On Saturday, the Coconino Panthers softball team opened its 4A Conference state tournament run by beating the Deer Valley Skyhawks, 3-0, after going scoreless through five innings.
Panthers star pitcher Kaitlyn Tso dueled with Skyhawks pitcher Adyson Ordway, while both teams were stellar defensively throughout the game. As the sixth inning started, it started to become a question of which team would blink first.
The Panthers threw out a bunt attempt at first base, and Tso struck out the next two batters in the top of the frame. Then Coconino's offense finally came to life.
Senior Danica Kern slapped a perfect ball that bounced high enough for her to beat the throw to first base. Next, senior Sophie Monsman laid down a bunt, but the throw to first went over the fielder's head, leaving Kern racing from first base to home plate to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
After the game, Panthers managed Kimberly Dennis was asked if that play was something they practiced during the week.
鈥淲e鈥檝e done that many times," Dennis said. "Danny is a very aggressive base runner, she鈥檚 got this speed and she鈥檚 always looking to take an extra 60 feet. She saw it and was aggressive with it.鈥�
The next two runs came later in the inning when senior Destiny Villas laid down the perfect bunt just inside the foul line, leaving the Skyhawks infielders waiting to see if the ball would go foul. Villas then stole second base, and once she realized the throw to second was overthrown past the center fielder, she ran all the way home for a 2-0 lead.
Dual-threat Tso was up next, and she drilled a base hit before her teammate senior Aryanna Dominguez had her second standup double of the day, moving Tso to third. Finally, it was junior Katelynn Yazzie who came through with a line drive single to knock in the third run of the 3-0 victory.
Dennis had this to say about Coconino's output in the sixth: 鈥淚t was good timing. We had our leadoff up in Danny and that top of the order has been doing really well right now. Danny鈥檚 been on fire getting on and Sophie is just moving around, and we took advantage of their defense at that moment. Then Destiny just continued to do it, and Ari (Dominguez) was 3 for 3 and had a great game today.鈥�
Pitching with a lead, Tso struck out the side in the seventh to end the game. Despite pitching all the time, Tso spoke about her mindset coming into the pitching circle in a postseason game.
鈥淛ust dominate, have confidence, do my job and then everyone else will do theirs," Tso said. "It was an 'OK, I can do this' type of vibe.鈥�
Dominguez played a huge role in the victory, hitting a single in the second inning and standup doubles in the fourth and sixth innings.
She spoke about her approach going into the batting box: 鈥淚 feel like the mindset was that we know she pitches outside, and we were practicing a lot of that, and I feel like I personally do really good with those. So kind of just expecting it and knowing what I need to do for my team."
Next up, Coconino will host a second-round matchup against No. 9-seeded Eastmark on Tuesday. With a win, the Panthers would host again on Saturday against the winner of No. 4 Mica Mountain and No. 5 Sahuarita.