When Catalina Foothills took the field for Saturday’s first round of the Class 5A state softball playoffs, uncertainty was everywhere. The Falcons’ starting third baseman was sick, having spent her Friday night throwing up. Their starting catcher wasn’t feeling well either — she would need a postgame IV.
Yuma Gila Ridge’s Addison Duke then ambushed Foothills starter Kyrie Denny with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning.
No matter. Showing the fire and resilience that’s been the hallmark of their season, the Falcons tied the game on Samantha Dougherty’s two-run shot in the bottom half, scored 10 more times the rest of the way, and run-ruled 14th-seeded Gila Ridge in five innings, 12-2.
Senior shortstop Rylie Crane called the win “awesome” given the adversity the team was facing at first pitch.
“We had one of our outfielders playing third, we had a girl with a hurt finger in right,” she said. “We had some injuries, but I’m so proud of our girls for just fighting through it. Everyone stepped up to the plate today.”
Lauren Sizemore also homered for Foothills, which improved to 22-7.
Saturday’s victory had added significance. The new state playoff format for Class 5A is single-elimination in the first round — anyone who loses goes home — but double-elimination after that. By beating Gila Ridge, the Falcons not only ensured they wouldn’t be eliminated Saturday, but added at least two more games to their schedule.
Foothills will host sixth-seeded Cave Creek Cactus Shadows at 4 p.m. Tuesday, with the winner moving on to Saturday’s quarterfinals at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex in Phoenix. Whoever falls on Tuesday must climb through the loser’s bracket to get back into the playoffs. Cactus Shadows opened the playoffs Saturday with a 10-0, five-inning win over Cienega.
The excitement was palpable to Foothills coach Mark Stevens, who said this year’s team is among his best ever.
“Moving forward, a statement win like this — we can run-rule a team — just kinda puts it out there for other teams that, hey, we’re a team to watch,” he said.
Photos: Catalina Foothills defeats Gila Ridge, 12-2, in 5A softball playoffs
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Lauren Sizemore (7) gets high fives after her solo homer added to the Falcons' lead, making it 8-2 against Gila Ridge in the fourth inning of their Class 5A state playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Gila Ridge's right fielder Alyssa Campa (2) just misses a slicing liner down the line that ended up a triple for Catalina Foothills' Kyrie Denny (15) in the fourth inning of their 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills second baseman Molly Brunell (19) controls a slow roller from Gila Ridge's Alyssa Campa (2) to nip her at first in the fifth inning of their Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Molly Brunell (19), top, and Madison Hairgrove (10) celebrate a 12-2 five inning run-rule win over Gila Ridge in their Class 5A softball playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Samantha Dougherty (22) gets drilled in the hip during an at bat against Gila Ridge in the second inning of their state Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Rylie Crane (99) plays the high hop to throw out Gila Ridge's Raegan Rosas (1) and strand a runner at third in the third inning of their state Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' head coach Mark Stevens applies some body English watching Ally Moreno not quite beat the tag at third by Gila Ridge's Klarissa Radar (8) while trying for an extra base on a passed ball in the fourth inning of their Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' right fielder Genon Thomas (1) gets the out to end the fifth inning off a fly ball from Gila Ridge's Addison Duke (9) in their Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Samantha Dougherty (22) gets a low five from head coach Mark Stevens after slapping a two RBI homer to tie the game against Gila Ridge 2-2 in the first inning of their state Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Gila Ridge's Addison Duke (9) passes head coach Courtney Reed on her way home with a two RBI homer to give the Hawks the first, and only, lead of the day in the first inning against Catalina Foothill in their state Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Madison Hairgrove (10) can't get the tag around as Gila Ridge's Addison Duke (9) swipes third in the third inning of their Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
Catalina Foothills vs Gila Ridge
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Catalina Foothills' Rylie Crane (99) celebrates after coming all the way around when her sinking shot into left field got misplayed and upped the Falcon lead to 7-2 over Gila Ridge in the fourth inning of their state Class 5A playoff game at Catalina Foothills High School, Tucson, Ariz., April 30, 2022.
