Morenci girls down to five region games
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI — Five region games remain for the Joseph Garcia-coached No. 11 Morenci Wildcats (9-10 overall, 1-2 region). The first is against the No. 34 Tucson Santa Rita Eagles (1-7, 0-4) on Tuesday, April 8. The second has the Wildcats traveling to Tucson to face the No. 21 Desert Christian Eagles (3-11, 2-2) on Friday, April 11.
Other pairings for South Region members this week (April 8-April 12) include No. 25 Saint Augustine Catholic at No. 8 Bisbee and No. 9 Tombstone at Desert Christian on April 8; Tombstone at No. 17 Benson and Saint Augustine at No. 39 San Miguel Catholic on Thursday, April 10; and Santa Rita at Willcox on April 11.
Non-region pairings include 4A No. 11 Tucson Mica Mountain at Willcox on April 8 and 1A No. 7 Winkelman Hayden at Bisbee on April 11.
Upcoming 2A East Region pairings include No. 40 Gilbert Classical at No. 22 Pima on April 9; Pima at No. 20 Miami on April 11; and Miami at No. 28 Leading Edge on April 12.
Non-region pairings include Miami at Kearny Ray on April 8; Pima at Fort Thomas and Phoenix Maryvale Prep at Leading Edge on April 10; and Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic at Chandler Prep on April 11.
2A South Region Standings
Region standings through April 5 have Willcox (13-7 overall, 8-1 seeding, 4-0 region) first, Bisbee (12-7, 7-2, 3-0) second, Benson (9-10, 6-5, 3-1) third, Tombstone (9-12, 7-4, 1-1*) fourth, Tucson Desert Christian (3-11, 3-5, 2-2) fifth, Morenci (9-10, 5-6, 1-2) sixth, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (7-6, 6-5, 1-2) seventh, Tucson Santa Rita (1-7, 1-7, 0-4) eighth, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-9, 0-9, 0-3*) ninth.
Region game results through April 7 include Willcox over Santa Miguel (27-4 in 4 inn, March 24), Morenci (17-16, March 27), Benson (17-7 in 5 inn, April 2), and Saint Augustine (21-5 in 5 inn, April 4); Bisbee over Desert Christian (16-6 in 5 inn, March 24), Morenci (17-14, April 2), Santa Rita (27-0 in 5 inn, April 4); Benson over San Miguel (22-1 in 4 inn, March 27), Santa Rita (21-1 in 5 inn, April 2), and Desert Christian (10-9, April 4); Morenci over Tombstone (15-13, March 24); and Saint Augustine over Santa Rita (34-15 in 5 inn, March 24).
2A East Region Standings
Region standings through April 5 have Chandler Prep (12-3 overall, 6-1 seeding, 2-0 region) first, San Carlos (3-6, 3-4, 1-0) second, Miami (7-7, 5-5, 1-1) third, Pima (3-6, 1-4, 1-1) fourth, Gilbert Leading Edge (5-7, 3-6, 0-1) fifth, and Gilbert Classical (0-7, 0-7, 0-2) sixth.
Region game results through April 5 Chandler Prep over Pima (12-8, March 28) and Miami (9-7, April 1); San Carlos over Gilbert Classical (17-5, April 3); Miami over Gilbert Classical (4-27, March 28); and Pima over Leading Edge (17-13, April 3).
2A State Rankings
Statewide ranking for 2A South Region member teams through April 7 have Willcox (7-1 seeding, 11.9269 rating) No. 4, Bisbee (6-2, 9.1161) No. 8, Tombstone (7-4*, 7.9164) No. 9, Morenci (5-5, 6.8009) No. 11, Benson (5-5, 1.4833) No. 17, Tucson Desert Christian (3-5, minus 2.0147) No. 21, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (5-3, minus 3.9158) No. 25, Tucson Santa Rita (1-6, minus 11.0148) No. 36, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-9*, minus 12.3044) No. 39.
Rankings for 2A East Region members were Chandler Prep (6-1 seeding, 7.2064 rating) No. 10, Miami (5-5, minus 0.7270) No. 20, Pima (1-4, minus 2.3954) No. 22, San Carlos (3-3, minus 5.6647) No. 26, Gilbert Leading Edge (3-6, minus 6.7480) No. 28, and Gilbert Classical (0-7, minus 15.0996) No. 40.
No. 34 Santa Rita Eagles (1-7 overall)
The Latron Carter-coached 2A South Region Eagles (1-7 overall, 1-7 seeding, -4 region) are averaging a 9-6 (155-109) score per game or a 3-run margin through eight games.
