Wildcats stay alive, meet Mustangs for shot at title

Las Vegas softball coach Tresa Schilder had 20 minutes Friday to save her team's season.

The Wildcats had just been pummeled 11-0 by Spanish Springs in the opening round of the Class 4A state tournament at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park, and the field already was being prepared for their second game.

Schilder succeeded in settling down her players, as Las Vegas recovered to beat Foothill 1-0 in the late game.

The victory lifted the Wildcats (22-7) into a 10 a.m. losers' bracket final today against Shadow Ridge (27-6). The winner will advance to play Spanish Springs in the title game.

"Mentally, we knew we just had to refocus and take things game by game," said Schilder, whose squad took two of three games from the Falcons in last week's Sunrise Regional. "I told the girls to reach down deep and remember that we deserve to be here."

Wildcats ace Jennifer Gliddon escaped several jams, scattering nine hits to earn the victory.

The game's only run came in the second inning, when Chelsea Lewis lined an RBI single to right field to cap a three-hit inning for Las Vegas.

"I just wanted to stay in the zone," said Lewis, who went 2-for-2. "All I wanted to do was get on base."

Foothill nearly tied it in the sixth when Shelbie Medrano lined to left field with two outs. As teammate Janina Stampahar rounded third base, the ball bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double. Stampahar was sent back to third and was stranded one batter later.

"I was just holding my breath," Schilder said of Medrano's hit. "It was just one of those things. If that ball stays in, it's tied."

The Falcons also threatened early, putting baserunners on first and third with no outs in the second inning. But Amber Stater grounded out and Shantel Straily hit into a double play to end the inning.

Medrano went 3-for-3 for Foothill, and teammate Chelsea Richards went 2-for-4.

The loss eliminated the Falcons (22-18).

• Spanish Springs 2, Shadow Ridge 0 -- The Cougars' Mallary Darby improved her record to 20-0 by throwing a no-hitter over the Mustangs for her second win of the day.

The victory lifted Spanish Springs (34-1) into today's noon championship game against the winner of the losers' bracket final between Shadow Ridge and Las Vegas.

Darby, who had a perfect game until hitting Shadow Ridge's Ashley Huddleston with a two-out pitch in the seventh inning, finished with 16 strikeouts.

Spanish Springs scored both runs in the first inning, which was capped with an RBI single by Jen Martensen.

Darby's performance overshadowed a strong outing by Mustangs pitcher Mandy Harmon, who struck out seven while tossing a four-hitter.

• Shadow Ridge 3, Foothill 1 -- The Mustangs took advantage of six Falcons errors to win their first-round game.

Harmon went the distance for Shadow Ridge, holding Foothill to five hits while striking out 11. Teammate Rayna Bradshaw had an RBI double in the third inning.

Medrano went 2-for-3 to lead the Falcons, who committed five errors in the second inning to give up two unearned runs.

• Spanish Springs 11, Las Vegas 0 -- Darby and Annalee Rubio combined on a three-hitter that lifted the Cougars to a first-round victory over the Wildcats.

Darby threw three hitless innings with nine strikeouts. Jaci Carlsen went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs and Danny Ming went 3-for-4 to lead Spanish Springs' 15-hit attack.

Jennifer Gliddon was 2-for-3 for Las Vegas, which committed five errors.