Centennial rides Cudahy, defense to softball win

Cheyenne Cudahy grew up awfully quickly Saturday.

The Centennial sophomore, making her second varsity pitching appearance, tossed a five-hit shutout and lifted the Bulldogs past archrival Palo Verde 1-0 in a rematch of last year’s Sunset Region softball title game.

Cudahy struck out five and walked one, throwing 61 of 89 pitches for strikes. She didn’t allow a runner to reach third base and retired 14 of the final 15 batters.

“She just believed in her stuff and stuck to it,” Centennial coach Mike Livreri said. “We knew she belonged here, and everyone has liked her all the way through intramurals and tryouts. The girls know they can trust her out there.”

The Bulldogs (6-3) returned 13 letter winners, including pitchers Taylor Huntly and Kate Rauskin, from last year’s state championship team, leaving little playing time for three newcomers.

Mixing her pitches well and remaining calm throughout the game, Cudahy proved she belonged with her older and more veteran teammates.

“I know I can pitch against varsity girls now,” Cudahy said. “My teammates have really made feel like this is a family, like I’m their little sister.”

Centennial’s defense was flawless, too, making spectacular catches in a gusting wind that played havoc with fly balls.

Third baseman Savannah Horvath ran 65 feet to catch a popup a step in front of home plate in the third inning.

Left fielder Lacie Chakos dived headfirst to make a backhanded catch on a sinking liner in the fifth, and center fielder Alyssa Finger turned the sixth inning into her own highlight reel — catching a rising liner in left-center for the first out, racing into right-center to snag a fading fly ball for the second out, then coming in and toward right field to take away a hit from Rachael Turner to end the inning.

The Bulldogs took advantage of the game’s lone error to score in the first inning. Mia Acuna led off with a single and was at third base with two outs when Horvath’s fly ball to left field was dropped, allowing Acuna to trot home.

Melissa Lacro pitched well for the Panthers (3-2), allowing five hits and an unearned run while striking out three.

“This was a great early test,” Livreri said. “Palo Verde is a great team. It’s always intense between us.”

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.