By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – A second 2025 home game will be played in Morenci as the Pima Roughriders visit for their season opener on Tuesday, March 11. Morenci also travels to Willcox on Friday, March 14.
Other seeding pairings for South Region members this week (March 10-15) include Thatcher at Tombstone and Gilbert Leading Edge at Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic on Monday, March 10; Saint David at Tombstone, Bisbee at Willcox on March 11; Benson at Tombstone and Willcox at Eloy Santa Cruz on Thursday, March 13; and Benson at Saint David on March 14.
Bisbee is in the 4-day Tolleson tourney from March 12 to 15, and Saint Augustine hosts a 2-day tourney from March 14 to 15.
2A South Region Standings
Region standings through March 8 have Tombstone (3-4 overall, 2-0 seeding, 0-0 region) first, Morenci (4-1, 1-0, 0-0) second, Bisbee (2-1, 2-1, 0-0) third, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (2-1, 2-1, 0-0) fourth, Benson (2-4, 1-1, 0-0) fifth, Tucson Desert Christian (1-7, 1-1, 0-0) sixth, Tucson Santa Rita (1-2, 1-2, 0-0) seventh, Willcox (0-4, 0-1, 0-0) eighth, and Tucson San Miguel Catholic (0-2, 0-2, 0-0) ninth.
There have not been any region games played to date.
2A East Region Standings
Region standings through March 8 have Miami (2-2 overall, 2-2 seeding, 0-0 region) first, Gilbert Leading Edge (1-2, 1-2, 0-0) second, San Carlos (0-2, 0-2, 0-0) third, Chandler Prep (0-1, 0-1, 0-0) fourth, Gilbert Classical (0-2, 0-2, 0-0) fifth, and Pima (0-0, 0-0, 0-0) sixth.
There have not been any region games played yet.
Pima Roughriders (0-0 overall)
The Greg Cooper-coached 2A East Region Pima Roughriders (0-0, 0-0, 0-0) open their season in Morenci on Tuesday, March 11. They follow it by hosting Duncan on Friday, March 14.
Pima competes in the 6-member 2A East Region with Chandler Prep, Gilbert Classical, Gilbert Leading Edge, Miami, and San Carlos.
Willcox Cowgirls (0-4 overall)
The Trevor Ward-coached 2A South Region Cowgirls (0-4 overall, 0-1 seeding, 0-0 region) are averaging a 4-15 (16-58) score per game or an 11-run deficit through four games.
Willcox fell to Tombstone (5-13, March 4) during the only seeding game played.
The Cowgirls went 0-3 during the 3-day Tucson Canyon del Oro tourney, falling to Phoenix Desert Vista (0-0-16 in 3 inn, Feb. 26), Winslow (9-19 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), and Marana (2-10 in 4 inn, Feb. 27).
Willcox has a 17-member team with seven seniors, one junior, two sophomores, and seven freshmen. The roster includes seniors Morgan Allred (9), Madison Bennett (3), Layla Donahue (4), Gabriela Galaz (12), Alyssa Gonzalez (11), Emma McWilliams (10), and Abi Tingle (7); junior Nataly Thompson (6); sophomores Gloria Encinas (8) and Lilyana Millenaar (16); and freshmen Marlie Allred (2), Annel Arredondo (17), Tatum Defeo (13), Jacqueline Ramirez (19), Karlie St. Clair (5), Ellis Truske (20), and Janelle Vandermeulen (1).
The Cowgirls compete in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Morenci, Tombstone, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
Morenci Wildcats (4-1 overall)
The Joseph Garcia-coached 2A South Region Wildcats (4-1 overall, 1-0 seeding, 0-0 region) are averaging a 12-4 (61-20) score per game or an 8-run margin through five games.
During the only seeding game played, Morenci has run-ruled Miami (11-0 in 5 inns, March 5).
The Wildcats went 3-1 during the 3-day Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin tourney, topping Gilbert Christian (23-0 in 3 inn, Feb. 27), San Tan Valley Poston Butte (9-7 in 6 inn, Feb. 28), and Phoenix Northwest Christian (14-2 in 5 inn, March 1). The loss was to Phoenix Horizon Honors (4-11 in 5 inn, Feb. 28).
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), and Leiah Strong (16).
The Wildcats compete in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
Morenci – 11, Miami – 0 (5 inn)
Miami junior Larissa Barcon singled on with one out in the first inning and advanced to second and third on an errant pick-off attempt, and that was the furthest any of the Vandals got during the rest of the game. A strikeout and unassisted putout retired the side. The visitors went three up and three down during the other four at-bats.
Morenci sent 10 batters to score six runs in the bottom of the frame on a single, two doubles, and a home run; had five batters for a run in the second on a single and two doubles; seven batters in the third for three runs on three singles and a home run; and six batters in the fourth for a run on a single.
For the game, Morenci batted .480 (12-25), left five runners on, and committed an error compared to .063 (1-16), no runners on, and an error by Miami.
Hernandez batted 1.000 (3-3, 2 doubles, RBI), Jones .667 (2-3, double, home run, 3 RBIs); Madrigal (RBI), Salazar (double), and Turner each .500 (1-2); and Basteen (RBI), Martinez (RBI), Wichman (2 RBIs), and Woodall (HR, 2 RBIs) .333 (1-3) apiece.
In the circle, Woodall struck out 11 and yielded a lone hit while facing 16 batters during five innings requiring 66 pitches. For Miami, Barcon batted .500 (1-2), and freshman Tessa Roberts yielded 12 hits, struck out four, and walked three while facing 28 batters during four innings.
