Safford heads to Morenci on Thursday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GRAHAM COUNTY – Thatcher (9-1 seeding, 13.5539 rating) hosts No. 19 Duncan (5-3, 1.8259) as No. 3 and No. 8 Safford (7-4, 7.5390) hosts No. 35 Miami (2-8, minus 6.8122) on Tuesday, April 14; and No. 23 Pima (3-4, minus 0.2424) hosts No. 25 Benson (7-4, minus 0.6403) on Thursday, April 16.
In Greenlee County, No. 33 Morenci (2-7, minus 3.9975) hosts No. 8 Safford on Wednesday, April 15.
Thatcher is a combined 54-6 in seeding singles matches, Benson 38-28, Globe 37-23, Safford 37-29, Duncan 29-19, Miami 21-39, Pima 19-23, and Morenci 5-31. The Thatcher doubles teams are 27-3, Safford 19-14, Benson 16-17, Duncan 15-9, Globe 15-15, Miami 13-17, Pima 12-9, and Morenci 4-14.
This Week (April 13-18)
This week (April 13-18) in Section I, Thatcher hosts Duncan, Safford hosts Miami, and Morenci visits Pima on April 14; Duncan hosts Section II Tucson Andrada Polytechnic on April 15; Thatcher hosts Miami, Safford visits Morenci, and Benson visits Pima on April 16; and Pima visits Section III Tombstone on April 17.
The remaining regular season pairings include Duncan visiting Miami on April 20; Safford visiting Duncan, Globe visiting Pima, and Benson visiting Section III Tucson Desert Christian on April 21; and Safford hosting Benson, Globe visiting Morenci, and Miami visiting Section III Tombstone on April 22.
Division III Section I Standings
The section standing as of April 11 were Thatcher (9-1 seeding, 5-0 section), Safford (7-4, 3-1), Globe (7-3, 3-2), Duncan (5-3, 2-2), Benson (7-4, 2-4), Morenci (2-7, 1-3), Miami (2-8, 1-3), and Pima (3-4, 1-3).
Eighteen section pairings to date have resulted in wins by Thatcher over Globe (9-0, Feb. 26), Morenci (9-0, March 26), Benson (9-0, March 31), Safford (9-0, April 9), and Pima (9-0, April 10); Safford over Globe (7-2, March 4), Pima (7-2, March 26), and Benson (7-2, April 7); Globe over Miami (6-3, March 10), Duncan (6-3, March 26), and Benson (5-4, March 30); Duncan over Benson (8-1, March 11) and Morenci (8-1, April 9); Benson over Miami (5-4, April 9) and Morenci (7-2, April 10).
No. 3 Thatcher (9-1 seeding, 13.5539)
Thatcher (9-1) is 54-6 in singles and 27-3 in doubles. Singles top seed senior Sophie Haynie is 7-1, No. 2 junior Sarah Sampson 9-1, No. 3 senior Leah Bryce 9-1, No. 4 senior Katie Bastian 9-1, No. 5 junior Jaiden Wakefield 8-1, No. 6 senior Savanna Kartchner 7-1, junior Ella Goodman 3-0, and sophomore Ruby Ellerman 2-0.
In doubles, No. 1 Haynie – Sampson is 7-1, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian 7-1, No. 3 Savanna Kartchner – sophomore Macady Kartchner 6-1, Savanna Kartchner – Goodman 1-0, Sampson – Bryce 2-0, Bastian – Wakefield 2-0, and Goodman – Ellerman 2-0.
No. 8 Safford Bulldogs (7-4 seeding, 7.5390 rating)
Safford (7-4) is 37-29 in singles and 19-14 in doubles. Singles top seed junior Iris Green is 6-5, No. 2 sophomore Emma Rodriguez 7-3, No. 3 junior Amanda Neal 3-6, No. 4 senior Phoebe Tarnutzer 6-5, No. 5 senior Hailey Foote 8-3, No. 6 sophomore Maya Biggs 6-4, sophomore Brynlee Cluff 1-1, and sophomore Addie Lines 0-2.
