 rating) No. 1, Laveen Heritage (12-1, 15.7703) No. 2, Eagar Round Valley (12-2, 13.7690) No. 3, Kingman Academy (9-2, 12.8388) No. 4, Camp Verde (13-1, 12.7513) No. 5, Willcox (10-3, 11.8898) No. 6, Phoenix Horizon Honors (10-2, 11.0359) No. 7, and Phoenix Christian (11-3, 8.3385) No. 8.

Saint Johns (7-4, 5.9267) was No. 9, Morenci (7-5, 5.1228) No. 10, Eloy Santa Cruz (7-6, 4.6733) No. 11, Miami (10-4, 3.6373) No. 12, Scottsdale Christian (6-3, 2.0899) No. 13, Tombstone (6-6, 1.7304) No. 14, Flagstaff Northland Prep (5-4, 1.3456) No. 15, and Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (7-6, 0.4988) No. 16.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Mayeli Salazar (5) struck out twice before driving a seventh-inning first pitch over the left field fence. It was the Morenci junior’s initial home run as she finished .333 (1-3) with an RBI. Salazar has a .423 (22-52) batting average with 25 RBIs for the season.

Wickenburg (6-8, minus 0.7024) was No. 17, Bisbee (5-5, minus 1.4373) No. 18, Benson (5-7, minus 2.6879) No. 19, Avondale Highland Prep West (4-5, minus 2.7932) No. 20, Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (6-4, minus 2.7932) No. 21, Pima (6-5, minus 2.9154) No. 22, Chandler Prep (3-5, minus 3.5760) No. 23, and Keams Canyon Hopi (4-7, minus 3.7281) No. 24.

The initial statewide rankings on March 31 had Laveen Heritage (8-0 seeding, 19.7269 rating) No. 1, Mohave Accelerated (7-0, 17.3985) No. 2, Kingman Academy (6-0, 13.9699) No. 3, Phoenix Christian (7-1, 11.4504) No. 4, Willcox (7-2, 9.9163) No. 5, Round Valley (6-1, 9.5268) No. 6, Horizon Honors (4-1, 8.6530) No. 7, and Camp Verde (7-1, 7.3431) No. 8.

Saint Johns (2-2, 4.0511) was No. 9, Morenci (4-4, 4.0008) No. 10, Santa Cruz (5-3, 3.2720) No. 11, Northland Prep (3-0, 3.1470) No. 12, Scottsdale Christian (3-2, 2.9238) No. 13, Pima (4-2, 1.3682) No. 14, Miami (6-4, 0.9640) No. 15, and Tombstone (3-6, minus 0.1453) No. 16. Arizona Lutheran (4-3, minus 0.1823) was No. 17, Saint John Paul II (6-3, minus 0.2444) No. 18, Highland Prep West (3-3, minus 0.5963) No. 19, Fountain Hills (3-2, minus 0.6405) No. 20, Bisbee (3-4, minus 1.3000) No. 21, Sanders Valley (3-3, minus 2.1024) No. 22, Chandler Prep (2-4, minus 2.6695) No. 23, and Wickenburg (3-5, minus 2.7197) No. 24.