Raymundo Frasquillo Phot/Gila Herald: Alizabeth Aguilar (18) watched the ball sail over the fence. The Morenci senior region offensive player of the year led the team in batting average (.611), hits (55), plate appearances (90), runs batted in (61), doubles (18), home runs (13), and fewest strikeouts (3) while playing in all 27 games. Defensively, Aguilar posted a .952 (26-34-3) fielding average with two double plays.
A dozen Wildcats receive all-region honors, Garcia COY
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Joseph Garcia-coached No. 3 Morenci 2024 softball team had a dozen players tabbed for 2A East All-Region Honors.
Class of 2024 members Alizabeth Aguilar, Kay’Leigh Blair, and Davina Gallegos along with Cameryn Woodall (2025), Jaliyah Hernandez (2026), and Tiara Jones (2027) were voted on the first team; Shaylee Wichman (2026), Kieralyn Madrigal (2027), and Mayeli Salazar (2027) selected to the second team; and Yalitza Rios-Ortega (2025), Malina Martinez (2027), and Janessa Webb (2027) received honorable mention.
Additionally, Aguilar was named East Region Offensive Player of the Year, Woodall East Region Player of the Year, and Garcia East Region Coach of the Year.
Infielder Aguilar led the team in batting (.611), hits (55), at-bats (90), runs batted in (61), doubles (18), and home runs (13) through 27 games; Woodall struck out 169, walked 37, grazed 12, allowed a .202 (97-481) batting average and a 2.72 earned run average while facing 539 batters during 121 innings. The pitcher/infielder batted .488 (40-82) with 23 RBIs, five doubles, and four triples.
Garcia molded a team of four seniors, two juniors, three sophomores, and seven freshmen into a 20-game winner. Through eight seasons, the Wildcats have posted records of 132-65-1 overall, 91-29 seeding, 60-17 region, and 7-7 in the post-season under the 2002 Duncan grad.
Final 2A East Region standings were Morenci (20-7 overall, 15-2 seeding, 9-1 region) first, Willcox (13-13, 11-7, 7-3) second, Tombstone (18-10, 11-6, 7-3) third, Bisbee (6-10, 6-8, 4-6) fourth, Benson (6-18, 4-13, 3-7) fifth, and Pima (2-19, 2-15, 0-10) sixth.
The Joseph Garcia-coached Morenci Wildcats averaged a 12-4 (320-121) score per game or an 8-run margin through 27 games; the Trevor Ward-coached No. 10 Willcox Cowgirls (5-2) averaged an 11-9 (280-236) score per game or a 2-run margin through 26 games; the James True-coached Tombstone Yellow Jackets averaged a 12-7 (326-186) score per game or a 5-run margin through 28 games; the Melissa Wright-coached Pumas averaged an 8-10 (127-161) score per game or a 2-run deficit through 16 games; the Eric Tatham-coached Benson Bobcats averaged an 8-12 (187-281) score per game or a 4-run deficit through 24 games; and the Danny Olson-coached Pima Roughriders averaged a 6-15 (130-314) score per game or a 9-run deficit through 21 games.
Four East Region teams qualified for the first round with the No. 15 Benson Bobcats falling 2-13 (5 inn) to No. 2 Phoenix Horizon Honors, the No. 10 Willcox Cowgirls 8-13 to No. 7 Phoenix Christian, and the No. 11 Tombstone Yellow Jackets to No. 6 Bullhead City Mohave Accelerated while the No. 3 Norenci Wildcats run-ruled No. 14 Chandler Prep 13-3 (6 inn). Morenci bowed out of the quarterfinals with a 6-7 loss to Mohave Accelerated.
All-Region First Team (19)
Region champion Morenci landed six players on the first team, senior infielder Alizabeth Aguilar (18), senior outfielder Kay’Leigh Blair (1), senior infielder Davina Gallegos (5), junior pitcher/infielder Cameryn Woodall (3), sophomore infielder Jaliyah Hernandez (14), and freshman pitcher/infielder Tiara Jones (11).
The rest of the first team was made up of Willcox junior catcher Abi Tingle (14), junior Layla Donahue (9), and sophomore Nataly Thompson (6); Tombstone freshman pitcher Bria Gross (14), junior catcher Brianna True (77), junior utility Kyla Gross (44), and freshman outfielder Bella Lopez (10); Bisbee junior pitcher/infielder Jordan Holly (19), junior catcher Destiny Rodriguez (1), and junior infielder Maria Lopez (13); Benson senior Riley Francione (1) and junior Sadie Webb (2); and Pima senior infielder Alma Hernandez (20).
All-Region Second Team (18)
Morenci sophomore infielder Shaylee Wichman (13), freshman catcher Kieralyn Madrigal (6), and freshman outfielder Mayeli Salazar (12) were selected to the second team.
Also on the second team were Willcox junior pitchers Maddison Bennett (3) and Alyssa Gonzalez (11), sophomore catcher Addison Burright (1), junior Gabby Galaz (21), junior Emma McWilliams (10); Tombstone freshman infielder McKenzy Nicoll (16) and freshman outfielder/infielder Hayden Dobbins (4); Bisbee sophomore infielder Alyssa Lopez (2) and junior pitcher/outfielder Isabella Solis (11); Benson junior pitcher Claire Parke (6), senior catcher Nevaeh Trejo (12), senior Harley McCabe (4), freshman Millie Kellogg (14), and junior Kaylei Taylor (23); and Pima senior pitcher Braylyn Gojkovich (3).
All-Region Honorable Mention (16)
Morenci junior outfielder Yalitza Rios-Ortega (15), freshman infielder Malina Martinez (7), and freshman catcher/outfielder Janessa Webb (9) received honorable mention.
Others receiving the same honor were Willcox sophomore Jordin Diaz (20), senior Phoebe Dullum (4), and sophomore Payton Fuentes (12); Tombstone sophomore infielder Liliana Garcia (27); Bisbee senior infielder/outfielder Naelani Borbon (15) and junior infielder Daney Morales (3); Benson sophomore Alyana Bosley (22), freshman Maddison Ogilvie (5), and freshman Sierra Olson (18); and Pima senior outfielder Bentlee Hoops (1), senior catcher Randi McEuen (5), junior outfielder Ava Rhinehart (7), and sophomore infielder Bivi Vega (2).