In doubles, No. 1 Green – Rodriguez is 6-4, No. 2 Neal – Foote 4-3, No. 3 Tarnutzer – Biggs 5-1, Green – Tarnutzer 0-1, Neal – Tarnutzer 1-1, Foote – Biggs 0-1, Tarnutzer – Foote 1-1, Biggs – Lines 0-2, Biggs – Cluff 2-0.
No. 14 Globe Tigers (7-3 seeding, 3.0800 rating)
Globe (7-3) is 37-23 in singles and 15-15 in doubles. Singles top seed sophomore Liza Shank is 5-5, No. 2 junior Teairsa Ellis 5-5, No. 3 sophomore Carlee Van Buskirk 6-2, No. 4 senior Evelyn Parker 4-2, No. 5 junior Aaliyah Ortiz 3-3, No. 6 junior Azucena Medrano 5-2, senior Milynn Allinson 2-3, and sophomore Taylor Ortega 2-0.
In doubles, No. 1 Shank – Ellis is 1-1, No. 2 Medrano – Van Buskirk 2-0, No. 3 Ortiz – Allison 2-1, Ellis – Parker 2-6, Shank – Van Buskirk 4-1, Ortiz – Medrano 3-1, Shank – Ortega 1-0, Shank – Allinson 0-1, Shank – Ortiz 0-1, Ortiz – Ortega 0-1, Medrano – Allison 0-1, Ortiz – Van Buskirk 0-1.
No. 19 Duncan Wildkats (5-3 seeding, 1.8259 rating)
Duncan (5-3) is 29-19 in singles and 15-9 in doubles. Top seed junior Lily Ford is 6-2, No. 2 junior Heidi Miller 6-1, No. 3 senior Emely Evans 7-1, No. 4 junior McKenzie Jones 3-5, No. 5 freshman Bailey Jones 4-4, and No. 6 junior Roxy Donaldson 3-4, and junior Elise Jarvis 0-2.
In doubles, No. 1 Ford – Miller is 5-2, No. 2 Evans – McKenzie Jones 6-1, No. 3 Bailey Jones – Donaldson 3-3, Ford – Evans 1-0, Jarvis – Donaldson 0-1, McKenzie Jones – Bailey Jones 0-1, Bailey Jones – Jarvis 0-1.
No. 23 Pima Roughriders (3-4 seeding, minus 0.2424 rating)
Pima (3-4) is 19-23 in singles and 12-9 in doubles. Top seed junior Ashley Hughes is 0-1, No. 2 senior Merrill Decrow 2-5, No. 3 freshman Audrey Bryce 3-4, No. 4 junior Perry Bingham 3-3, No. 5 junior Morgan Russell 1-1, No. 6 freshman Tynzli Hatch 1-1, senior Miley Preston 1-5, freshman Brielle Allen 4-1, junior Paizli Payne 3-2, and sophomore Jenna Smith 1-0.
In doubles, No. 1 Hughes – Decrow is 0-1, No. 2 Bryce – Russell 0-1, No. 3 Bingham – Hatch 1-1, Bryce – Bingham 3-0, Decrow – Hatch 1-0, Decrow – Allen 2-3, Russell – Smith 1-0, Preston – Bryce 2-1, Preston – Hatch 1-1, Preston – Allen 1-0, and Hatch – sophomore Jenna Smith 0-1
No. 25 Benson Bobcats (7-4 seeding, minus 0.6403 rating)
Benson (7-4) is 38-28 in singles and 16-17 in doubles. Singles top seed junior Lucy Cooper is 9-1, No. 2 senior Andrea Hummel 4-7, No. 3 freshman Hazel Chapman 7-1, No. 4 senior Juana Macias 0-8, No. 5 sophomore Melanie Pettinger 8-3, No. 6 sophomore Paisley England 7-4, senior Celina Yockey 3-2, and freshman Savannah Moyers 0-2.
In doubles, No. 1 Chapman – Hummel is 2-0, No. 2 Pettinger – England 5-5, No. 3 Macias – Moyers 1-1, Cooper – Macias 0-1, Cooper – Chapman 0-1, Chapman – Pettinger 1-0, Chapman – Lewis 3-1, Hummel – Macias 2-2, Hummel – Yokey 1-4, England – junior Adalie Lewis 1-0, Moyers – freshman Gabrielle Castagno 0-1, Moyers – Lewis 0-1.
