Log in

Chaparral stops Shadow Ridge softball rally inches short

Posted 5/1/19

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Typically, the phrase "softball is a game of inches," refers to a ball/strike call or a safe/out decision at a base - not a near home run.

But that inch of …

You must be a member to read this story.

Join our family of readers for as little as $5 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.


Already have an account? Log in to continue.

Current print subscribers can create a free account by clicking here

Otherwise, follow the link below to join.

To Our Valued Readers –

Visitors to our website will be limited to five stories per month unless they opt to subscribe. The five stories do not include our exclusive content written by our journalists.

For $6.99, less than 20 cents a day, digital subscribers will receive unlimited access to YourValley.net, including exclusive content from our newsroom and access to our Daily Independent e-edition.

Our commitment to balanced, fair reporting and local coverage provides insight and perspective not found anywhere else.

Your financial commitment will help to preserve the kind of honest journalism produced by our reporters and editors. We trust you agree that independent journalism is an essential component of our democracy. Please click here to subscribe.

Sincerely,
Charlene Bisson, Publisher, Independent Newsmedia

Please log in to continue

Log in
I am anchor

Chaparral stops Shadow Ridge softball rally inches short

Posted

Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

Typically, the phrase "softball is a game of inches," refers to a ball/strike call or a safe/out decision at a base - not a near home run.

But that inch of outfield wall proved to be decisive in the 6A playoff first round game between Scottsdale Chaparral and Shadow Ridge April 30. Trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on and no outs Stallions sophomore catcher Paige White drove a pitch to deep left center.

An inch higher and the ball clears - or bounces over - the fence to tie the game. Instead, White was limited to an RBI single and the home team faced a 6-4 deficit with runners at first and second.

"She couldn't hit that ball any harder than she did. I'm very proud of them and how they fought. We were down 4-0 so early," Shadow Ridge coach Nadine Arias said. "We were always within striking distance. But there were a couple of times we left people on base and that hurt."

The final time hurt the most as once again Chaparral freshman pitcher Sachi Sakai wriggled out of trouble. White advanced to third on senior Paiton Tornberg's RBI groundout and a sacrifice bunt, but Sakai induced another grounder for the decisive loss.

In the second, third and fourth innings, Sakai picked up the third out without allowing a run - despite facing a combined six runners in scoring position during that stretch.

That proved the difference for No. 9 Chaparral (18-10) in its 6-5 first round win at No. 8 Shadow Ridge (17-6).

"Our No. 1 pitcher is on the shelf right now. So Sachi was just given notice a couple days ago. She did an amazing job pitching five innings and holding Shadow Ridge to five runs, and to get herself out of those jams," Chaparral coach Mike Stoffey said.

As Stoffey mentioned, senior starter Hannah Ross was not available after pitching a complete game in the Firebirds' 7-4 play-in victory against Mesa Dobson April 24.

Shadow Ridge's veteran pitcher, Natalie Moody, has missed her senior season with an injury. Junior Emari Evans received the playoff start.

Both lineups hammered the pitchers early.

Chaparral led 3-0 before its first out. Freshman Allie Humburg led off with a double to deep center, and senior Haley Boxwell followed by smacking a triple smacking an RBI triple to the base of the right field fence.

Junior Lauren Werning drilled a two-run homer to left.

Sophomore Callie Honig added a single and junior Katie Humburg doubled to center  before Evans recovered to pick up two outs. Following a walk to load the bases, junior Kalyn Baker singled a 3-2 pitch back up the middle to stake the Firebirds to a 4-0 lead.

"We've started some games that way, but what's tended to happen to us after we start a game like that is, we go flat," Stoffey said. "What I was so impressed by this game is they added on to the lead. And they held on to the lead."

They would, but not before the Stallions got off to a similar scorching start.

Junior Mia Perez began by dropping a bloop double near the line in shallow left field. Senior Mickey Covarrubio cranked a two-run homer over the right field fence to cut the lead in half.

After Sakai recorded an out, junior Sophia Carroll pulverized a changeup, depositing it well over the wall in left center.

After that power display, the Firebirds intentionally walked Carroll the rest of the game.

"They threw her a changeup and she hit it so darn hard, hit the snot out of it. It was supposed to be an outside pitch and it was closer to 2/3 of the plate. She saw it and drove it well. I get it too. Why are you going to put up the batter on that can change the game quickly," Arias said.

Chaparral loaded the bases in the third thanks to a leadoff single by sophomore Amber Schweigert, a hit batter and a walk. Boxwell's sacrifice fly brought home an insurance run.

Sophomore pitcher Morgan Green came on in relief in the fourth and held the Firebirds down the next three innings. She walked two with two outs in the sixth, but escaped thanks to Covarrubio's diving catch in center.

"She's probably the best center fielder I've ever seen. She did everything she could to keep us in the ball game. That shout over there, I don't think I've ever seen her swing like that. She looked like a lumberjack," Arias said.

The visitors managed to hone in on Greene in the seventh. Schweigert and junior Maddie Myers hit back-to-back singles.

With two outs, Allie Humburg produced what turned out to be the winning run.

"Any time you can add on to the lead, especially with the twins coming up, is a big deal. We needed that run to win the game," Stoffey said.

The other Carroll twin, Aris, began the seventh with a comebacker that knocked Sakai's glove off. Sophia Carroll received another intentional walk.

White's near miss and Tornberg's RBI groundout followed. After the sacrifice bunt, the fourth Stallions batter to try and produce in the No. 8 hole could not.

The loss marks the end of five seniors' high school careers though, unfortunately, two of them did not really get a senior season.

"Out of the five seniors, four are going to go on and play ball. Natalie Moody and Riley Holmberg we're able to play due to injury. But their leadership has been huge. Riley was the every day left fielder for three years," Arias said.

Holmberg only played in two games. Her and Moody's absence makes the Stallions 6A debut more impressive.

Next year also looks more promising with only Covarrubio and Tornberg leaving the everyday lineup.

"It shows that we're growing. Sometimes you got to take two steps back to move forward," Arias said. "We have eight juniors and three sophomores and who knows who else in the program will step up."

inches Shadow Ridge senior Mickey Covarrubio smiles while rounding the bases after her first inning home run in the April 30 6A first round softball game. [Ryan C. McGinley/Dysart Unified School District/For West Valley Preps}[/caption]