It is early and results have not been consistent, but early season signs suggest Willow Canyon may be  able to keep up in this year’s 5A arms race.
 
Since Donnie Tizzano returned to lead the program in 2018, the Wildcats made their first two trips to the final eight of the playoffs. Both runs ended when Willow Canyon could not limit powerful offenses - giving up seven runs in both 2018 losses and 11 in its first 2019 defeat.
 
To start the 2020 season, the Wildcats recorded one of its biggest wins with pitching and defense, beating last season’s runner up Centennial 3-1 in Surprise on March 5.
 
“That’s a great team over there and Randy does a great job coaching them. You know they’re going to be prepared,” Tizzano said. “It’s a challenge for us. They’re kind of our measuring stick over the years. If we can compete with them then we know we can go pretty far in the playoffs.”
 
The Wildcats took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first as a Jaden Murphy fly ball to right field was misplayed and a couple of runs scored. Murphy went to third base after the error but was stranded there.
 
Two runs were enough against an unsettled Centennial lineup that in this game started three freshmen and three sophomores.
 
“This year I’d be lying if I told you we had it figured out. There are still some key contributors that I’m waiting for them to turn the corner,” Centennial coach Randy Kaye said. “Last week we saw some adversity and we battled. Willow came out and did a great job and made their plays. And I told our girls if we make our plays, we’re still playing now.”
 
These teams played to start the season Feb. 27 in the Sunrise Mountain tournament, and the 3-0 Coyotes win started young Centennial’s journey to the invitational title.
 
This time Willow Canyon (7-1-1, 5-0 regular season) threw freshman Marissa McCann and she was a difference maker. Tizzano said the program hasn’t a had a pitcher with that skill set in a long time
 
“She’s a power pitcher who can get us strikeouts in big spots when we need them. She can attack anybody in the lineup. She held it together. She got some runners on base early in the game and kept composed.” Tizzano said.
 

She stayed in control despite giving up a second -inning blast to his opposite number, Centennial senior pitcher Mariah Lopez.
 
On the mound, Lopez shrugged off the defensive  lapse and shut the home team down for the next four innings. Then sophomore Tristen Turlington led off the sixth reaching on an error, moved to second on a passed ball, went to third on junior Raelynn Rogers’ single and scored on freshman Trinity Kennemer’s sacrifice fly.
 
Tizzano said Lopez dominated them in the tournament matchup.
 
“I thought we were a little bit more disciplined and a little more confident. (Lopez) is just good. It doesn’t really matter what kind of approach you have with her, you just want to make her grind and we did that today,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, McCann got out of the fifth with two runners on and handed it over to sophomore Alannah Rogers in relief.
 
Rogers allowed two runners in the sixth inning but got a strikeout, primarily with her off-speed stuff.
 
Then in the seventh a hit batter and walk put two Coyotes on with one out. But Rogers quickly recovered with a strikeout and groundout to preserve the save.
 
“She’s got a devestating change up and she sells it so good. On the club circuit a lot of people know Alanah but she’s our best-kept secret. She’s our best player by far. She won’t get a lot of player of the year consideration because she doesn’t hit home runs or rack up big strikeout numbers. But she’s one of the best players in the state and can do everything on the field,” Tizzano said.
 
The Wildcats coach said he wanted to front load schedule for young team - which started four sophomores and two freshmen March 5.
 
Now the Wildcats are in position for an undefeated regular season after beating Shadow Ridge 5-1 March 3 and outsasting 2019 semifinalist Phoenix Horizon in a throwback 9-8 slugfest March 9.
 
“I’ve been saying that it’s going to be a good squad. They’re hungry, motivated and work hard. I know a lot of those kids and Donnie’s doing a great job with that team,” Kaye said.