Phillip Gibbs
For West Valley Preps
Strong pitching, tough defense, patience, and perseverance told the tale of an epic 5A softball playoff opener Saturday.
The visiting Mountain View Mountain Lions (18-14) came into the elimination game with an earned amount of confidence on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. A gritty team visiting from Tucson, they played tough and showed an ample amount of endurance in a game that would end with them on the losing side 1-0 after 11 innings.
Their starting pitcher, Zaylie Calderon, kept #6 Centennial (20-8-1) scoreless through nearly ten innings when midway through the bottom of the 10th she surrendered pitching duties to teammate Jessica Niegocki.
And on the other side of the circle, the Coyotes' starting pitcher, junior Sydnie Sahhar, pitched all eleven scoreless innings helping put her team in a position to break through offensively.
“Sydnie is a kid who was out all of last year. She rehabbed the entire year and she was cleared the night before our second playoff game that year but didn’t get in. I think that’s big for her to get back in the playoffs and battle through eleven innings,” said Centennial head coach Randy Kaye when asked about his ace pitcher’s performance.
The win came off an Aubrey Maya single in the 11th to bring in the winning run by pinch runner Jaydin Gonzalez. That play was set-up off a crucial walk by Meghan Golden who fell behind 0-2 in the count but maintained her composure and fought for the base on balls.
Gonzalez then substituted for Golden at first base. Next to bat was Sahhar who connected on a bunt which was just enough for Gonzalez to press onto second setting up Maya for the game winning single.
“I knew that our team could get the job done. With me out in in front pitching and the team behind me I had no doubt that we could get this win for each other.” said Sahhar. "I am so happy for Aubrey Maya. She deserves it.
Centennial moves on to the double elimination portion of the bracket for the first time since 2012. The Coyotes play Tuesday against #3 Cienega - the defending state champion - in the second round in Vail.
Saturday's game wasn’t without it’s share of impressive defensive plays. In the fourth Mountain View’s Calderon made a heads-up play showing a quick first step when she snagged a bunt that barely landed in play connecting with both the ground and her glove, quickly whipped it to first for the out, setting up the ensuing double play to second.
Again, in the sixth with Centennial runners on first and third, Mountain View’s third baseman made a heads-up play snagging a single down the first base line and due to positioning threw for the out at home rather than attempting to tag the first base runner before throwing home. There were also a few mistakes on both sides. Centennial will hope to rectify fielding errors on defense moving into the second round.
“We talked a lot about understanding and knowing where our defense was. I told them that this may not be good enough to win the next game. We made a few mental errors that hurt us, but we will learn from it. I’m happy for my players and coaches,” Kaye said.
Centennial junior first baseman Hailey Galvez stretches out for the force play in the April 28 first round game against Marana Mountain View. [Courtesy Stacie Sahhar/For West Valley Preps][/caption]
