EXTRA EFFORT

With curfew fast approaching for players on both teams, Deer Valley's Jacqi Kennelly stabbed a liner that put the game and No. 2 Centennial to bed.

The Coyotes' Madison January sent a lined shot toward left field, but Kennelly timed her leap perfectly and came down with the ball to secure the 11-inning 3-2 win Wednesday night at Rose Mofford Park, sending the Skyhawks to the 5A-II state championship game Saturday against top-seeded Sunrise Mountain. The Mustangs defeated No. 8 Boulder Creek 8-1 to advance.

"I didn't know I could jump that high," Kennelly said. "I was just calm when (the ball) came my way and I just knew I didn't want it to get past me."

The Skyhawk shortstop's grab ended what could have been the Coyotes' second game-tying rally of the game.

In the seventh, with the No. 3 Skyhawks up 2-1, and January on second after a single to center field and a wild pitch, sophomore Colltey Sheldon slapped a pitch past Deer Valley third baseman Chrissy Tyler down the line that scored January from second to notch the game at 2.

The Skyhawks' Claire Zampini led the eleventh off with a bunt single and catcher Morgan Desaulnier followed with a single over third baseman Destinee Luna's outstretched glove. Chrissy Tyler's sacrifice bunt moved the runners up and right fielder Jacque Robbins hit a grounder to Coyote third baseman Krystal Garcia who elected to throw home, but Zampini beat the tag.

"This is what you expect when No. 2 plays No. 3," said Deer Valley coach Carl Bakemeier. "Both teams really battled tonight."

"No one should lose a game like this," said Centennial coach Bartt Underwood. "I'm very proud of this group. We've had a lot of adversity this season with injuries, but before tonight's game I told the girls I want three things from them: to show enthusiasm, stay tough and have fun. And I think every one them did that tonight."

Deer Valley had a chance to break the game open in the sixth when they loaded the bases with no out. Kennelly and pitcher Lauren Haeger led the inning off with a single and double, which ended Centennial pitcher Morgan Montemayor's night. The Centennial sophomore went the distance in a game one win, and gutted out a five-inning performance in game two. She finished the night having thrown more than 160 pitches during the two games.

With senior Gabby Luciani on the hill in relief for the Coyotes, Gennell Carizosa walked to load the bases with no outs. Designated player Caitlin Dekker followed with a bloop single to left field that scored Kennelly and kept the bases full. However, Luciani induced a pair of grounders to Garcia who threw out consecutive runners at the plate and Chrissy Tyler ended the inning by flying out to left.

"We just needed one more key hit in that sixth inning," Bakemeier said.

Centennial jumped on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Sheldon reached second on a pair of throwing errors and scored on Luna's single to left.

The Skyhawks responded in the top half of the fourth when Carrizosa launched a Montemayor pitch off the wall in left and Dekker went the opposite way for a base hit that scored the tying run.

Haeger's outing Wednesday went much different than Saturday when she pitched a one hitter and struck out 15 Centennial hitters. She went the distance again, throwing 148 pitches for the win. She struck out 13 and allowed eight hits.

"(The team) defense was what really worked for me tonight," Haeger said. "I wasn't getting the strikeouts like I was, so I relied on my teammates behind me and the defense helped me out."

Afterward, Underwood said this was one of the best softball games he had ever been a part of.

If the second game was the best, the first game must be a close second.

Centennial broke through a scoreless game in the fifth with a two-out rally started by a double off the bat of No. 9 hitter Samantha Riojas, which halted Skyhawk pitcher Jenny Tyler's no hitter. After going down 0-and-2, Sheldon slapped a single to left to score the Coyote center fielder.

Deer Valley had a chance to tie the game in the seventh when Zampini hit a bunt single but was cut down one batter later trying to reach third on Desaulnier's base hit to left field.

Montemayor went the distance for the win in the first game, and finished with nine strike outs. She allowed six hits in the shutout.

Centennial finishes the season 27-7, while Deer Valley heads into Saturday's match up at 27-6.