Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: The Thatcher Junior High Eagles claimed the EAJHA softball title following a 10-3 win over Morenci on May 1. Thatcher defeated Pima 28-4 (4 inn) while Morenci run-ruled Safford during semifinal games on April 29. The 19-member Thatcher roster included Kailee Barry, Kalli Bingham, Kirsten Brown, Milee Carter, Andi Cordova, Brylee Ferrin, Ezara Hales, Kenzi Howard, Alli Johnson, Ali Lorang, Peyton Lunt, Rylen Montoya, Meaghan Quintana, Camilla Robbins, Brinlee Skousen, Aaliyah Solberg, Ava Sweet, Charlotte Tysoe, and Sophie Vise. Head coach Abby Quintana was assisted by Yvonna Chavez, Sadie Skousen, Savanna Solberg, and Melissa Vise.
Thatcher softball and baseball teams finish first
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The Thatcher “Boys and Girls of Spring” both finished atop the inaugural Eastern Arizona Junior High Association’s tourney finales on May 1.
The Abby Quintana-coached Thatcher girls defeated Morenci 10-3 while the Justin Echols-coached Thatcher boys edged Safford 2-1 (8 inn).
Semifinals played on April 29 had Thatcher eliminating Pima 28-4 (4 inn.) and Morenci run-ruling Safford 13-3 for softball, as well as Thatcher ousting Morenci 20-4 (4 inn.) and Safford, slipping past Pima 3-1 for baseball.
It is a learning experience for most participants. They received a taste of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices needed to take place to succeed. Whether they choose to continue the sport in high school is up to them.
Softball: Thatcher – 10, Morenci – 3
Morenci led briefly following 1 1/2 innings of play. A walked Tatum Nelson crossed the plate before the third out was made. The Wildcats tagged home twice more in the fifth, Ava Kerrigan singled on and Aiyanna Merino reached first on an error, and Ava Basteen singled both in with none out.
Thatcher countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame and never trailed after. Andi Cordova reached first on an error and Andi Cordova singled on with no outs, Kalli Bingham singled both in with one out, and a two-out fielding error allowed Bingham to score. The Eagles added four in the third and three in the fourth to complete the scoring.
For the game, Morenci batted .217 (5-23), left five runners on, and committed five errors compared to .167 (4-24), eight stranded runners, and two errors for Thatcher.
Merino batted 1.000 (2-2, RBI), Basteen .500 (1-2, 2 RBIs), and both Khloe Kouts and Angelina Chavez .333 (1-3).
In the circle, Emily Rivera struck out six, walked nine, and yielded eight unearned runs while facing 33 batters during five innings.
For Thatcher, Bingham batted 1.000 (2-2, RBI), Kailee Barry .500 (1-2), and Sophia Vise .333 (1-3).
In the circle, Alli Johnson struck out five, walked two, and allowed two unearned runs while facing 25 batters during six innings. Game information was provided by Thatcher’s coaching staff.
Thatcher had a 24-2 overall record and Morenci a 15-5 mark, with four losses at the hands of the Eagles.
The Benji Morales-coached Morenci Junior High Wildcats included Ava Basteen (2), Angelina Chavez (13), Lyla Ferrell (11), Jaylianna Guzzo (3), Ava Kerrigan (14), Khloe Kouts (7), Alyza Marin (20), Aiyanna Merino (6), Taytum Nelson (10), Emily Rivera (8), and Arisela Salazar (15), and Tamra Sipes (18).
Thatcher listed a 19-member softball roster of Kailee Barry (6), Kalli Bingham (3), Kirsten Brown (16), Milee Carter (2), Andi Cordova (1), Brylee Ferrin (22), Ezara Hales (7), Kenzi Howard (20), Alli Johnson (5), Ali Lorang (13), Peyton Lunt (9), Rylen Montoya (4), Meaghan Quintana (14), Camilla Robbins (15), Brinlee Skousen (10), Aaliyah Solberg (12), Ava Sweet (8), Charlotte Tysoe (11), and Sophia Vise (21).
During the most recent four seasons on the high school level, Morenci (2-4) bowed out of the 2A state meet in the quarterfinals after run-ruling No. 14 Chandler Prep 13-3 (5 inn) in the first round and falling 6-7 to Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated as No. 3 during 2024; run-ruled No. 24 San Carlos 17-2 in the play-in round, and fell 0-7 to No. 8 Phoenix Horizon Honors in the first round as No. 9 during 2023; fell 3-7 to No. 10 Horizon Honors in the first round as No. 7 during 2022; and exited in the quarterfinals after edging No. 10 Kingman Academy 13-12 in the first round and falling 2-6 to No. 2 Flagstaff Northland Prep as No. 7 during 2021.
