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WEST VALLEY PREPS
O’Connor softball dominates, eliminates Highland
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
O’Connor Eagles shortstop Raegan Holtorf tags Highland baserunner Karsyn Norton in a sixth-inning play May 13. The Eagles won the elimination game, 7-2, to advance another day to face Xavier Prep.
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. B
O’Connor Eagles baserunner Sydnee Williams and a Highland infielder look toward a play near first base during a 6A elimination game May 13, The Eagles won the game, 7-2, to advance another day to face Xavier Prep. (Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks)
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
The O’Connor Eagles celebrate after defeating Highland, 7-2, in Mesa in a 6A elimination game May 13.
MESA — At a few points in the O’Connor Eagles’ 6A elimination game against Highland on May 13, the Hawks seemed poised to creep back into the game.
But at no point were the Eagles not in command in the 7-2 win, which advanced them to face Xavier Prep in yet another 7 p.m. elimination game at Mesa High School on Wednesday, May 14.
“They really beared down and did a good job moving the ball around on us, keeping us off balance,” O’Connor coach Melissa Hobson said regarding Highland. “Out kids just play together and they play for each other. They would give up any press or stats to get a team win.”
Hobson said pitcher Rachel Davis, who only walked two Highland batters and got the third out of the inning when needed, scattering seven hits, was a major contributor. So was Davis’ catcher, Charleigh Schuettler, and Avery Gourlay scooped some hard-hit balls and low throws at first base.
Sydnee Williams and Raegan Holtorf both had two hits for the Eagles, who scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and chased Highland’s starting pitcher.
Williams also hit a two-run single to right field in the bottom of the fifth. That’s when the Eagles, who’d had baserunners all game, finally pushed some more runs across, scoring four times to go up 7-1.
MiaLani Ocampo was one of two Hawks with more than one hit in the game. She was erased as the lead runner in a key seventh-inning play when Davis fielded a “comebacker” grounder and threw to third base to get Ocampo in a rundown.
Tuesday, May 13
6A Softball -- Lower bracket semifinal, at Mesa H.S.
Jason W. Brooks is a News editor for the Daily Independent and the Chandler Independent.
He covers the Chandler area for both yourvalley.net and the monthly print edition while writing for and assisting in the production of the Daily Independent.
Brooks is a well-traveled journalist who has documented life in small American communities in nearly all U.S. time zones.
Born in Washington, D.C. and raised there and in suburban Los Angeles, he has covered community news in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and northern Arizona.
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