(Benson, AZ) Benson Bobcat pitchers Katie Sherman and Emily Darwin had their pitching on point and throttled the Pima Roughrider hitters winning. 15-0 by way of a combined no hitter on Wednesday.
Sherman started the game and threw three no hit innings. She tallied seven strikeouts to one walk. Darwin came to pitch the fourth and fifth innings, collecting six strikeouts of her own.
Emily Darwin
Not only did Darwin pitch no hit ball, but offensively she went 4-4 at the plate scoring two runs and knocking in four RBI.
The Bobcats came out of the gate with a fury, scoring nine first inning runs to put Pima back on their heels from the onset.
With multiple at bats in the inning, Darwin had a double and a single. Sherman had two singles to center field. Jamie Barney had a bunt single and another single to center. Mikayla Wales and Abby Workman also both had base hits. Between the hits, the walks and sacrifice flies, there was little hope for Pima High.
Mikayla Wales
The Bobcats scored another run in the second inning, four in the third and another run in the fourth inning to complete their day at the office, 15-0.
The mark of this 2019 Benson team is even with exceptional pitching and having one of the best pitchers in the nation, their offense is just as potent. They step on you hard and keep the pedal to the metal when even one or two runs is enough for a victory. Show no mercy.
The reigning two time State Champions are almost impossible to beat as their 26-3 record indicates. They’ve run the table in league play at 11-0 with only Tombstone remaining.
With five seniors on the team, nothing but a three-peat will suffice. To see the impact of playing for the Benson Bobcats, Hope Adams from the 2017 and 2018 State Championship teams is now a crucial part of the Pima College Aztec Softball Team in Tucson.
Benson doesn’t rebuild, they only reload for the coming seasons. Being a small community, the kids in Benson grow up playing ball together since they’re old enough to walk. This continuity cannot be measured but is on full display each and every game Coach Brittney Batten sends her kids out on the field. The opposing teams are most likely intimidated knowing they have little or no chance of winning.
The AIA State Playoffs begin in earnest next week and the Benson juggernaut has high hopes of a third ring.
