Florence earns second straight Safford title
By Raymundo Frasquillo
GREENLEE / GRAHAM COUNTIES – The Globe Tigers (1-3 seeding, 0-2 section) visit the MorenciWildcats (0-2, 0-0) on Thursday, March 12.
This Week (March 9-14)
This week (March 9-14) in the section, Globe visits Morenci on Thursday, March 12.
Safford does not have any matches scheduled this week.
Duncan edged Pima 5-4 and Benson downed Section III Saint David 8-1 on March 9; and Globe defeattedMiami 6-3 on March 10; Section II Pusch Ridge defeated Thatcher 7-2 and Duncan defeated Benson 8-1on March 11.
Division III Section I Standings
The section standing as of March 11 were Duncan (3-0 seeding, 1-0 section), Thatcher (4-1, 1-0), Safford (2-1, 1-0), Globe (2-3, 1-2), Benson (2-1, 0-1), Pima (1-1, 0-0), Morenci (0-2, 0-0), and Miami (0-4, 0-1).
Three section pairings resulted in wins by Thatcher over Globe (9-0, Feb. 26), Safford over Globe (7-2, March 4), and Duncan over Benson (8-1, March 11).
Duncan (2-0) is 9-3 in singles and 4-2 in doubles. Top seed junior Lily Ford is 1-1, No. 2 junior Heidi Miller 2-0, No. 3 senior Emily Evans 2-0, No. 4 junior McKenzie Jones 1-1, No. 5 freshman Bailey Jones 2-0, and No. 6 junior Roxy Donaldson 1-1.
In doubles, Ford – Miller is 1-1, Evans – McKenzie Jones 2-0, and Bailey Jones – Donaldson 1-1.
Thatcher (4-1) is 25-5 in singles and 12-3 in doubles. Top seed senior Sophie Haynie is 2-1, No. 2 junior Sarah Sampson 4-1, No. 3 senior Leah Bryce 5-0, No. 4 senior Katie Bastian 4-1, No. 5 junior Jaiden Wakefield 4-1, No. 6 senior Savanna Kartchner 2-1, junior Ella Goodman 2-0, and sophomore Ruby Ellerman 2-0 in singles.
In doubles, No. 1 Haynie – Sampson is 2-1, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian 2-1, No. 3 Kartchner – sophomore Macady Kartchner 2-1, Sampson – Bryce 2-0, No. 2 Bastian – Wakefield 2-0, and Goodman – Ellerman 2-0.
Safford (2-1) is 10-8 in singles and 6-3 in doubles. Top seed junior Iris Green is 2-1, No. 2 sophomore Emma Rodriguez 2-1, No. 3 junior Amanda Neal 1-0, No. 4 senior Phoebe Tarnutzer 1-2, No. 5 senior Hailey Foote 2-1, No. 6 sophomore Maya Biggs 1-1, sophomore Brynlee Cluff 1-1, and sophomore Addie Lines 0-1 in singles.
In doubles, No. 1 Green – Rodriguez is 2-1, No. 2 Tarnutzer – Foote 1-1, No. 3 Biggs – Lines 0-1, Biggs – sophomore Brynlee Cluff 2-0, and Tarnutzer – Neal 1-0.
Globe (2-3) is 15-15 in singles and 5-10 in doubles. Top seed junior Teairsa Ellis 1-4, No. 2 sophomore Liza Shank is 4-1, No. 3 senior Evelyn Parker 3-2, No. 4 sophomore Carlee Van Buskirk 1-2, No. 5 junior Aaliyah Ortiz 2-3, No. 6 senior Milynn Allinson 1-2, junior Azucena Medrano 2-1, and sophomore Taylor Ortega 1-0 in singles.
In doubles, No. 1 Ellis – Parker is 1-4, No. 2 Shank – Van Buskirk 1-1, No. 3 Ortiz – Allison 1-0, Shank – Ortega 1-0, Ortiz – Medrano 1-1, Shank – Allinson 0-1, Shank – Ortiz 0-1, Ortiz – Van Buskirk 0-1, Medrano – Allison 0-1.
