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Coyotes, Mustangs battle in playoff prelude
The 5A Div. II state softball tournament may be less than five weeks away, but that didn't stop top-ranked Sunrise Mountain or No. 2 Centennial from giving the large contingent of fans a glimpse of what they can expect if the two teams face each other with the title on the line.
"It was a playoff caliber game," said Sunrise Mountain coach Nick Rizer. "But when we face each other it's always like that. They got us in the (Sandra Day O'Connor/Deer Valley) tournament (March 22), 1-0, in a game where we had runners on third base five times and couldn't get that one hit to score them. However, our girls did a nice job battling today."
The Mustangs (24-2, 6-0) claimed sole possession of first place in the Desert West region by pushing across three runs in the sixth inning down Centennial (17-3-1, 4-1) at home, 3-0, Wednesday.
Both squads started their aces - junior Jamie LaBovick for Sunrise Mountain and junior Gabby Luciani for Centennial - and as in previous meetings the results were similar, right down to the pitching line: Luciani had nine strikeouts and allowed four hits, while LaBovick finished with 10 punch outs and allowed three hits. The only differences were the two walks Luciani issued, and what showed up on the scoreboard - three runs for the Mustangs.
"My drop ball, screw ball and rise ball were all working today," LaBovick said. "They fought off most of my inside pitches, so sometimes I'd have to go outside or throw a drop away to get them."
Mustang shortstop Brigette Delponte led off the sixth with a base hit up the middle. Center fielder Kara Holtorf followed with a bunt attempt that bounced a foot in front of the plate. Coyote catcher Bryanna Navarro pounced on the ball, but the left-hand hitting Holtorf was too fast to attempt a throw, so the sophomore held on to the ball keeping Delponte from moving to third.
A visibly shaken Luciani proceeded to walk No. 3 hitter LaBovick on four pitches loading the bases for Sunrise Mountain second baseman Felicia Wilson. She sliced a 1-and-2 pitch into deep right field. Coyote junior Alyssa Gibson dove after the falling shot but the ball ticked off the webbing of her glove and rolled toward the wall where center fielder Colette Siroky retrieved the ball. It ended up being a triple for Wilson, and enough run support for LaBovick to close the door in the seventh.
"Felicia (Wilson) and Brigette (Delponte) were clutch today," LaBovick said. "Brigette comes up with a base hit she hustled down the line for, and then Felicia came up with a huge base hit. It was nice to get this win, because in the Sandra Day tournament we had some chances but couldn't take advantage of them like we did today."
And if there were any question on whether Gibson's dive was a poor decision, Centennial coach Bartt Underwood quickly put that to rest.
"I loved that (Gibson) dove for the ball. If she comes up with the catch, it's a great play. Unfortunately it got by her, but at least she showed me her best effort. I heard some folks asking whether she should have dove or let the ball drop in front of her, but I was glad she went for it."
Prior to the sixth, the Mustangs had one base runner reach third - Delponte, who had a two-out walk in the third inning, and then stole second and third. However, Luciani ended the threat by catching Holtorf looking at strike three. It was the Coyote pitcher's fifth strike out in six hitters.
"When we face Gabby (Luciani), we know what to expect," Rizer said. "Jamie likes to work on the inside half of the plate, while Gabby typically works on the outside. But in a game like this, with a quality pitcher on the mound, you just hope for that one mistake to open the door and get a couple of runs."
Meanwhile, LaBovick did not allow a Centennial runner to reach third, partly do to her arm, but also thanks to the defense behind her. Playing error-free baseball was something Rizer stressed knowing the team his squad was facing and who was on the mound.
"Jamie (LaBovick) does a great job on the mound, and today was no different," Rizer said. "When she's on the mound, we have a better than average chance at winning. If the defense takes care of the ball and we string together enough hits, that leaves Jamie to do her thing out there."
The Coyotes' skipper agreed.
"We have faced LaBovick enough times now to know we're not going to score a lot," Underwood said. "She's going to work us tough and we have to make adjustments. Obiously, we want to win, But as I tell the girls, what's more important to me than wins or losses is whether they are meeting expectations of working hard and giving me their best effort. I'm happy with that."