No. 33 Morenci Wildcats (2-7 seeding, minus 3.9975 rating)
Morenci (2-7) is 11-43 in singles and 6-21 in doubles. Singles top seed junior Ariza Espinoza is 0-7, No. 2 junior Izzalana Gobert 0-9, No. 3 junior Daisy Dia 1-7, No. 4 junior Adriana Dorame Galindo 4-5, No. 5 senior Blanca Macario 3-5, No. 6 junior Kaylee Rorhman 3-6, sophomore Alizza Pearson 0-3, and junior Ximena Estrada 0-1.
In doubles, No. 1 Espinoza – Gobert is 1-6, No. 2 Dia – Galindo 1-6, No. 3 Macario – Rorhman 4-2, Gobert – Dia 0-1, Galindo – Rorhman 0-1, Pearson – junior Ximena Estrada 0-1, Macario – Galindo 0-1, Rorhman – Pearson 0-2, Gobert – Macario 0-1.
No. 35 Miami Vandals (2-8 seeding, minus 6.8122 rating)
Miami (2-8) is 21-39 singles and 13-17 in doubles. Top seed senior Adrina Kaulaity 8-2, No. 2 senior Alexis Moody 4-5, No. 3 sophomore Liliana Light 2-8, No. 4 sophomore Evelyn Ramos 4-6, No. 5 junior Emely Sanchez 1-9, No. 6 junior Sienna Egitto 1-2, freshman Valeria Macinas Portillo 1-6, and sophomore Savina Williams 0-1.
In doubles, No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody is 6-3, No. 2 Light – Ramos 4-6, and No. 3 Sanchez – Egitto 0-3, Sanchez – Portillo 1-5, Kaulaity – Portillo 1-0, and Sanchez – Williams 1-0.
Thatcher – 9, Pima – 0 (April 10)
The visiting Eagles left Pima with a sweep of the Roughriders, winning all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed senior Sophie Haynie, No. 2 junior Sarah Sampson, No. 3 senior Leah Bryce, No. 4 senior Katie Bastian, No. 5 junior Jaiden Wakefield, and No. 6 senior Savanna Kartchner defeated junior Ashley Hughes (6-0 twice), senior Merrill Decrow (6-1, 6-2), freshman Audrey Bryce (6-3, 6-0), junior Perry Bingham (6-1, 6-2), senior Morgan Russell (6-2, 6-3), and freshman Tynzli Hatch (6-0, 6-1), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Haynie – Sampson 8-2 over Hughes – Decrow, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian 8-6 over Bryce – Russell, and No. 3 Savanna Kartchner – sophomore Macady Kartchner 8-2 over Bingham – Hatch.
The Gregory School – 8, Safford – 1 (April 10)
Senior Hailey Foote kept the visiting Griffins from leaving Safford with a sweep of the Bulldogs, winning her singles pairing in two sets.
The Gregory School top seed senior Ellie Sundt, sophomore Layla Lizon, freshman Vivianna Moore, senior Lauren Horowitz, and senior Amanda Piper defeated junior Iris Green (6-1 twice), junior Amanda Neal (6-2 twice), senior Phoebe Tarnutzer (6-2 twice), sophomore Maya Biggs (6-2 twice), and sophomore Addie Lines (6-2), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Sundt – Lizon 8-0 over Green – Tarnutzer, No. 2 Vivianna Moore – senior Anacelia Moore 8-4 over Neal – Foote, and No. 3 Horowitz – Piper 8-2 over Biggs – Lines.
For Safford, singles No. 4 Foote downed Anacelia Moore 6-2 and 6-3.
Benson – 7, Morenci – 2 (April 10)
The host Bobcats sent Morenci home with two wins, one each in singles and doubles.
