(Phoenix, AZ) The top seeded Sabino Sabercats traveled north to Papago Sports Complex to face the #13 seed Payson Longhorns in a 3A Semi-Final Game.
Down in Tucson, The #2 seed Empire Ravens squared off against the #3 seed the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks at Amphi High School with a stake for the AIA 3A Championship Game to a location to be determined by who won today.
The Longhorns came out swinging aggressively to start the game and the fireworks started immediately.
After a lead off double by Brianna Hall to the left center field gap to get things going, Chancie Denton followed with a solid single to center. Wanting to put early pressure on the Sabercats, Payson’s third base coach sent Hall home and she was gunned down at the dish by a strong throw from the outfield.
Denton advanced to second on the throw home and moved to third on Hailey Bramlet’s left field single.
The first three batters for the Longhorns all hit the ball hard, but the biggest hit was the three run homer by shortstop Bree Hall that got the thirteen seed a quick lead 3-0.
Sabercat’s Coach Cyndi Cubillas had a quick hook and put in ace pitcher Avery Nielson to stop the bleeding. In a semi-final game you don’t want to get too far behind and have to play catch-up.
Nielson did her job and she extinguished the fire and the Cats got their first cracks with the bats in the bottom of the inning.
Seemingly unfazed by the early deficit, Sabino’s Jesamin Aguilar ripped a lead off triple to the right field fence to get things going. Renee Williams laid down a perfect bunt and the Longhorn defense was so concerned about keeping Aguilar at third, they forgot to keep tabs on Williams who smartly advanced to second amongst the confusion.
Up came Riley McFarland who stroked a double to left field to get the Sabercats on the board and only a run down at 3-2.
Coach Cubillas has always had her squad play aggressively but smart. This was on display when catcher Gianna Pancost popped up to the first baseman who had her back to the field and McFarland alertly took third on the tag up.
Lilly Mann lifted a fly ball a fly ball that was misplayed by the Longhorn left fielder and tied the score 3-3 when McFarland scored from third.
A wild pitch moved Mann to third and two pitches later scored on Bailey Nichols single to give the Cats a 4-3 lead.
Nielson continued to get ahead of the Payson batters and kept them off balance. Even early, you could see the shock on the faces of the Longhorns when they couldn’t make solid contact as they did in the first inning.
In the home half of the second inning, Shyanne Duke’s bunt single got the Sabino attack rolling again. Aguilar got an RBI on an error on Payson’s shortstop that was overthrown twice that resulted in a three base error. Sabino extended their lead 5-3.
Nielson kept getting stronger as the game progressed and struck out two Longhorns looking.
Things went from bad to worse for Payson as their defense broke down and committed two errors that cost them again when Duke drove Reese McFarland home on an infield hit to make it 6-3.
Nielson now rolling, struck out two of the three Payson batter in fourth inning and another 1-2-3 inning.
Riley McFarland led off with a stand-up triple to the right center field power alley with the relentless Sabercat offense was still hungry. Up next, Pancost slammed a home run over the left field fence for another two runs and the lead was now 8-3 and the dominant performance both offensively and on defense was clicking on all cylinders.
A couple of singles by Logann Prock and Chancie Deaton tried to get the Longhorns back on track but the Sabercats infield once gain closed out the inning with no damage. Time was running out on Payson’s season.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Pancost was a few inches from a homer, but the Longhorn’s center fielder made the catch above the fence. That was a pre-cursor for Mann who got ahold of a fastball and sent it sailing out of the park. The ball was hit so hard, the Payson outfield just turned their heads and watched to witness how far it went.
That was the icing on the cake and the Longhorns down to their last three out in the top of the seventh inning.
Payson got a base runner on in the last gasp of their season but today it was all Sabino with a strong 9-3 win.
Nielson dominance was incredible as the Longhorns had no answer for her pitches.
The Sabercats will get to defend their Title and how appropriate to go against arch rival the Empire Ravens who easily disposed of Yuma Catholic 9-1 in Tucson tonight.
With Hillenbrand Stadium at the University of Arizona hosting the Pac-12 Softball Tournament this week, the 3A Final is now slated for Tuesday May 16th for the Showdown of Southern Arizona.
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