Benson (2-1) is 11-7 in singles and 5-4 in doubles. Top seed junior Lucy Cooper is 3-0, No. 2 senior Andrea Hummel 2-1, No. 3 sophomore Melanie Pettinger 2-1, No. 4 sophomore Paisley England 2-1, No. 5 senior Celina Yockey 2-1, No. 6 freshman Savannah Moyers 0-1, and senior Juana Macias 0-2 in singles.
In doubles, No. 1 Hummel – Yokey is 1-1, No. 2 Pettinger – England 2-1, No. 3 Moyers – freshman Gabrielle Castagno 0-1, Hummel – Macias 1-0, Cooper – Macias 0-1, and junior Adalie Lewis – freshman Hazel Chapman 1-0.
Pima (1-1) is 5-7 in singles and 5-1 in doubles. Top seed senior Merrill Decrow is 1-1, No. 2 senior MileyPreston 0-2, No. 3 freshman Audrey Bryce 0-2, No. 4 junior Perry Bingham 1-1, No. 5 junior Paizli Payne 1-1, No. 6 freshman Brielle Allen 1-0, and freshman Tynzli Hatch 1-0.
In doubles, No. 1 Decrow – Hatch is 1-0, Preston – Allen 1-0, and Bryce – Bingham 2-0.
Morenci (0-2) is 0-12 in singles and 0-6 in doubles. Top seed junior Ariza Espinoza is 0-1, No. 2 junior Izzalana Gobert 0-2, No. 3 senior Blanca Macario 0-2, No. 4 junior Adriana Dorame Galindo 0-2, No. 5 junior Kaylee Rorhman 0-2, No. 6 sophomore Alizza Pearson 0-2, and junior Daisy Dia 0-1 in singles.
In doubles, No. 1 Espinoza – Gobert is 0-1, No. 2 Macario – Galindo 0-1, No. 3 Rorhman – Pearson 0-2, Gobert – Macario 0-1, and Dia – Galindo 0-1.
Miami (0-4) is 9-15 singles and 4-8 in doubles. Top seed senior Adrina Kaulaity 2-2, No. 2 senior Alexis Moody 1-3, No. 3 sophomore Liliana Light 1-3, No. 4 sophomore Evelyn Ramos 1-2, No. 5 junior Emily Sanchez 2-2, No. 6 junior Sienna Egitto 1-2, freshman Valeria Macinas Portillo 0-1, and sophomore Savina Williams 1-0.
In doubles, No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody is 2-2, No. 2 Light – Ramos 0-3, and No. 3 Sanchez – junior Sienna Egitto 0-2, Sanchez – Portillo 0-1, Sanchez – Williams 1-0, and Wohler – freshman Emilia Crowell 1-0.
Safford Invitational (March 6)
Florence captured its second straight Safford Invitational title following two straight wins (2024, 2023) by the Bulldogs. The Gophers totaled 25 points, Safford 18, Miami eight, and Morenci three.
Individual 3-0 gold medalists were Florence No. 1 senior Tatiana McKissack, No. 3 sophomore Elizabeth Gurule, No. 4 junior Sophia Billingsley, No. 5 senior Erin McCabe, and No. 6 sophomore Eleanor Stone, along with Safford No. 2 sophomore Emma Rodriguez in singles.
Second in singles were Safford No. 1 junior Iris Green, No. 3 junior Amanda Neal, No. 5 senior Hailey Foote, and No. 6 sophomore Addison Lines, along with Florence No. 2 senior Nicole Erhard and Miami No. 4 sophomore Evelyn Ramos.
First place doubles teams were all from Florence, No. 1 McKissack – Gurule, No. 2 Billingsley – McCabe, and No. 3 Erhard – Stone.
Florence – 7, Safford – 2 (Round 3)
The Gophers posted four singles and all three doubles wins over the host Bulldogs.
