Morenci meets Waterloo in Camp Verde
By Raymundo Frasquillo
STATEWIDE – The No. 5 Willcox Cowgirls (14-3 seeding, 12.2679 rating) will represent the South Region in the 2A state tourney quarterfinals on Tuesday, May 5. The region champion Cowgirls face No. 4 Kingman Academy (11-2, 12.9012) after ousting No. 12 Eloy Santa Cruz (9-8, 3.9447) 5-1 during the first round in Willcox on May 2.
Kingman Academy (17-6 overall) has a team .434 (185-426) batting average with 156 of 196 runs batted in; a .915 (265-24-27) fielding average with five double plays; and a 3-member pitching corps combining for a 2.46 earned run average with 134 strikeouts, 27 walks, six grazed batters, and yielding a .187 (64-342) batting average while facing 375 batters during 88 1/3 innings.
Willcox (22-6) has a team .374 (289-762) batting average with 232 of 289 runs batted in; a .911 (478-94-56) fielding average with seven double plays; and five Class of 2029 pitchers combining for a 1.80 earned run average with 313 strikeouts, 41 walks, three grazed batters, and yielding a .173 (106-613) batting average while facing 657 batters during 159 2/3 innings.
Other teams ranked 9-16 were also eliminated, including a South Region trio of No. 10 Morenci (12-6, 6.0457), 4-6 by No. 7 Camp Verde (16-2, 10.5505); No. 11 Tombstone (9-7, 3.9958), 2-4 by No. 6 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 11.6430); and No. 15 Benson (7-9, minus 0.8635), 12-0 (5 inn) by No. 2 Mohave Accelerated (15-2, 17.7814).
No. 4 Kingman Academy Tigers (11-2 seeding, 12.9012 rating)
Kingman Academy (17-6 overall,11-2 seeding, 6-1 region) is averaging an 11-3 (244-77) score per game or an 8-run margin through 23 games.
The Dustin Mote-coached Tigers have seeding wins over Avondale Highland Prep West (18-5 in 3 inn, March 3), Avondale Highland Prep West (12-0 in 3 inn, March 3), Parker (25-1 in 5 inn, March 9), Williams (8-6, March 11), Wickenburg (14-3 in 5 inn, March 23), Joseph City (11-1 in 5 inn, March 28), Glendale Prep (1-0, April 3), Glendale Trivium Prep (24-1 in 4 inn, April 9), Wickenburg (10-0 in 5 inn, April 10), Flagstaff Northland Prep (12-0 in 5 inn, April 13), Whittmann Mountainside (24-1, March 12), Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (19-0 in 4 inn, April 17) along with a loss to Bulllhead City Mohave Accelerated (1-6, April 1) and Mohave Accelerated (2-6, April 7).
Fourth-ranked Kingman Academy also defeated No. 13 Miami (5-0, May 2) during the state tourney first round.
Additionally, the Tigers went 4-1 during the 2-day Wickenburg tourney and 1-3 during the 2-day Kingman tourney. The wins were over Prescott (7-0 in 5 inn, March 6), Phoenix Christian (6-3 in 4 inn, March 6), Phoenix Thunderbird (13-5 in 4 inn, March 6), Benson (6-1 in 4 inn, March 6), and Chinle (14-3 in 5 inn, March 20). The losses were to Vail Empire (3-13 in 3 inn, March 7), Kingman (2-8 in 6 inn, March 20), Lake Havasu (3-7, March 20), and Chino Valley (6-9, March 21).
A 15-member roster has a senior, seven juniors, five sophomores, and two freshmen. The senior is Taylee Mote (2); juniors Dayleen Brazdys (1), Avery Hicks (13), Ana Lopez (67), Caidyn Padilla (21), Ava Sanders (3), Lexi Stephey (9), and Gabby Zubia (18); sophomores Brooke Espinoza (46), Emma Hooper (11), Sarah Page (10), and Savannah Taylor (12); and freshmen Ryleigh Mytinger (28) and Danika Wills (99).