Santa Rita has a seeding game win over Sells Baboquivari (28-12, March 6) along with losses to along with losses to Phoenix Maryvale Prep (6-20 in 4 inn, Feb. 27), Saint Augustine (7-22 in 5 inn, March 3), Saint Augustine (15-34 in 5 inn, March 24), Fort Thomas (7-23 in 4 inn, March 25), Desert Christian (3-24 in 4 inn, March 27), Benson (1-21 in 5 inn, April 1), and Bisbee (0-27 in 5 inn, April 4).
The Eagles have a 13-member team, with a roster of 10 seniors, a junior, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors Evangeline Alvarez (5), Zarayah Anderson (6), Victoria Cantu (16), MJ Gomez (14), Naima Gomez (4), Kiera Jacoby (9), Bella Pena (17), Delijah Reyes (10), Alexis Santos (7), and Hazel Sparks (3); junior Maddalyn Thompson (1); and sophomores Alex Mora (13) and Alena Padilla (15).
Santa Rita competes in the nine-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, and San Miguel Catholic.
No. 21 Desert Christian Eagles (3-11 overall)
The Simon Crawford-coached 2A South Region Eagles (3-11 overall, 3-5 seeding, 1-2 region) are averaging an 8-11 (118-155) score per game or a 3-run deficit through 14 games.
Desert Christian has seeding game wins over San Miguel (18-3 in 4 inn, March 5), Santa Rita (24-3 in 4 inn, March 27), and San Miguel (31-5 in 4 inn, April 1) along with losses to Benson (8-12, March 3), Bisbee (6-16 in 5 inn, March 24), Phoenix Horizon Honors (3-16, March 29), Benson (9-10, April 4), and Tombstone (0-18, April 7).
The Eagles went 0-6 during the three-day Canyon del Oro tourney, falling to Thatcher (5-11 in 5 inn, Feb. 26), Gilbert Higley (0-10 in 5 inn, Feb. 26), Marana (9-12 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), Vail Cienega (0-12 in 5 inn, Feb. 27), Phoenix Desert Vista (0-16 in 5 inn, Feb. 27), and Tucson Sabino (5-11 in 6 inn, Feb. 28).
Desert Christian has a 13-member team, with a roster of three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Lilly Crawford (22), Abby Littleton (7), and Aimee Lloyd (5); juniors Presley Carlson (11), Emmy Welch (2), and Alexa Yarger (10); sophomores Kaitlyn Farias (12), Amara Murillo (18), Lucy Richter (14), Cali Smith (24), and Clair Williams (8); and freshmen Mikayla Hodges (9) and Reece Welch (4).
The Eagles compete in the nine-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
No. 10 Morenci Wildcats (9-10 overall)
The Joseph Garcia-coached 2A South Region Wildcats (9-10 overall, 5-6 seeding, 1-2 region) are averaging a 9-8 (169-157) score per game or a 1-run margin through 19 games.
Morenci has seeding game wins over Miami (11-0 in 5 inn, March 5), Pima (15-0 in 5 inn, March 11), Eagar Round Valley (13-3 in 6 inn, March 19), Tombstone (15-13, March 24), and Fort Thomas (18-2 in 5 inn, April 2). The losses are to Willcox (0-10 in 5 inn, March 14), Saint Johns (6-9, March 17), Willcox (16-17 in 10 inn, March 27), Tucson Empire (1-11 in 5 inn, March 28), Bisbee (14-17, April 1), and Horizon Honors (3-22 in 5 inn, April 4).
The Wildcats went 3-1 during the 3-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tournament and 1-3 during the 2-day Chandler Prep tourney. Morenci topped Gilbert Christian (23-0 in 3 inn, Feb. 27), San Tan Valley Poston Butte (9-7 in 6 inn, Feb. 28), Phoenix Northwest Christian (14-2 in 5 inn, March 1), and Prescott (5-2 in 6 inn, March 20). The losses were to Phoenix Horizon Honors (4-11 in 5 inn, Feb. 28), Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep (0-18 in 5 inn, March 20), Phoenix Thunderbird (2-12 in 5 inn, March 21), and Thatcher (0-1, March 21).
Morenci has a 15-member team with two seniors, three juniors, six sophomores, and four freshmen. The roster includes seniors Ariana Burnette (20) and Cameryn Woodall (3); juniors Jaliyah Hernandez (14), Jaimie Turner (2), and Shaylee Wichmann (13); sophomores Tiara Jones (15), Kieralyn Madrigal (6), Malina Martinez (7), Mayeli Salazar (5), Kailee Sandoval (8), and Janessa Webb (9); and freshmen Ava Basteen (1), Khloee Kouts (11), Emily Rivera (17), Leiah Strong (16), and Alyza Marin (19).
The Wildcats compete in the nine-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