It was top seed senior Tatiana McKissack 7-6 over junior Iris Green, No. 3 sophomore Elizabeth Gurule 6-1 over junior Amanda Neal, No. 5 senior Erin McCabe 6-2 over senior Hailey Foote, and No. 6 sophomore Eleanor Stone 6-4 over sophomore Addison Lines in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 McKissack – Gurule 6-4 over Green – sophomore Emma Rodriguez, No. 2 junior Sophia Billingsley – McCabe 6-2 over Neal – senior Phoebe Tarnutzer, and No. 3 senior Nicole Erhard – Stone6-4 over Biggs – Cluff.
For Safford, it was No. 2 Rodriguez 6-0 over Erhard and No. 4 Tarnutzer 6-4 over Billingsley in singles.
Miami – 6, Morenci – 3
The Vandals won five singles and a doubles pairing from the Wildcats.
It was top seed senior Adrina Kaulaity, No. 3 sophomore Liliana Light, No. 4 sophomore Evelyn Ramos, No. 5 junior Emily Sanchez, and No. 6 freshman Valeria Macinas Portillo 6-3 over junior Ariza Espinozay, 6-1 over senior Blanca Macario, 7-5 over junior Adriana Dorame Galindo, 6-1 over junior Kaylee Rorhman, and 7-5over sophomore Alizza Pearson, respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Kaulaity – Moody 6-1 over Espinoza – Gobert.
For Morenci, it was singles No. 2 junior Izzalana Gobert 6-1 over senior Alexis Moody along with doubles No. 2 junior Daisy Dia – Macario 6-4 over Light – Ramos and No. 3 Galindo – Pearson 6-2 over Sanchez –Portillo.
Florence – 9, Morenci – 0 (Round 2)
The Gophers swept the Wildcats, winning all six singles and all three doubles.
It was top seed McKissack 6-0 over Espinoza, No. 2 Erhard 6-1 over Gobert, No. 3 Gurule 6-1 over Dia, No. 4 Billingsley 6-1 over Galindo, No. 5 McCabe 6-0 over Macario, and No. 6 Stone 6-0 over Rorhman, respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 McKissack – Gurule 6-1 over Espinoza – Gobert, No. 2 Billingsley – McCabe 6-1 over Dia – Macario, and No. 3 Erhard – Stone 6-3 over Galindo – Pearson.
Safford – 7, Miami – 2
The Bulldogs triumphed in four singles and all three doubles over the Vandals.
It was top seed Green, No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 5 Foote, and No. 6 Lines 6-4 over Kaulaity, 6-2 over Moody, 6-3 over Sanchez, and 6-1 over Portillo, respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez 7-5 over Kaulaity – Moody, No. 2 Neal – Tarnutzer 6-0 over Light – Ramos, and No. 3 Biggs – Cluff 6-1 over Macinas – Portillo.
For Miami, it was singles No. 3 Light 7-6 over Neal and No. 4 Ramos 6-0 over Tarnutzer,
Florence – 9, Miami – 0 (Round 1)
The Gophers swept the Vandals, winning all six singles and three doubles from the Vandals.
It was top seed McKissack, No. 2 Erhard, No. 3 Light, No. 4 Billingsley, No. 5 Foote, and No. 6 Portillo 6-4 over Kaulaity, 6-2 over Moody, 6-3 over Light, 6-3 over Ramos, 6-0 over Sanchez, and 6-1 over Portillo, respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 McKissack – Gurule 6-3 over Kaulaity – Moody, No. 2 Billingsley – McCabe 6-1over Light – Ramos, and No. 3 No. 3 Erhard – Stone 6-0 over Macinas – Portillo.
Safford – 9, Morenci – 0
The Bulldogs swept the Wildcats, winning all six singles and all three doubles.
It was top seed Green, No. 2 Rodriguez, No. 3 Neal, No. 4 Tarnutzer, No. 5 Foote, and No. 6 Lines 6-0 over Espinoza, 6-0 over Gobert, 6-0 over Dia, 7-5 over Galindo, 6-0 over Macario, and 6-2 over Rorhman, respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez 6-1 over Espinoza – Gobert, No. 2 Neal – Tarnutzer 6-0 over Dia -Macario, and No. 3 Biggs – Cluff 6-2 over Galindo – Pearson, respectively.