Singles top seed junior Lucy Cooper, No. 2 senior Andrea Hummel, No. 3 freshman Hazel Chapman, No. 5 sophomore Melanie Pettinger, and No. 6 sophomore Paisley England defeated junior Ariza Espinoza 8-2, junior Izzalana Gobert 8-3, junior Daisey Dia 8-0, senior Blanca Macario 8-1, and junior Kaylee Rorhman 8-1, respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Hummel – Chapman 8-2 over Espinoza – Gobert and No. 2 Pettinger – England 8-6 over Dia – Galindo.
For Morenci, it was singles No. 4 junior Adriana Dorame Galindo 8-1 over senior Juana Macias and doubles No. 3 Macario – Rorhman 8-4 over Macias – freshman Savannah Moyers.
Thatcher – 9, Safford – 0 (April 9)
The host Eagles swept the visiting Bulldogs, winning all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed Haynie, No. 2 Sampson, No. 3 Bryce, No. 4 Bastian, No. 5 Wakefield, and No. 6 Kartchner defeated Green (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Emma Rodriguez (6-3, 6-0), Neal (6-0, 6-2), Tarnutzer (6-1 twice), Foote (6-2, 6-1), and No. 6 Biggs (6-1, 6-0), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Haynie – Sampson 8-3 over Green – Rodriguez, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian 8-2 over Neal – Foote, and No. 3 Kartchner – Kartchner 8-1 over Tarnutzer – Biggs.
Duncan – 8, Morenci – 1 (April 9)
The host Wildkats sent the neighboring Wildcats home with a lone singles win.
Singles top seed junior Lily Ford, No. 2 junior Heidi Miller, No. 3 senior Emily Evans, No. 5 freshman Bailey Jones, and No. 6 junior Roxy Donaldson defeated junior Ariza Espinoza (6-3, 6-1), junior Izzalana Gobert (6-0, 6-1), junior Daisy Dia (6-1, 6-2), senior Blanca Macario (6-0 twice), and Kaylee Rorhman (5-7, 6-4, 10-5).
In doubles, it was No. 1 Ford – Miller 8-5 over Ford – Miller, No. 2 Evans – McKenzi Jones 8-5 over Dia – Galindo, and No. 3 Bailey Jones – Donaldson 9-7 over Macario – Rorhman.
For Morenci, singles No. 4 junior Adriana Galindo downed junior McKenzi Jones 10-7 in a tie-breaker after splitting sets, falling 2-6 in the first set and winning 7-5 in the second set.
Benson – 5, Miami – 4 (April 9)
The visiting Bobcats won two of three doubles after splitting singles, to leave Miami with a section win.
Singles No. 2 freshman Hazel Chapman, No. 4 sophomore Melanie Pettinger, and No. 5 Paisley England defeated sophomore Lilianna Light (6-3, 6-1), junior Emely Sanchez (6-1, 6-0), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Chapman – Hummel 8-0 over Light – Ramos and No. 3 Macias – Moyers 8-0 over Sanchez – Egitto.
For Miami, singles top seed senior Adrina Kaulaity, No. 3 sophomore Emily Ramos, and No. 6 junior Sienna Egitto downed senior Andrea Hummel (6-1, 6-2), senior Juana Macias (6-2, 4-6, 10-6), and freshman Savannah Moyers (8-4), respectively.
Globe – 7, Apache Junction – 2 (April 8)
The visiting Tigers left Maricopa County with five singles and two doubles wins.
Singles top seed sophomore Liza Shank, No. 2 junior Teairsa Ellis, No. 3 sophomore Carlee Van Buskirk, No. 4 junior Azucena Medrano, and No. 5 junior Aaliyah Ortiz defeated senior Lauren Quinney (7-5, 6-1), senior Natalee Anforth (6-3 twice), senior Shaye Guagliano (6-3, 6-1), senior Adrienne Garcia (6-0, 6-3), and junior Ellery Brennan (6-2 twice).
In doubles, it was No. 1 Ellis – Shank 8-5 over Quinney – Guagliano and No. 2 Van Buskirk – Medrano 8-5 over Anforth – Garcia.
For Apache Junction, it was singles No. 6 Deja’Nique Brock over senior Milynn Allinson (6-1, 6-0) and doubles No. 3 Brennan – Brock 9-7 over Ortiz – Allison.