Kingman Academy competed in the 8-member 2A West Region with the Avondale Highland West Prep Hornets, the Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic Lions, the Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated Wolves, the Glendale Prep Griffins, the Glendale Trivium Prep Crimson Knights, the Whittmann Mountainside Wolves, and the Wickenburg Wranglers.
No. 5 Willcox Cowgirls (14-3 seeding, 12.2679 rating)
Willcox (22-6 overall, 14-3 seeding, 7-0 region) is averaging a 10-3 (289-75) score per game or a 7-run margin through 28 games.
The Trevor Ward-coached Cowgirls have seeding wins over Tombstone (13-0 in 6 inn, March 3), Pusch Ridge (8-1, March 6), Eloy Santa Cruz (12-6, March 12), Bisbee (18-2 in 5 inn, March 13), Safford (11-0 in 6 inn, March 17), San Miguel (21-0 in 4 inn, March 23), Morenci (12-1 in 6 inn, March 26), Morenci (10-1, April 2), Benson (11-0 in 6 inn, April 7), Saint Augustine (20-0 in 4 inn, April 8), Desert Christian (18-0 in 4 inn, April 15), Miami (15-0 in 4 inn, April 17), Bisbee (14-0 in 5 inn, April 21), and Tombstone (4-2, April 23) along with a loss to Empire (0-1, March 13), Tanque Verde (1-4, March 25), and Vail Mica Mountain (0-10 in 6 inn, April 1).
Fifth-ranked Willcox also defeated No. 12 Eloy Santa Cruz (5-1, May 2) during the state tourney first round.
Additionally, the Cowgirls went 5-1 during the 3-day Canyon del Oro tourney and 2-2 during the 2-day Horizon Honors tourney. The wins were over Tucson Sabino (15-1 in 5 inn, Feb. 26), Mesa Eastmark (19-2 in 5 inn, Feb. 26), Winslow (19-4 in 5 inn, Feb. 26), Sahuarita Walden Grove (3-2 in 8 inn, Feb. 27), Eastmark (10-0 in 4 inn, Feb. 27), Goodyear Desert Edge (9-1, March 19), and San Tan Valley Poston Butte (10-0 in 6 inn, March 19). The losses were to Tucson Magnet (0-9, Feb. 27), Laveen Heritage (4-5 in 8 inn, March 20), and Empire (7-22 in 4 inn, March 20).
A 15-member roster has a senior, two juniors, five sophomores, and seven freshmen. The senior is Payton Fuentes (17); juniors Gloria Encinas (8) and Lilyana Milenaar (10; sophomores Annel Arredando (4), Jaqueline Ramirez (28), Karlie Saint Clair (5), Janelle Vandermeulen (1), and Sophia Villa (21); and freshmen Lauren Bennett (27), Emma Cosand (13), Shelby Hestand (0), Hattie Macumber (98), Iza Pando (9), Lia Villa (22), and Lilly Williams (15).
Willcox competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Morenci Wildcats, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A State Tourney Quarterfinals (May 5)
The state tourney quarterfinals have No. 1 Laveen Heritage (16-1 seeding, 18.3901 rating) 15-0 (5 inn) hosting No. 8 Saint Johns (12-6, 8.1957) 11-1 (5 inn) and No. 4 Kingman Academy (11-2, 12.9012) hosting No. 5 Willcox (14-3, 12.2679) in the upper bracket.
Lower bracket pairings include No. 3 Eagar Round Valley (15-2, 16.2811) hosting No. 6 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 11.6430) and No. 2 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (15-2, 17.7814) hosting No. 7 Camp Verde (16-2, 10.5505).
No. 7 Camp Verde Cowboys (16-2 seeding,10.5505 rating)
Camp Verde (20-6 overall, 16-2 seeding, 9-1 region) is averaging a 12-3 (300-67) score per game or a 9-run margin through 26 games.
