AIA 4A playoffs: Top seed Eastmark rallies past Coconino

WINDOW ROCK – The Coconino softball team put a couple of early runs on the board against the top-seeded Mesa Eastmark Firebirds in Tuesday’s Arizona Interscholastic Association 4A elimination game, but they were not enough.

The fifth-seeded Panthers led 3-0 after their half of the fourth inning, but Eastmark (26-4) rallied back and stunned Coconino with six unanswered runs to win 6-3 at Papago Softball Complex in Phoenix.

Eastmark advanced into Thursday’s semifinals against third seed Tucson Canyon Del Oro (32-2), while Coconino ended its season at 23-8 overall. Part of that season total includes an 11-1 mark in the 4A Grand Canyon Region as the Panthers captured the league title for the third straight year.

“I’m so super proud of these girls,” Coconino coach Kimberly Dennis said in a telephone interview with the Navajo Times. “You know, we had a very successful season and obviously the girls did great on the field. They came together as a team.

“We ended up having four teams in the state playoffs from the Grand Canyon Region,” she added. “Three made it past the play-in game, so according to that we had the toughest region in the state.”

The Panthers scored two runs in the top of the first frame, taking advantage of a wild pitch and an Eastmark error.

Danica Kern singled to lead off the game and Sophie Monsman reached on an error. A wild pitch by Eastmark starting pitcher Tayler McCombs yielded Coconino’s first run with Kern scoring with no outs while Monsman stole second.

A fielder’s choice from Destiny Villas earned the Panthers a 2-0 lead before McCombs settled down and retired the next two batters.

In the top of the fourth, Kaitlyn Tso doubled with a line drive to left field. Two batters later Aryanna Dominguez hit another line drive in the opposite side of the field for an RBI double as Coconino seized a 3-0 cushion.

Eastmark, however, tied the contest to close out the fourth frame. The Firebirds quickly loaded the bases with leadoff hitter Bella Gomez starting the rally with a hit pitch from Tso.

Mya Searcy then followed with a single and Ella Deery got on base with an error.

On the very next play, Coconino right fielder Mia Pozar made a spectacular diving catch that foiled an out-of-the-park homer from Mia Migliaccio.

“Mia robbed that girl of a grand slam,” Dennis said. “She caught the ball while falling into the fence.”

Migliaccio’s deep fly still drove in one run, as Gomez tagged from third. But the Firebirds were not done yet, even though Tso struck out the next batter.

With two outs, ninth-hole batter Jasmine Boling took her fourth offering to center for a two-run double that tied the contest.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tso had a tough time finding her spots as she walked four batters while giving up an RBI single to Deery. In that frame, Eastmark plated two runs.

The Firebirds added an insurance run in the sixth when McCombs drove in the leadoff hitter.

Tso, who pitched six innings, surrendered six runs (three earned) on nine hits while fanning eight batters and walking four.

“At this stage of the tournament you can’t give up any freebies,” Dennis said. “The errors and walks usually come back to haunt you but they also had some timely hits. I mean, a double scored two runs which was huge for them to tie the game, especially after the fact that we stopped them from a grand slam.”

Coconino finished with five hits off McCombs, the Firebirds’ starting pitcher. McCombs, who struck out two and walked one, threw four innings as she was relieved by sophomore Lexi Mendez.

Mendez closed out the last three innings with seven strikeouts.

The Panthers are set to graduate two players, including four-year player Alyssa Fockler, who played behind the plate.

“Regardless of how many players you lose, there is always a different makeup,” Dennis said when asked to comment about next season’s prospects. “I mean, losing a high level catcher like Alyssa is not going to be an easy task. She’s been on the team for four years and she was able to catch Kaitlyn, so we have some big shoes to fill.”

Nevertheless, the Panthers are expected to challenge for another region crown with Tso in the circle. The junior ace has six pitches in her repertoire. Her curveball, rise and change-up have put hitters in a bind.

“What helps is I’ve increased my speed by four miles per hour,” said Tso, whose pitches topped out at 64 mph.

“She came into our program very talented,” Denny said. “She puts in the work like no other during the offseason and so that part of her game has really showed.”

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