Safford – 7, Benson – 2 (April 7)
The visiting Bulldogs left Benson with four singles and three doubles wins over the Bobcats.
Singles No. 2 sophomore Emma Rodriguez, No. 4 senior Phoebe Tarnutzer, No. 5 senior Hailey Foote, No. 6 sophomore Maya Biggs defeated senior Andrea Hummel (8-3), sophomore Melanie Pettinger (8-5), sophomore Paisley England (8-3), and senior Celina Yockey (8-0), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez 8-0 over Hummel – Yockey, No. 2 Neal – Foote 8-5 over Pettinger – England, and No. 3 Tarnutzer – Biggs 8-3 over freshman Savannah Moyers – junior Adalie Lewis.
For Benson, it was singles top seed Cooper 8-0 over Green and No. 3 Chapman 8-2 over Neal.
Globe – 6, Miami – 3 (April 6)
The host Tigers left Miami with four singles and two doubles wins.
Singles No. 3 Van Buskirk, No. 4 Medrano, No. 5 Ortiz, and No. 6 sophomore Taylor Ortega defeated Light (6-1, 6-0), Ramos (6-1 twice), Portillo (6-1 twice), and Sanchez (6-1 twice).
In doubles, it was No. 2 Van Buskirk – Medrano 8-5 over Medrano – Light and No. 3 Ortiz – Ortega 8-1 over Portillo – Sanchez.
For Miami, it was singles top seed Kaulaity over Shank (6-1, 6-2) and No. 2 Ellis over No. 2 Moody (6-0, 6-2) and doubles No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody 8-3 over Shank – Ellis.
Safford – 9, Sabino – 0 (April 3)
The visiting Bulldogs left Tucson with a sweep of the Sabercats, winning all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed Green, No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 3 Neal, No. 4 Foote, No. 5 Tarnutzer, and No. 6 Biggs defeated junior Kayla Brown (7-5, 6-2), sophomore Allison Busby (6-0, 6-2), sophomore Mia Achoukian (6-1 twice), sophomore Gilliane Novilla (6-0 twice), sophomore Lily Wahlund Kirchler (6-0 twice), and sophomore Elianna Hersey (6-0 twice), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez 8-0 over No. 2 Neal – Foote 8-1 over Achoukian – Novilla, and No. 3 Tarnutzer – Biggs 8-0 over Kirchler – Hersey.
Safford – 9, Tombstone – 0 (April 2)
The visiting Bulldogs left “The Town to Tough to Die” with a sweep of the Yellow Jackets,” winning all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed Green, No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 3 Neal, No. 4 Foote, No. 5 Tarnutzer, and No. 6 Biggs defeated senior Abigail Satterfield (6-2, 2-6, 10-6), senior A.C. Carroll (6-2, 6-4), senior Vanessa Hibbits (6-7, 6-2, 10-8), junior Ashtyn Valenti (6-0 twice), junior Addison Brooks (1-0, 1-0), and sophomore Carina Hibbits (1-0, 1-0), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez 8-2 over Satterfield – Carroll, No. 2 Tarnutzer – Biggs 8-4 over Vanessa Hibbits – Valenti, and No. 3 Neal – Foote 1-0 over Brooks – Carina Hibbits.
Miami – 5, Pima – 4 (April 2)
The host Vandals edged the visiting Roughriders, winning two of three doubles after splitting singles for the section win.
Singles top seed Kaulaity, No. 2 Moody, and No. 3 Light defeated Decrow (6-1, 6-0), Preston, (6-1 twice), and Aubrey Bryce (6-4, 7-6), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody 8-5 over Decrow – Allen and No. 2 Light – Ramos 8-4 over Preston – Bryce.
For Pima, singles No. 4 Brielle Allen, No. 5 Morgan Russell, and No. 6 sophomore Jenna Smith downed Ramos (7-6, 4-6, 10-8), Portillo (6-0 twice), and Sanchez (6-0 twice), respectively, and doubles No. 3 Russell – Smith 8-1 over Portillo – Sanchez.
