TEMPE - It is fitting that Willow Canyon won its second straight 5A state softball state title May 14 without driving in the runner on third base.
Instead, senior Tristen Turlington walked home to capture a state title thanks to the eagle eye of younger sister Rylee. The sophomore worked the count full and laid off a high pitch to seal a 2-1 win in the eighth inning of the championship against Canyon View at Farrington Statdium on the ASU campus,
Willow Canyon (32-2) peppered the Jaguars throughout the evening, sending six runners to third base in the seven innings of regulation. And six times determined Canyon View (28-6) senior pitcher Lauren Ervin turned the defending champs away.
"They were saying all year that they wanted redemption and we were coming out just as hard as them. It was difficult that we left runners on, but I have faith in all my teammates," Tristen Turlington said. "I honestly wasn't nervous. I was so, so excited. This was going to be my last game no matter what so I was going to give it all I got and enjoy it."
Unfortunately for the Waddell school in its first year with a senior class, it needed to get a second run against Willow Canyon wunderkind Marissa McCann. Canyon View was the last team to do that, in a marathon 3-2 Wildcats win in 14 innings March 18 in Waddell.
In the playoffs, the junior fireballer reached a new peak. Canyon View's run was the second she allowed in all five playoff games
"She's been dominating all playoffs and today she really didn't have it. She struggled with her release point. She was falling behind hitters all night," Willow Canyon coach Donnie Tizzano. "She showed grit to battle back from that. Once she hit a grove. She was unhittable. If this went 20 innings she would not have given up the lead."
The Wildcats needed every bit of her dominance. In 2021, the teams met in their first state title game and Canyon View - without a senior on the roster - wilted on the big stage in Tucson.
Willow Canyon won 12-4. This time around, the Jaguars were ready for the emotional roller coaster of a state final and met the Wildcats at every rally.
A week earlier, after a 4-0 playoff win over Lake Havasu, Tizzano said his team's one flaw was its tendency to leave base runners hanging. He also, correctly, said Canyon View was the one team that could make the Wildcats pay - as well as the one 5A opponent that did not fear his nationally ranked team.
"We kind of understand we have a zone," Canyon View coach John Jacobs said. "We just hunt balls in the strike zone. And McCann is phenomenal."
McCann finally gave up a run in the playoffs in the Wildcats' 11-1 semifinal thrashing of Tucson Catalina Foothills. But the Falcons scored in the fifth inning after falling behind 8-0.
"Jaeden (the catcher) and I were always prepping before the game, always talking about a plan to attack the batters. I owe so much to Jaeden because she's such an amazing catcher. She knows what calls to make to slow me down. She's definitely the reason I was able to get my job done tonight," McCann said.
Canyon View made a dent against the ace in the sixth inning to tie it. Junior Savannah Groshong hit lead off double and senior Taylor Jacobs cashed in with a two-out RBI double in the hole between short and third.
"We always talk about getting better. And Marissa has pretty much struck her out and owned her. But in her last bat against her, she got her," Jacobs said.
It was a bittersweet night for the coach and his daughter, who will play for Utah last year.
Ervin walked the first batter in the eighth inning. Jacobs came on in relief and ended up tossing the decisive walk.
"Unfortunately for me, that was my kid that walked the last one in. We'll learn from this. Unfortunately we ran out of time," Jacobs said. "But each time it's getting closer. This our third season. Actually two (COVID-19 canceled most of the 2020 season).
The Jaguars' tenacity when faced with a jam forced the Wildcats to win with pitching, defense and one big blast.
Rylee Turlington was responsible for both her team's runs. She woke up the crowd with a no doubt home run over the fence in the deepest part of center field.
"I'd seen Lauren for the past three games. I'd never done too well, like I did tonight. But I knew what she would outside because I've been struggling on outside pitches," Rylee Turlington said. "As soon as I came in, that was what I was hunting. When I got to a full count, she tried to secure a pitch, hoping I would not swing. It was fat, right down the middle, and I gave it my best swing. It's a dream. I've been struggling through the playoffs. I knew I had to help my team in some way."
To protect its lead, the defending champions showed off the leather up the middle, twice.
Sophomore center fielder Olivia DeFord made a diving attempt in shallow center, and turned her glove to pop it in just before the ball dropped. That was the Jaguars' second out and McCann added another whiff to end the threat.
"It got in the pocket. I knew I was catching that when I was running for the ball," DeFord said. "It's definitely a difficult catch."
Tristen Turlington also ranged to the left and backhanded a sharp grounder in the hole before making the throw to first in time.
Neither of these plays directly kept a Jaguars run off the board. But both short circuited rallies,
"I saw the ball and realized it was getting by Harmony so I figured I'd better go for it. I was going to dive or do whatever I needed to get it.
Sophomore Harmony Andrade drilled a one-out drive to the warning track in straightaway center for a double. She swiped third base after Ervin's strikeout for the second out of the fifth.
Sophomore Kylie Bearden drove a 3-2 pitch to fairly deep right center, Groshong ranged to her right and made the lunging stab.
Then Ervin escaped in the seventh.
"Lauren just finds a way. You've got to tip your cap to that kid. She loads the bases, gets behind 2-0 and then she throws three of the pitches she threw 3-0," Tizzano said.
Tense does not begin to describe this. Second and third 2 out. 3-2 count. Olivia DeFord walks. 3-2 bases loaded. Alannah Rogers hits a liner that doesn’t drop fast enough and Groshong snags it. Extras pic.twitter.com/j4KnG8uKUa
His team takes home a second straight state title after surviving the toughest challenge a 5A opponent gave them in those two years.
Turlington (BYU), senior catcher Jaeden Murphy (Kansas) and Alannah Rogers will all be playing DivisionI softball next year and have been pillars of the Wildcats program.
"They didn't make any mistakes. They threw the ball really well. It's special because we're losing four kids and three of them really contributed a lot. They mean so much to our program and I really don't have the words to describe how much they mean to our school and everybody they come in touch with. They're the nicest kids and they're great athletes," Tizzano said. "We never want anybody leaving Willow Canyon wishing they would have went anywhere else to play. The stage is set. If you come to Willow Canyon, you know what the expectation is."
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps @rsmithYWV
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.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here