Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

The Northwest Region softball showdown Tuesday afternoon proceeded as expected, until one of the teams sprung a leak late.

After cutting its deficit to 4-2 in the top half of the sixth inning, defending region champion Shadow Ridge fell apart in the bottom half of the inning.

Host Centennial was in position to take advantage scoring four of its five runs in the inning on - a bases loaded walk, stealing home during a toss back to the mound and a dropped fly ball that brought in the final two runs.

That allowed the host Coyotes to cruise to a 9-4 victory in the first of two pivotal games this week between top 10 teams in 5A.

"They beat us four times last year and I believe the first two were by the run rule. The last two times it was an error here or there," Centennial coach Randy Kaye said. "We got them early at the Sunrise Mountain tournament. And I told the girls we're going to want this one. To me it's a big game. Any success in this region is going to go through (Shadow Ridge)."

Shadow Ridge (13-4 overall, 9-2 regular season) may not match last year's No. 2 seed that reached the final six in the 2017 5A playoffs. But the Stallions defeated quality teams Buckeye Verrado and Tucson Sahuaro.

First-year coach Nadine Arias, therefore, can look at Tuesday's performance as an outlier. And her team can look forward to a chance for payback against Centennial (12-7-1, 7-3) at 3:45 p.m. Thursday at Shadow Ridge.

"I think we had some mental errors. Normally, we make those plays nine out of 10 times. A pop fly dropped here ... bases loaded, we don't take care of the ball and get the out," Arias said. "Whoever makes less mistakes and executes better is going to win the ball game."

While Kaye has used five different pitchers in multiple games this year - and returning senior Alanna Moran earned starts this year based on her performance in 2017 - the Coyotes now have their ace back for big games.

Junior Sydnie Sahhar sat out last season with a back injury after an impressive debut as a freshman. She pitched a complete game Tuesday.

Shadow Ridge threatened in the second inning, with junior Paiton Tornberg reaching third and sophomore pinch runner Breanna Gonzalez on second with one out. Sahhar responded with two punchouts.

"I felt like Alanna earned something from last year, she did a lot for us. She's had some opportunities. We actually have five pitchers on this team and I wanted to get everybody some time," Kaye said. "But I think Sydnie is starting to put herself as the kid that's our go-to now. But it's not by much."

Centennial's Sydnie Sahhar throws a pitch against Shadow Ridge on Tuesday at Centennial High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]Then she helped her cause with a one-out single in the bottom half of the second. Sophomore Aubrey Maya added a bloop single and Moran broke the ice with a RBI double.

Junior Dren Meginnis stepped in with two outs and smacked a two-run double down the third base line for a 3-0 Coyotes lead.

"When we got behind in the count, we wanted to stay short. I'll be honest with you, I'd rather have them hit in on the ground, but we got a little bit lucky," Kaye said. "We didn't have (sophomore) Marley Burd today because she's in Tucson for a school event. I didn't k could hit like that. She's powerful line drive hitter and usually makes contact with it."

The visitors stayed in it as junior Mickaela Covarrubio singled, senior Avery Dome moved her over and sophomore Aris Carroll brought her home. Covarrubio slid under the tag at home to make it 3-1.

Sahhar bounced back by starting a two-out rally in the bottom of the third, hitting her team's third bloop single of the game. Maya followed with an RBI double right down the third base line and into the left field corner.

Freshman Morgan Greene entered in relief for Stallions starter Emari Evans and tossed two scoreless innings. Sahhar also cruised through the middle innings.

Sophomore Sophie Carroll replaced her sister in the lineup and in the field. At full health, the Carroll sisters are the foundation of the Shadow Ridge lineup but both are banged up.

"No matter what, a player's health is more important than anything else. Arias said. "Does it help when you have both of them on the left side of the infield? Absolutely. It's hard to get through those two."

Freshman Paige White hit a bloop single to lead off the sixth and junior Riley Holmberg hit a single right off Sahhar's leg. Covarrubio drove in a run to draw the visitors close at 4-2.

Moran singled for the Coyotes and took second on a fielding error. Centennial loaded the bases with one out and senior Natalie Delponte drove in Moran.

Greene walked in a run and junior Natalie Moody came in from the bullpen. She got a popup, but junior Makenzie Celaya stole home and an error let in two more runs.

"We talk about rhythm between the pitcher and catcher. When they start to go to a knee and the pitcher does not look at us ... I had just told her to not hesitate. She made the decision and that was a heads-up play," Kaye said.

Shadow Ridge had its best inning at the plate after errors dug a deep hole. Sophie Carroll drilled a leadoff double to the center field wall to start the seventh.

Freshman pinch hitter Hannah Lindsay doubled her home. Senior Torie Strand added a sacrifice fly but Sahhar shut down any thoughts of a monster rally.

"We did battle and come back. But they're a good ball club," Arias said. "Today wasn't our day. I'm proud of how we kept fighting. We have to be like Dory from 'Finding Nemo' and have temporary amnesia. Let's delete it and figure out what we have to do tomorrow."

Shadow Ridge's Mickaela Covarrubio scores off a hit by teammate Aris Carroll against Centennial April 3 at Centennial High School in Peoria. [Jacob Stanek/West Valley Preps][/caption]