Globe – 9, Coolidge – 0 (March 6)
The visiting Globe Tigers blanked the host Bears, leaving Pinal County with wins in all six singles and three doubles.
Top seed sophomore Liza Shank, No. 2 senior Evelyn Parker, No. 3 junior Teairsa Ellis, No. 4 junior Aaliyah Ortiz, No. 5 junior Azucena Medrano, and No. 6 sophomore Taylor Ortega defeated senior Donna Hansen (6-0, 6-2), senior Sophia LaPaglia Pisano (6-0 twice), sophomore Sharleen Cabello (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Jersey Duran (6-0 twice), freshman Teyah Tapia (6-1, 6-2), and freshman Elliette Schaffer (6-1, 6-2), respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Ellis – Parker over Hansen – Pisano 8-6, No. 2 Ortiz – Medrano over Cabello – Schaffer 8-2, and No. 3 Shank – Ortega over freshmen Avery Garcia – Ayatzini Segura 8-1.
Gilbert Classical – 9, Miami – 0 (March 5)
The visiting Spartans shutout the host Vandals, taking all six singles and three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed junior Martina Adsara Criscuolo, No. 2 senior Esha Bhatia, No. 3 sophomore ManasviTalasila, No. 4 senior Aria Wu, No. 5 senior Kiley Arendt, and No. 6 sophomore Asha Weiden posted wins over senior Adrinay Kaulaity (6-2, 6-3), senior Alexis Moody (6-3, 6-2), sophomore Liliana Light (6-1, 6-0),sophomore Evelyn Ramos (7-5, 6-4), junior Emily Sanchez (6-0 twice), and freshman Valeria Macinas Portillo(6-1, 6-2), respectively.
In doubles, it was Criscuolo – Bhatia over Kaulaity – Moody 8-3, Talasila – Wu over Light – Ramos 8-6, and Arendt – Weiden over Sanchez – Portillo 8-1.
Thatcher – 9, Sabino – 0 (March 4)
The Eagles shutout the visiting Sabercats, victorious in all six singles and three doubles matches to win the pairing.
It was top seed junior Sarah Sampson, No. 2 senior Leah Bryce, No. 3 senior Katie Bastian, No. 4 junior Jaiden Wakefield, No. 5 junior Ella Goodman, and No. 6 sophomore Ruby Ellerman over senior Lauren Snyder(6-0 twice), junior Kayla Brown (6-2, 6-0), junior Ava Marenfeld (6-0 twice), junior Kennedy Starzel (6-1 twice), senior Madeleine Keippel (6-0 twice), and sophomore Allison Busby (6-0 twice) in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Sampson – Bryce over Snyder – Brown 8-1, No. 2 Bastian – Wakefield over Marenfeld – Starzel 8-0, and No. 3 Goodman – Ellerman over Keippel – Busby 8-0.
Benson – 7, Andrada Polytechnic – 2
The visiting Bobcats prevailed in five singles and two doubles matches to win the pairing.
It was No. 1 junior Lucy Cooper over freshman Avril Mcfadden 8-2, No. 2 senior Andrea Hummel over senior Alyjah Harrison 8-6, No. 4 sophomore Melanie Pettinger over freshman Audrey Azbill 8-0, No. 5 sophomore Paisley England over senior Harmony Davis 8-3, and No. 6 senior Celina Yockey over freshmanAlanah Schrank 8-7 in singles.
In doubles, 8-0 shut outs were posted by No. 2 Hummel – Yokey over Schrank – junior Karla Fragozo-Navarrete and Pettinger – England over freshman Allysandra Cruz – Azbill.
For Andrada Polytechnic, No. 3 Cruz edged senior Juana Macias 8-6 in singles and Mcfadden – Harrison topped Cooper – Macias 8-1 in doubles.
