REGION SOFTBALL: Bulldogs flex muscle, advance

Scoring bunches of runs isn't exactly a rarity for Centennial's softball team.

The Bulldogs tallied at least 10 runs in 14 games during the regular season.

But if the first two days of the Sunset Region tournament are any indication, Centennial might be even better in the postseason.

After hanging 14 runs on Clark in Tuesday's tournament opener, the Bulldogs pounded out 19 hits Wednesday en route to a 13-8 win over Southwest League champion Durango in a winners' bracket semifinal at Faith Lutheran.

Centennial (22-10) will face arch-rival Palo Verde (27-8) in the winners' bracket final at 4 p.m. today at Bishop Gorman.

"Once one person starts hitting, we all hit," said Centennial freshman Savannah Horvath, who was 4-for-5 with two RBIs. "We looked for pitches we wanted and just drove it. There's not much to it."

The hitting was contagious. All 10 Bulldogs who batted in the game had at least one hit.

"Our bats were hot, no doubt," said Centennial coach Mike Livreri. "We believe that our lineup is pretty strong, top to bottom."

Centennial knocked around Durango starter Dallas Boyce for five runs on seven hits -- including consecutive doubles by Taylor Huntly, Alyssa Finger and Kylie Bartlett -- in the second inning.

Finger, Bartlett, Alyssa Hotman and Mikayla Djordjevic, and pinch-hitter Maddie Henzlik -- the Nos. 5 through 8 hitters in the Centennial lineup -- were a combined 10-for-16. Djordjevic and Finger each had three hits. Bartlett homered and doubled.

Samantha Juarez, Marley Sandoval, Lauren Benfield and Alyssa Martine each had two hits for the Trailblazers, who will face Cimarron-Memorial
(21-12) in an elimination game at 3 p.m. today at Faith Lutheran.

■ Palo Verde 11, Desert Oasis 1 -- Cheryl Iddings went 3-for-4 and belted a game-ending grand slam to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Panthers routed the Diamondbacks in six innings at Faith Lutheran.

Melissa McCormick fired a one-hitter, walking one and striking out 11.

Angel Council, Breanna Beatty, Rachael Williams and Danielle Hearn added two hits apiece for Palo Verde.

Taylor Beacham's RBI double was the Diamondbacks' only hit. Desert Oasis (17-17) will meet Shadow Ridge (14-9) in an elimination game at 5 p.m. today at Faith Lutheran.

■ Cimarron-Memorial 3, Bishop Gorman 2 -- At Gorman, Kayla Johnson scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Spartans eliminated the Gaels (14-15-1).

Johnson reached on a fielder's choice and stole second and third before coming home on the wild pitch.

Carrie Sheehan tossed a three-hitter for Cimarron. Ashley Doherty was 2-for-3, and Sarah Murphy went 1-for-3 with an RBI for the Spartans.

■ Shadow Ridge 16, Clark 6 -- At Gorman, Mary Jordan had a home run and five RBIs to help the Mustangs eliminate the Chargers in six innings.

Taylor Velarde added two doubles and two RBIs, and Krislyn Campos had a double, a triple and an RBI for Shadow Ridge.

Anna Jaehn had a triple and three RBIs for Clark (18-15).

SUNRISE REGION

Heading into the last game of the regular season, Liberty High softball coach Kris Jensen feared his team might fail to make the playoffs.

Less than a week later, Jensen was talking about the possibility of winning a regional championship.

Junior Francesca Foti tossed her second shutout in as many days to lead the Patriots (21-10) to a 5-0 victory over Foothill in the second round of the Sunrise Region softball tournament at Coronado.

Liberty will play at Coronado (30-2) at 3 p.m. today in the winners' bracket final. The loss dropped the Falcons
(17-11) into the losers' bracket, where they will play Rancho (18-15) in a 5 p.m. game at Foothill.

"Francesca is tough as nails," said Jensen, whose squad squeezed into the playoffs last week by winning its final Southeast League game. "She's one of the strongest competitors I know."

The game stayed scoreless over the first three innings, though Foti barely escaped a second-inning jam by forcing an inning-ending double play. She later got out of trouble in the sixth-inning to preserve the win.

"I knew I had good defense behind me," said Foti, who struck out just four batters. "I knew that even if the ball was put in play, there were good people behind me."

The Patriots jumped ahead 2-0 on a fourth-inning two-run single by Carson Cooper, then extended their lead to 3-0 on an RBI triple by Diana Cassaro.

Brittany Huff went 2-for-4 to lead the Patriots' modest five-hit attack.

Katlyn Kapral went 2-for-3 to lead Foothill.

■ Coronado 11, Silverado 1 -- Lee Harrison went 3-for-4 with a towering three-run homer to lead the Cougars past the Skyhawks (13-7) in six innings.

Coronado notched eight of its 15 hits in the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead.

Danielle Amato scattered seven hits to earn the win for Coronado, and teammate Morgan Yuhas went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.

Silverado will meet Las Vegas (15-13) in an elimination game at 3 p.m. Thursday at Foothill.

■ Las Vegas 10, Eldorado 9 -- At Foothill, Brooke Booth doubled home Taylor Price with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh as the Wildcats completed the comeback after trailing 9-4 in the sixth inning.

Jenice Gutierrez was 3-for-3 with a double, and Booth finished 2-for-4 with two doubles for Las Vegas.

Teresa Cianflocco was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs for the Sundevils (13-12).

■ Rancho 8, Valley 3 -- At Foothill, Aly Lamboo was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, and Amber Marlett went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Rams past the Vikings (14-17).

Brandy Marlett and Lamboo combined on a three-hitter.