(Marana, AZ) The softball version of the “Battle of the Boot” played out today as the #10 Marana Tigers traveled east across the 10 Freeway to #8 Mountain View to renew their rivalry between the two Marana Unified School District Schools.
On a breezy afternoon, the wind was strong enough to take the ball out of the yard in left field.
Both schools have a strong rivalry and distain for each other and wanted the bragging right for the Town.
The Tigers led off the top of the first inning when Kaitlyn Hudson smacked a one out double to left field to get things started. The next batter, freshman sensation Bella Corona took a fastball out of the park to left and just like that the Tigers were up 2-0.
Not detoured by the early deficit, Mt. View got their first whacks at the plate in the bottom of the inning.
A one out single to center by Clarissa Figueroa set up the Mountain Lions. Addie Noriega sent a pop up to the shortstop who mishandled it putting runners at first and second. Arianna Figueroa made the Marana error payoff as she drove in her sister with a line drive single to right field to cut the Tiger’s lead in half 2-1 after the first inning.
The Tigers went down in order in the top of the second inning as Arianna settled down after helping herself with the RBI in the top half of the inning.
That was spark the Mountain Lions needed as they brought out the sticks in the bottom of the second inning.
Deborah Wallace led off with an infield single. Mandy Stutzman ground to shortstop who forced Wallace at second base for the first out out. Then lightning struck, Stutzman stole second base and Talia Martin banged a triple to the right field corner scoring Stutzman. The relay to third got away and Martin scored as well.
Clarissa Figueroa on her second at bat, doubled to the gap in right center to keep the two out rally going. Addie Noriega drove her home with a right field single. Arianna Figueroa drove her second run of the game in with a smash over the Tiger’s centerfielders head scoring Noriega.
Tiger Coach George Corona changed pitchers as he put in Brianna Wunderle to stop the rally. She got Emma Kelly to strike out looking to end the inning, but not before Mt. View had taken a 5-2 lead.
Once again, Arianna Figueroa set down the Tigers in order in the top of the third inning.
Marana couldn’t catch a break as the Lions leadoff batter Sophia Martinez popped up to the shortstop who lost the ball in the setting sun. She would come around to score two outs later to make it a 6-2 lead.
Neither team did anything in the fourth inning.
Figueroa was in a groove setting down the Tigers in order for the third consecutive inning.
Mountain View Coach Ramon De La Ossa still wanted his squad to stay hungry heading into the bottom of the fifth. He knew Marana would still have some fight left in them down the stretch.
After a leadoff walk, Payton Robbins came in to pinch run at first. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Aaliyah Pereda. Sofia Martinez smoked a double to the right center field power alley driving in Robbins for their seventh run of the game.
Mt.View still had a threat going when Anyssa Bojorquez walked to load the bases. Talia Martin hit a line drive but right at the third baseman to end the inning leaving all three runners stranded. Would this come back to bite the Lions in the game between the Cats?
After being silenced for three innings, the Tigers came roaring back with Kaitlyn Hudson awarded first base after being hit on the wrist by a pitch. Up came Bella Corona again and a carbon copy of her first at bat, she sent another fastball over the fence in left field to give her four RBI that tightened the game 7-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Noriega doubled to left center and was sacrificed to third but left stranded.
Heading into the top of the seventh Marana knew what they had ahead of them. The inning started off promising as McKenna Giles drew a leadoff walk, that caused Coach De La Ossa to cringe. Giles was forced at second for the first out. Sadie Silverstein got a base on balls to put runners at first and second. De La Ossa had seen enough of Bella Corona as she was responsible for all of the Tiger’s offense with four RBI. She would be intentionally walked which was risky and loaded the bases. Now the go ahead run came to the plate with two outs. Brianna Wunderle worked the count but with two strikes, she was struck out on a nasty change up to end the game.
Both teams played well, but the pitching of Arianna Figueroa in the middle innings took the sting out of the Marana offense.
Mountain View had earned a hard fought 7-4 victory and thus have bragging rights for the Town of Marana.
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