This may be the most complete Canyon View softball team John Jacobs ever fielded. Yet the Jaguars’ route to a first state title has never been more difficult.
Both can be true, and are in a year where 5A softball features three teams with undefeated regular season record. Canyon View is the No. 2 seed, behind No. 1 and defending champion Desert Mountain.
Saturday the showdowns start as Canyon View (26-4) plays host to Tucson Canyon del Oro (30-3) Saturday morning. The teams met April 5 in tournament in California, with the Dorados winning 6-1 behind Oregon State-bound pitcher Amelia Steuber.
“We saw them in California. That young lady is fantastic. And they’ve got a bunch of other girls,” Jacobs said. “If I can see the boogeyman, it makes it easier.”
Jacobs did not pitch senior Emily Davis in that game, but left little doubt she will be in the circle Saturday.
While he talked up the skills of junior pitchers Mia Jacobs and Audrie Castaneda, Davis is Jacobs’ unquestioned ace. She pitched in the 5A title game last year.
“What you see is what you get. I try to highlight it. That girl started against Marissa McCann, who’s at Missouri, and then against a girl that is going to Northwestern (Desert Mountain’s Lilly Goodwin),” Jacobs said. “She didn’t play against CDO. When we’ve got to go, she’s our best. When she’s in the circle we know we’ll have a shot.”
Davis is one of four seniors on this team, and they have taken part in three of this young program’s three state finals.
Canyon View lost to Willow Canyon in 2021 with no seniors on its roster, then pushed the Wildcats into extra innings before losing 2-1.
Davis, senior outfielders Makenzie Jones, Samantha Galindo and Brooklyn Theiler are determined to break through.
“We’ve been to state three times now. We’re going to go there again and we’re going to win it. We have the tools. We have the people, we have the experience and we have the coaching,” Jones said. “All we need to do is go win it together.”
So far this postseason, Canyon View has shown its focus, beating Scottsdale Chaparral 8-2 and Vail Cienega 3-1. In similar fashion Canyon del Oro took down Buckeye 10-0 and Chandler Arizona College Prep 2-1.
Desert Mountain is rolling and will play host to Verrado — Canyon View’s main local rival — in the other winners bracket semifinal Saturday.
“Softball is all about competition and the best of the best duking it out and seeing who can win. It’s honestly what softball is about,” Jones said.
The Jaguars’ regular season sweep of Verrado were their biggest games, at least until Saturday.
Jones said the 7-2 win April 17 at Verrado definitely showed that this team is ready to battle for the trophy.
“We build off mistakes. Brooklyn hit a triple in this game today. As a sophomore she got picked off in the state game. And I promised her that she will get an opportunity to make that up,” Jacobs said April 17. “These kids are battle tested, man. They’ve been through so much. Every we game we go through, especially in Arizona, we face their No. 1. That’s respect.”
After building a strong initial team, Canyon View has shown for the past three years that it is Arizona’s new powerhouse program.
For example, the Jaguars played Desert Mountain for the 5A title despite the graduation of Savannah Kirk — who was just named the WAC player of the year at Grand Canyon University. Jacobs’ older daughter Taylor was the ace in 2021 and 2022 and now pitches for Utah.
“Sammy in right field and Brooklyn in left are girls that have been role players. They’ve started every game,” Jacobs said. “Over the last few years I’ve graduated five Division I girls that are excelling in college at the highest level. It’s hard to keep that up. The tradition is coming. But we’re still young.”
Younger players also continue to step up when they get the opportunity.
“I would absolutely say Savannah Huhta and Sedona (Hernandez) as well. They’ve stepped into huge roles at catcher and third. Those are not easy shoes to fill. They’ve done it phenomenally and seamlessly this year,” Theiler said.
Jones signed to play for New Mexico State and study kinesiology. Theiler will play at Black Hills State business and statistics.
Both will graduate next Monday and would like a present a week later at Farrington Stadium.
Jones said winning the title would be the “storyline of the century.” She wants to win not only for this team, but for the past players who brought Canyon View to this point.
“I was in that game as a freshman. Seeing it though new eyes now and maturing and being in that game so many times, I’m just excited for when we put those pieces together,” Theiler said.
Jacobs started building this program at the new Waddell school just before COVID. After the pandemic every team he has coached either reached the 5A title game or semifinals.
Only one goal remains.
“It would mean a lot to my admin. I’ve been trying, man,” Jacobs said through tears. “I coached my daughter, now at Utah, and I have another daughter here. I’ve given my heart and soul to this school and these young ladies. So it would mean a lot. I really want it for Emily. We put her in some tough situations and she’s a great young lady. I’ve known her and most of these young ladies since they were kids.”
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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