Thatcher (0-1) was out of the 3A Top 24 at No. 26 during 2024 and 2023; fell 1-9 to No. 10 Gilbert North American Leadership as No. 23 in the play-in round during 2022: and fell 0-10 to eventual state champion and No. 1 Tucson Sabino in the first round as No. 16 during 2021.
Baseball: Thatcher – 2, Safford – 1 (8 inn)
Safford crossed the plate with its initial batter, reaching first on an error and scoring on another error. It would be the only run scored the rest of the game. The Bulldogs left a runner on in the first, the bases loaded in the second, one on in the third, and would go three up and three down during the next five innings.
Designated home team Thatcher left a runner on in the first, one on in the second, two on in the third, one on in the fourth, went three up and three down in the fifth, scored a run in the sixth with the runner reaching first on a walk and going home on a two-out error.
The Eagles left two on in the seventh, singled twice to get runners on in the eighth, and crossed the plate with the deciding run on a fielder’s choice. Jax Shupe and Kase Palmer singled with none out, and No. 6 batter Ben Bolen put the ball in play to allow Shupe to score. Game over.
For the game, Safford batted .138 (4-29), left five runners on, and made one error compared to .179 (5-28), 10 stranded runners, and two errors by Thatcher.
Easton Ballejos, Roy Martin, and Parker Whisman batted .333 (1-3) apiece, and Kayson Leachet .250 (1-4).
On the mound, Whisman struck out eight, walked four, and grazed one while facing 33 batters during seven innings.
For Thatcher, Traekon Kempton batted .500 (1-2), Braydon Nelson and JayLeon Way both .333 (1-3) and Shupe and Palmer .250 (1-4) apiece.
On the mound, Palmer struck out 12 while facing 30 batters during eight innings. Game information was provided by Thatcher’s coaching staff.
Safford had a roster numbering 14, with Easton Ballejos (4), Kaybian Chavez (3), Ryder Dominguez (7), Deagan Faunce (13), Jeremiah Haynes (11), Chandler Hunter (2), Kayson Leachet (10), Roy Martin (6), Drake Miller, Tristen Ogas (16), Christopher Palma (5), Ryder Rios (1), Parker Whisman (22), and Kaden Zuagg (8).
The Thatcher 27-member roster includes Ben Bolen (18), Beau Brewer (27), Colt Daley (13), Lane Daley (8), Weston Dement (7), Gabe Dixon (14), Boston Echols (11), Nate Ellis (5), Waldo Gutierrez (24), Gage Howard (23), Maddox Howard (22), Gunner Jacob (1), Traekon Kempton (19), Teagyn Masterson (4), Brycen Murphy (15), Braydon Nelson (16), Jacob Ortiz (12), Matthew Ortiz (21), Kase Palmer (10), Krue Ray (2), Bryce Riney (26), Hoyt Romero (25), Maddex Romero (3), Jax Shupe (6), JayLeon Way (9), Liam Whisman (17), and Kash Williams (20).
On the high school level following the regular season over the most recent four seasons, Safford (0-1) advanced to the 3A first round with a 7-3 play-in win over No. 10 Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills and succumbed 1-16 (5 inn.) to Mohave Valley River Valley in the first round during 2024; was run-ruled 2-13 (5 inn.) by No. 12 Tucson Tanque Verde in the play-in round as No. 21 during 2023; ranked No. 24 but bumped out by Blue Ridge during 2022; and No. 16 but bumped out by Florence during 2021.
Thatcher (1-2) was run-ruled 4-14 (6 inn) by No. 10 Queen Creek Crimson during the 3A play-in round as No. 23 during 2024; advanced to the first round with an 8-1 play-in win over No. 15 Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin as No. 18 and fell 4-11 to top seed Chandler Valley Christian in the first round as No. 16 during 2023; advanced to the first round with a 16-0 (5 inn) play-in win over No. 24 Fort Defiance Window Rock, slipped past Benjamin Franklin 11-10 in the first round, and was edged 7-8 by eventual champion Phoenix Northwest Christian in the quarterfinals as No. 9 during 2022; and finished as out of the Top 24 at No. 26 during 2021.