The Mariah Romero-coached Cowboys have seeding wins over Chander Prep (15-0, March 2), Payson (11-4, March 5), Eloy Santa Cruz (6-4, March 17), Chino Valley (10-0 in 5 inn, March 19), Madison Highland Prep (21-1 in 5 inn, March 23), Fountain Hills (24-0 in 4 inn, March 27), Glendale Prep (10-0 in 5 inn, March 30), Sedona Red Rock (18-1 in 5 inn, March 31), Scottsdale Christian (19-9 in 5 inn, April 2), Fountain Hills (25-0 in 5 inn, April 7), Arizona Lutheran (15-2 in 5 inn, April 9), Horizon Honors (4-3, April 10), Phoenix Christian (5-0, April 13), Madison Highland Prep (19-0 in 3 inn, April 15), Sedona Red Rock (20-2 in 5 inn, April 23), and Scottsdale Christian (20-0 in 4 inn, April 27) along with losses to Williams (1-7, March 9) and Phoenix Christian (4-7, April 17).
Seventh-ranked Camp Verde also defeated No. 10 Morenci (6-4, May 2) during the state tourney first round.
In addition, the Cowboys went 0-3 during the 2-day Yuma Catholic tourney and 4-1 during the 3-day Tolleson tourney. The wins were over Kearny Ray (8-6 in 3 inn, March 11), Winslow (16-1 in 3 inn, March 11), Florence (13-0 in 4 inn, March 12), and Mesa Dobson (7-0 in 5 inn, March 13) along with losses California Blythe Palo Verde Valley (0-3 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), Yuma Catholic (4-7 in 5 inn, Feb. 27), Nevada Elko (4-6 in 5 inn, Feb. 27), and Eagar Round Valley (1-13, March 13).
A 14-member roster has three seniors, seven juniors, a sophomore, and two freshmen. The seniors are Aislynn Mulcaire (9), Mariah Munoz (10), and Brayden Sapp (1); juniors Haygen Armstrong (17), Marianna Casillas (3), Ashlyn Durnez (23), Clancy Murdock (21), Kendra Molina (2), Jeslyn Sharp (24), and Madison Weber (8); sophomore Maryah Ruiz (11); and freshmen Tillee Cupp (22) and Kinlee Oothoudt (7).
Camp Verde competed in the 6-member 2A Central Region with the Fountain Hills Falcons, the Phoenix Christian Cougars, the Phoenix Madison Highland Prep Heat, the Scottsdale Christian Eagles, and the Sedona Red Rock Scorpions.
No. 10 Morenci Wildcats (12-6 seeding, 5.1228 rating)
Morenci (18-10 overall, 12-6 seeding, 5-1 region) averaged a 12-6 (339-176) score per game or a 6-run margin through 28 games.
The Joseph Garcia-coached Wildcats have seeding wins over Miami (9-4, March 4), Pima (14-0 in 5 inn, March 11), Bisbee (18-3 in 5 inn, March 13), Tombstone (8-7, March 23), San Carlos (25-1, April 7), and Desert Christian (14-3, April 10), Chandler Prep (27-1 in 4 inn, April 13), San Miguel (29-9 in 5inn, April 15), Pima (6-5, April 16), Benson (7-5, April 20), Saint Augustine (24-0 in 4 inn, April 24), and Fort Thomas (23-3 in 4 inn, April 27) along with losses to Saint Johns (4-5 in 8 inn, March 17), Empire (5-11, March 25), Willcox (1-12 in 6 inn, March 26), Round Valley (1-19 in 4 inn, March 30), Willcox (1-11, April 2), and Horizon Honors (11-14, April 17).
Tenth-ranked Morenci defeated No. 23 Florence, AL, Anthem South (16-3 in 5 inn, April 29) during the Play-in Round.
Additionally, the Wildcats went 1-3 during the 3-day Benjamin Franklin tourney and 4-0 during the 2-day Horizon Honors tourney. The wins were over Kearny Ray (15-9 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), North Phoenix (20-2 in 3 inn, March 19), Kayenta Monument Valley (17-13 in 4 inn, March 19), Parker (14-6 in 4 inn, March 20), and Winkelman Hayden (10-2 in 5 inn, March 20). The losses were to Snowflake (9-11 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), Queen Creek Crismon (6-10 in 4 inn, Feb. 26), and Douglas (1-11 in 4 inn, Feb. 28).