Safford – 7, Globe – 2
The Bulldogs posted wins in four of six singles and all three doubles pairings.
Singles top seed junior Iris Green, No. 2 sophomore Emma Rodriguez, No. 4 senior Hailey Foote, and No. 5 sophomore Maya Biggs over junior Teairsa Ellis (6-0 twice), senior Evelyn Parker (6-0 twice), senior Milynn Allinson (6-0 twice), and junior Aaliyah Ortiz (7-5, 6-3) in singles respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez over Ellis – Parker 8-0, No. 2 senior Phoebe Tarnutzer – Foote over sophomore Liza Shank – Ortiz 8-0, and No. 3 Biggs – sophomore Brynlee Cluff over Allinson – Medrano 8-1.
For Globe, it was No. 3 Shank over Tarnutzer (6-4, 6-2) and No. 6 junior Azucena Medrano over Cluff (6-0 twice).
Saint John Paul II – 9, Morenci – 0
The host Lions swept the visiting Wildcats, allowing a lone point during a singles pairing.
It was top seed sophomore Ania Piatek over junior Ariza Espinoza (6-0 twice), No. 2 sophomore Dominika Grabiec over junior Izzalana Gobert (6-0 twice), No. 3 junior Izabella Frankowski over senior Blanca Macario (6-1, 6-0), No. 4 junior Chantelle Gleaves over junior Adriana Dorame Galindo (6-0 twice), No. 5 juniorSamaira Schieffer over Kaylee Rorhman (6-0 twice), and No. 6 senior Eva Wohler over sophomore Alizza Pearson (6-0 twice) in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Piatek – Grabiec over Espinoza – Gobert 8-0, No. 2 Frankowski – Gleaves over Macario – Galindo 8-0, and No. 3 Schieffer – Wohler over Rorhman – Pearson 8-0.
Thatcher – 9, Safford – 0 (March 3)
The visiting Eagles shutout the host Bulldogs on the blue-topped courts, triumphant in all six singles and three doubles matches to win the match.
It was top seed Sampson, No. 2 Bryce, No. 3 Bastian, No. 4 Wakefield, No. 5 Goodman, and No. 6 Ellerman over junior Iris Green (6-0, 6-1), sophomore Emma Rodriguez (2-6, 6-3, 10-4), senior Phoebe Tarnutzer (6-0 twice), senior Hailey Foote (6-3 twice), sophomore Maya Biggs (6-0, 6-1), and sophomore Addie Lines (6-3, 6-1) in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Sampson – Bryce over Green – Rodriguez 8-4, No. 2 Bastian – Wakefield over Tarnutzer – Foote 8-2, and No. 3 Goodman – Ellerman over Biggs – Lines 8-4.
Apache Junction – 6, Miami – 3
The visiting Prospectors won four singles and two doubles pairings from the host Vandals, No. 2, No. 3, No. 5, and No. 6 singles along with the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles flights.
It was top seed Kaulaity and No. 4 Ramos over senior Lauren Quinney (6-1, 6-2) and junior Alyvia Rivera(7-5, 4-6, 10-5), respectively, in singles.
In doubles, Kaulaity – senior Alexis Moody defeated senior Natalee Anforth – Rivera 8-6.
For Apache Junction, it was No. 2 Anforth, No. 3 senior Shaye Guagliano, No. 5 junior Ellery Brennan, and No. 6 sophomore Deja’Nique Brock over Moody (6-3, 6-4), Light (6-3, 4-6, 14-12), Sanchez (6-1, 6-0), and junior Sienna Egitto (6-2, 6-1), respectively, in singles.
In doubles, it was Quinney – Guagliano over Light – Ramos 8-6 and Brennan – Brock over Sanchez – Egitto 8-0.
Thatcher – 8, Buena –10 (Feb. 27)
A lost tie-breaker kept the visiting Colts from being swept on the road.
