Coconino shutouts Flag High in pitchers’ duel
Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Coconino junior ace pitcher Kaitlyn Tso delivers a pitch to a Flagstaff batter Thursday during an AIA 4A playoff elimination game at Coconino High School. The Lady Panther advanced with a 3-0 over Flagstaff.
FLAGSTAFF
In a game dominated by pitching, the Coconino Lady Panthers snuck past city rival Flagstaff High in an Arizona Interscholastic Association 4A elimination game.
Fifth-seeded Coconino scored the opening run on a Flagstaff error in the first frame before its bats came alive in the sixth to post a 3-0 shutout victory at Coconino High School on a sunny Thursday afternoon.
“We’re a good hitting team but today was a fun game because it was a pitchers’ duel,” said Coconino coach Kimberly Dennis, whose team improved to 23-7 overall. “Sometimes it’s fun to watch, and it’s a matter if the defense is going to back you up.”
Junior ace Katelyn Tso earned the win for the Panthers as she struck out nine batters, walked two and yielded four hits in seven innings of shutout ball.
Flagstaff senior Gianna Baca was tagged with the loss. The starting pitcher worked six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits. She struck out seven and walked one.
“Flagstaff is definitely a good team, but I think the chemistry that we have on this team is what won this game for us,” Tso said. “The chemistry that we have is the best and, personally, I believe we can go far in the playoffs.”
With the loss, the eighth-seeded Eagles (19-11) saw their season end, while Coconino advanced into the next round of the double-elimination bracket. The Panthers will take the field on Tuesday against the loser between No. 2 Arcadia and No. 3 Canyon Del Oro at the Papago Softball Complex in Phoenix.
“We’re moving forward and I’m just super excited for the girls,” Dennis said. “I’m just proud of how they handled the pressure in a tight close game like that. We stayed calm and we were finally able to get some timely hits.”
With two outs in the bottom of the first frame, Coconino shortstop Destiny Villas singled a ground ball to left field. The junior infielder used her lightning-quick speed to steal home as the throw from the catcher to second base went awry. The ball was overthrown as it sailed to center in which Dennis signaled Villas home.
With both pitchers throwing some heat, neither team scored for the next five innings. But in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers added two insurance runs.
Coco catcher Alyssa Fockler reached third on an error by the right fielder. Another misplayed grounder by Flagstaff put Tso at first, which scored Flocker.
Third baseman Katelynn Yazzie then nailed a hit to center for an RBI double for the game’s final 3-0 reading.
Navajo Times | Quentin Jodie
Coconino third baseman Katelynn Yazzie cracks a smile after completing an out against the Flagstaff Lady Eagles Thursday in an AIA 4A playoff elimination game. Yazzie led the Lady Panthers with two hits.
Yazzie led the Panthers by going 2-for-3.
The shutout was somewhat of a payback win for the Dennis-coached team, as Flagstaff ended the Panthers’ season last year in the playoffs.
“They got us last year, so the message for this game was to play for each other,” Dennis said. “That is what we focused on. And to reference Kaitlyn’s comment, I just feel like our team has really great chemistry.
“All the girls have worked hard on that chemistry,” she added. “They’re playing for each other, and today it showed.”
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