Window Rock, Chinle, Page eliminated in opening round

FORT DEFIANCE

It wasn’t Window Rock, Chinle and Page’s day as the three area schools were eliminated in the opening round of the Arizona Division III State Softball Tournament at Rose Mofford Complex in Phoenix last Saturday.

This year the state tournament field expanded to 24 schools. The top eight schools received an opening round bye. Schools seeded ninth through 24th were in action.

The Sweet 16 was played last night.

The survivors advance to this Friday’s quarterfinals. The semifinals are scheduled for this Saturday, with action all played at Rose Mofford Complex. Action shifts to Farrington Complex on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe on Monday night at 7:45 p.m.

Buckeye Union 7, Window Rock 1

Buckeye Union pitcher Dustie Durham limited Window Rock to four hits as the Hawks posted a 7-1 win over the Lady Scouts.

“Our defense backed up our pitcher Hannah Smiley,” said Window Rock head coach Hank Henson. “It was a pitching duel and the game could have gone either way for five innings. Buckeye hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and that hurt us. The grand slam took the wind out of our sail. Buckeye held a 2-1 lead before the grand slam.”

Henson said Smiley did a good job in pitching circle before allowing the grand slam.

“Hannah kept Buckeye batters off balance,” he said. “Our defense did a good job. Our defense made some plays. Hannah then began to struggle in the sixth inning. She rebounded in the seventh inning.”

Estrella Foothills 14, Chinle 0

Fielding errors and poor execution at the plate was Chinle’s downfall as the Lady Wildcats were shutout by the Estrella Foothills Wolves, 14-0.

Chinle committed six fielding errors and two base running mistakes. The Lady Wildcats could muster two hits for the entire game.

“Our defense didn’t back up our pitcher Kiersten Begay,” said Chinle head coach Tim Su’e Su’e Liufau. “Kiersten did a good job. She kept Estrella Foothills off balance. We needed to make the plays on the field. Freshman second base Paige Brown played a fantastic game. She made plays.”

Snowflake 6, Page 5

Page outhit Snowflake but the Lady Sand Devils dropped a 6-5 decision to the Lobos.

The Lady Sand Devils committed a crucial error, which allowed the Lobos to score the game winning run in the bottom half of the seventh inning.

“The game was tied until the seventh inning when Snowflake scored the game winner,” said Page head coach Rachael West. “This was the best game we’ve played all season. We played Snowflake strong. We fought Snowflake tooth and nail. I was proud of the girls.”

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