It was top seed senior Sophie Haynie, No. 2 Sampson, No. 3 Bryce, No. 4 Bastian, and No. 6 senior Savanna Kartchner over senior Jael Holmes (6-0, 6-3), senior Annette Rice (6-1, 6-2), sophomore Caroline Seamans (6-2, 6-0), sophomore Corynn Haws (6-1, 6-0), and Adrienne Volk Felix (6-2 twice), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Haynie – Sampson over Holmes – Rice 8-1, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian over Seamans – Haws 8-1, and No. 3 Kartchner – sophomore Macady Kartchner over Felix – junior Sophia Phillips 8-4.
For Buena, No. 5 Phillips won the tie-breaker 10-8 to prevail over Wakefield after splitting the sets, Wakefield winning the first 6-2 and Philliops the second 7-6.
Pima – 6, Globe – 3
The host Tigers won three pairings from the visiting Pima Roughriders, the No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 singles.
Singles No. 2 Parker, No. 3 Shank, and No. 4 sophomore Carlee Van Buskirk prevailed over senior Miley Preston (6-4, 6-2), freshman Audrey Bryce (6-1, 3-6, 10-2), and junior Perry Bingham (6-3, 6-2), respectively.
In doubles, it was Decrow – Hatch over Parker – Ellis 8-6, Preston – freshman Brielle Allen over Shank – Buskirk 8-6, and Bryce – Bingham over Ortiz – Medrano 8-0.
For Pima, singles top seed senior Merrill Decrow, No. 5 junior Paizli Payne, and No. 6 freshman TynzliHatch defeated Ellis (6-0, 6-2), Ortiz, (3-6, 6-2, 10-7), and Medrano (6-1, 6-4), respectively.
Thatcher – 9, Globe – 0 (Feb. 26)
The Eagles season home opener resulted in a sweep of the visiting Globe Tigers.
It was top seed Haynie, No. 2 Sampson, No. 3 Bryce, No. 4 Bastian, No. 5 Wakefield and No. 6 Savanna Kartchner over Ellis (6-0 twice), Parker (6-0, 6-1), Shank (7-5, 6-0), Allinson (6-0 twice), Van Buskirk (6-2, 6-0), and Ortiz (6-1 twice), respectively.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Haynie – Sampson over Ellis – Parker 8-0, No. 2 Bryce – Bastian over Shank – Allinson 8-1, and No. 3 Kartchner – Kartchner over Felix – junior Sophia Phillips 8-0.
For Buena, No. 5 Phillips won the tie-breaker 10-8 to prevail over Wakefield after splitting the sets, Wakefield winning the first 6-2 and Phillips the second 7-6.
Safford – 9, Morenci – 0
The Bulldogs swept the visiting Wildcats both in singles and doubles.
It was top seed Green over Gobert (6-1, 6-0), No. 2 Rodriguez over Dia (6-1 twice), No. 3 junior Amanda Neal over Macario (6-2, 6-1), No. 4 Tarnutzer over Galindo (6-2, 6-1), No. 5 Foote over Rorhman (6-0 twice), and Cluff over Pearson (6-2 twice) in singles.
In doubles, it was No. 1 Green – Rodriguez over Gobert – Macario 8-2, No. 2 Tarnutzer – Neal over Dia – Galindo 8-2, and No. 3 Cluff – Biggs over Rorhman – Pearson 8-1.
Saint John Paul II – 7, Miami – 2 (Feb. 25)
The host Vandals received forfeit wins for the No. 5 singles Sanchez and No. 3 doubles Wohler – freshman Emilia Crowell while the visiting Lions had wins in the other five singles and two doubles.
For John Paul II, top seed Grabec, No. 2 Frankowski, No. 3 Gleaves, No. 4 Schieffer, and No. 6 freshman Emilia Crowell defeated Kaulaity (6-1, 6-2), Moody (6-0 twice), Light (6-0, 6-3), Ramos (7-5, 6-3), and Williams (6-0 twice), respectively, in singles.
In doubles, Grabiec – Frankowski downed Kaulaity – Moody 8-2 and Gleaves – Schieffer slipped past Light – Ramos 9-8.