Thatcher – 9, Benson – 0 (March 31)
The host Eagles swept the visiting Bobcats, winning all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed Haynie, No. 2 Sampson, No. 3 Bryce, No. 4 Bastian, No. 5 Wakefield, and No. 6 Kartchner defeated junior Lucy Cooper (6-2, 7-5), senior Andrea Hummel (6-0 twice), senior Juana Macias (6-1, 6-0), freshman Hazel Chapman (6-3, 6-2), Melanie Pettinger (6-2, 6-0), and sophomore Paisley England (6-0 twice).
In doubles, it was No. 1 Haynie – Sampson 8-3 over Cooper (6-2, 7-5), senior Andrea Hummel – Chapman, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian 8-0 over Hummel – Macias, and No. 3 Kartchner – Kartchner 8-0 over Pettinger – England.
Safford – 7, Duncan – 2 (March 31)
The host Bulldogs dispatched the visiting Wildkats with two wins, one each in singles and doubles.
Singles top seed Green, No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 4 Tarnutzer, No. 5 Foote, and No. 6 Biggs defeated Ford (6-4, 5-7, 1-0), Miller (6-3, 6-1), McKenzi Jones (7-5, 2-6, 1-0), Bailey Jones (6-1, 6-2), and Donaldson (6-1, 6-0).
In doubles, it was No. 2 Neal – Foote 8-5 over Evans – McKenzie Jones and No. 3 Tarnutzer – Biggs 8-3 over Bailey Jones – Donaldson.
For Duncan, it was singles No. 3 Evans over Neal 1-0 in a tie-breaker, after splitting sets with Evans winning set one 7-5 and Neal set two 7-6, and doubles No. 1 Ford – Miller 8-6 over Green – Rodriguez.
Morenci – 5, Miami – 4 (March 31)
The host Wildcats slipped past the visiting Vandals, winning four singles and a doubles to finish victorious.
Singles No. 3 Dia, No. 4 Galindo, No. 5 Macario, and No. 6 Rorhman defeated Light (6-4, 2-6, 10-7), Ramos (0-6, 6-3, 11-9), Portillo (6-4, 4-6, 10-7), and Sanchez (6-0 twice), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 3 Macario – Rorhman 8-5 over Portillo – Sanchez.
For Miami, singles top seed Kaulaity and No. 2 Moody downed Espinoza (6-0, 6-1) and Gobert (6-0 twice), respectively, along with doubles No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody 8-0 over Espinoza – Gobert and No. 2 Light – Ramos 8-6 over Dia – Galindo.
Globe – 5, Benson – 4 (March 30)
Globe edged Benson in Safford, winning two of three doubles after splitting singles.
Singles top seed Cooper, No. 4 Chapman, and No. 5 Pettinger defeated Shank (6-1, 6-0), Medrano (6-2, 6-4), and Parker (2-6, 6-1, 11-9), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 2 Shank – Van Buskirk 8-2 over Chapman – Lewis and No. 3 Medrano – Ortiz 8-6 over Medrano – Ortiz.
For Benson, it was singles No. 2 Ellis over Hummel (6-4, 6-7, 13-11), No. 3 Van Buskirk over Macias (6-0, 3-6, 10-4), and No. 6 Ortiz over England (6-3, 6-4) along with doubles No. 1 Hummel – Macias 8-2 over Ellis – Parker.
Globe – 6, Duncan – 3 (March 26)
The host Tigers took four singles and two doubles wins from Duncan.
Singles No. 3 Van Buskirk, No. 4 Parker, No. 5 Ortiz, and No. 6 Medrano defeated McKenzi Jones (1-6, 6-1, 10-5), Bailey Jones (7-3, 6-2), Donaldson (6-0, 6-4), and junior Elise Jarvis (6-1, 6-0).
In doubles, it was No. 2 Shank – Van Buskirk 8-4 over Jones – Jones and No. 3 Medrano – Ortiz 8-1 over Donaldson – Jarvis.
For Duncan, singles top seed Ford and No. 2 Evans defeated Shank (5-7, 6-4, 10-4) and Ellis (6-2 twice), respectively, as well as doubles No. 1 Ford – Evans 8-3 over Ellis – Parker.
