An elimination game. A tie game. Someone needed to step up. That someone Wednesday afternoon at Sandra Day O\\\' Connor High School was Westview catcher Sianna Gomez.
Gomez picked off a Perry High runner at second base to help the Knights escape a sixth-inning jam and then drilled a hit that started a game-winning rally for her team in the seventh as No. 13 Westview nipped No. 8 Perry, 3-2, to stay alive in the 5A-II state softball tournament.
If Michelle Duncan had any lingering problems with her right wrist they were not apparent in her effort on Saturday morning.
Duncan, the Gilbert Tigers veteran ace, pitched a three-hit shutout and needed to be sharp as second seed Gilbert edged No. 15 seed Mesquite, 1-0, in the first round of the 5A-I state softball tournament at Gilbert High.
Mesquite and Buena won their way in to the 5A-I state softball tournament on Wednesday that begins on Saturday April 30. Kofa sat back, watched and waited. The Kings may get the same result, albeit the 16th seed, come Thursday morning when the final tabulations are in..
Watching Highland pitcher Arianna Ashcraft pitch one notices nothing out of the ordinary.
Dig deeper and you come to find she is not your ordinary pticher. Not when she pitches with two rods and 26 screws in her spine, there to correct scoliosis (curviture of the spine).
Hamilton qualifying for the state softball tournament for the first time since 2003, will make it a primo year for the Chandler district in the sport. All four of its schools are going to state.