I-A SOFTBALL: Spring Valley tops Faith Lutheran to claim state berth

Its been quite a year for Spring Valley softball coach Caroline Saenz.

After coming so close to making the state tournament a season ago, Saenz never wavered, knowing that 2016 could be the year the Grizzlies make history.

Saenz missed part of the season after having a baby, but she was on hand Thursday night, as Spring Valley defeated Faith Lutheran 5-1 in the winners’ bracket final of the Division I-A Southern Region tournament to earn its first trip to the state tournament.

The region title is still on the Spring Valley list of goals, and the Grizzlies are one victory away from that hardware. Play resumes Friday at 4 p.m. as Boulder City (27-8) takes on Sierra Vista (23-6), with that winner meeting Faith Lutheran (28-8) at 6 p.m..

The survivor from Friday’s meets Spring Valley (24-3) at noon Saturday and would have to beat the Grizzlies twice to claim the region title.

“Its an amazing feeling, knowing that we are going to state,” Saenz said. “This girls have worked so hard and never lost sight of the ultimate goal. I really can’t put into words the feeling.”

A huge part of the Spring Valley success comes from senior pitcher Michaela Hood. Hood did give up a solo home run to her counterpart, Mosie Foley in the second inning.

That would be the lone run the Crusaders would muster. Hood struck out seven on her way to the complete-game victory.

Hood would finally get help from the Spring Valley offense, as the Grizzlies pushed five runs across in their final three at-bats. In the fourth, Vivan Quiroz-Montano homered as part of a two-run inning. Back-to-back singles by Quiroz-Montano and Madison Hood in the fifth produced RBIs as Spring Valley pushed the lead to 4-1. The Grizzlies scratched an insurance run across in the sixth on Stephanie Huff’s RBI groundout.

“It took a while for the bats to come around, but I knew we would get hits,” Saenz said. “This team refuses to quit, and they have the belief they are never out of a game.”

Foley had three hits for Faith Lutheran, while ninth-place hitter Grace Hornsby added two singles.

Boulder City 8, Moapa Valley 1 — Lily Osman hit a three-run homer, and Jerra Hinson added two RBIs as the Eagles ended the Pirates’ season.

Charlene Masterson stopped the Pirates, holding Moapa Valley to five singles while striking out seven.

Daesha Stastny had a fifth-inning single to drive in a run for Moapa Valley (17-12).

Sierra Vista 4, Pahrump Valley 0 — Kalei Watkins tossed a no-hitter, and the Mountain Lions cruised to the victory.

Watkins fanned eight and only threw 86 pitches in earning the win.

Sierra Vista scored a run in each of the first three innings.

Jamie Kalaau-Sunia went 3-for-3 for the Mountain Lions, and Daelynn Hilton added a pair of doubles.

Pahrump finished 17-12.