The Wildcats are 143-74-1 overall, 104-34 for seeding games, 65-20 in region pairings, 7-8 for state meet games, and 3-0 for Play-in Round games during 10 seasons under Garcia (2017-26).
A 14-member roster has two seniors, five juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors are Jaliyah Hernandez (14), and Shaylee Wichmann (13); juniors Tiara Jones (15), Kieralyn Madrigal (6), Malina Martinez (3), Mayeli Salazar (5), and Kailee Sandoval (8); sophomores Ava Basteen (2), Khloee Kouts (11), and Leiah Strong (17); and freshmen Angelina Chavez (9) and Lyla Ferrell (16).
Morenci competed in the 9-member 2A South Region with the Benson Bobcats, the Bisbee Pumas, the Tombstone Yellow Jackets, the Willcox Cowboys, along with the Tucson schools Desert Christian Eagles, Saint Augustine Catholic Wolves, the San Miguel Catholic Vipers, and the Santa Rita Eagles.
2A State Tourney Round 1 (May 2)
The state tourney Round 1 had all the higher seeds advance to the quarterfinals. It was No. 1 Laveen Heritage (16-1 seeding, 18.3901 rating) 15-0 (5 inn) over No. 16 Wickenburg (9-9, minus 1.3440), No. 8 Saint Johns (12-6, 8.1957) 11-1 (5 inn) over No. 9 Phoenix Christian (14-4, 7.89381), No. 5 Willcox (14-3, 12.2679) 5-1 over No. 12 Eloy Santa Cruz (9-8, 3.9447), and No. 4 Kingman Academy (11-2, 12.9012) 5-0 over No. 13 Miami (13-6, 1.8343) in the upper bracket.
Lower bracket pairings include No. 3 Eagar Round Valley (15-2, 16.2811) 18-0 (5 inn) over No. 14 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (8-10, minus 0.5540), No. 6 Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 11.6430) 4-2 over No. 11 Tombstone (9-7, 3.9958), No. 7 Camp Verde (16-2, 10.5505) 6-4 over No. 10 Morenci (12-6, 6.0457), and No. 2 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (15-2, 17.7814) 12-0 (5 inn) over No. 15 Benson (7-9, minus 0.8635).
2A Play-In Round (April 29)
The Play-in Round on April 29 results had all the upper seeds advancing to the first round on May 2. It was No. 9 Phoenix Christian 10-0 over No. 24 Tucson Desert Christian (6-11, minus 5.7008), No. 10 Morenci over No. 23 Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (6-10, minus 5.1253), No. 11 Tombstone 15-0 (5 inn) over No. 22 Keams Canyon Hopi (9-8, minus 4.5545), No. 12 Eloy Santa Cruz 19-1 over No. 21 Flagstaff Northland Prep (7-7, minus 4.2694), No. 13 Miami 11-5 over No. 20 Scottsdale Christian (8-7, minus 3.5206), No. 14 Phoenix Arizona Lutheran 14-4 (5 inn) over No. 19 Pima (11-7, minus 2.4189), No. 15 Benson 19-4 over No. 18 Chandler Prep (7-7, minus 2.2309), and No. 16 Wickenburg 6-5 over No. 17 Bisbee (7-8, minus 2.0639).
2A State Final Rankings
The statewide final rankings as of 8 a.m. on April 28 had Laveen Heritage (16-1 seeding, 18.3901 rating) No. 1, Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated (15-2, 17.7814) No. 2, Eagar Round Valley (15-2, 16.2811) No. 3, Kingman Academy (11-2, 12.9012) No. 4, Willcox (14-3, 12.2679) No. 5, Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-4, 11.6430) No. 6, Camp Verde (16-2, 10.5505), and Saint Johns (12-6, 8.1957) No. 8.
Phoenix Christian (14-4, 7.89381) was No. 9, Morenci (12-6, 6.0457) No. 10, Tombstone (9-7, 3.9958) No. 11, Eloy Santa Cruz (9-8, 3.9447) No. 12, Miami (13-6, 1.8343) No. 13, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (8-10, minus 0.5540) No. 14, Benson (7-9, minus 0.8635) No. 15, and Wickenburg (9-9, minus 1.3440) No. 16.
Bisbee (7-8, minus 2.0639) was No. 17, Chandler Prep (7-7, minus 2.2309) No. 18, Pima (11-7, minus 2.4189) No. 19, Scottsdale Christian (8-7, minus 3.5206) No. 20, Flagstaff Northland Prep (7-7, minus 4.2694) No. 21, Keams Canyon Hopi (9-8, minus 4.5545) No. 22, Florence American Leadership – Anthem South (6-10, minus 5.1253) No. 23, and Tucson Desert Christian (6-11, minus 5.7008) No. 24.
The initial statewide rankings on March 31 had Laveen Heritage (8-0 seeding, 19.7269 rating) No. 1, Mohave Accelerated (7-0, 17.3985) No. 2, Kingman Academy (6-0, 13.9699) No. 3, Phoenix Christian (7-1, 11.4504) No. 4, Willcox (7-2, 9.9163) No. 5, Round Valley (6-1, 9.5268) No. 6, Horizon Honors (4-1, 8.6530) No. 7, and Camp Verde (7-1, 7.3431) No. 8.
Saint Johns (2-2, 4.0511) was No. 9, Morenci (4-4, 4.0008) No. 10, Santa Cruz (5-3, 3.2720) No. 11, Northland Prep (3-0, 3.1470) No. 12, Scottsdale Christian (3-2, 2.9238) No. 13, Pima (4-2, 1.3682) No. 14, Miami (6-4, 0.9640) No. 15, and Tombstone (3-6, minus 0.1453) No. 16.
Arizona Lutheran (4-3, minus 0.1823) was No. 17, Saint John Paul II (6-3, minus 0.2444) No. 18, Highland Prep West (3-3, minus 0.5963) No. 19, Fountain Hills (3-2, minus 0.6405) No. 20, Bisbee (3-4, minus 1.3000) No. 21, Sanders Valley (3-3, minus 2.1024) No. 22, Chandler Prep (2-4, minus 2.6695) No. 23, and Wickenburg (3-5, minus 2.7197) No. 24.
2A South Region Final Standings
The South Region final standings on April 27 had Willcox (21-6 overall, 14-3 seeding, 7-0 region), Morenci (17-9, 12-6, 6-1), Tombstone (17-12, 10-7, 5-2), Benson (8-18, 8-9, 4-3), Bisbee (11-8*, 7-8, 3-4), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (8-8, 8-8, 1-5), Tucson Desert Christian (6-11, 6-11, 2-5), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (2-14, 2-14, 0-7), and Tucson Santa Rita (0-1, 0-1, 0-0). Twenty-eight region pairings resulted in Willcox over San Miguel (21-0 in 4 inn, March 23), Morenci (12-1 in 6 inn, March 26), Benson (11-0 in 6 inn, April 7), Saint Augustine (20-0 in 4 inn, April 8), Desert Christian (18-0 in 4 inn, April 15), Bisbee (14-0 in 5 inn, April 21), and Tombstone (4-2, April 23); Morenci over Bisbee (18-3 in 5 inn, March 13), Tombstone (8-7, March 23), Desert Christian (14-3 in 5 inn, April 10), San Miguel (29-0 in 5 inn, April 15), Benson (7-5, April 20), and Saint Augustine (24-0 in 4 inn, April 27); Tombstone over Desert Christian (29-0 in 5 inn, April 7), Benson (14-0 in 5 inn, April 9), Saint Augustine (1-0, April 16), Bisbee (19-2 in 5 inn, April 17), and San Miguel (19-0 in 5 inn, April 20); Benson over San Miguel (20-0 in 5 inn, March 26), Desert Christian (25-11 in 5 inn, April 2), Saint Augustine (15-0 in 4 inn, April 15), and Bisbee (18-13, April 24); Bisbee over Desert Christian (21-7 in 5 inn, March 23), Saint Augustine (17-1, April 7), and San Miguel (24-1 in 4 inn, April 27); Desert Christian over San Miguel (18-7 in 5 inn, March 31) and Saint Augustine (17-7 in 5 inn, April 21); Saint Augustine over San Miguel (13-0 in 5 inn, April 10).
