TEMPE — Mandy Lorenson stood in left field at ASU’s Farrington Stadium on Monday night, eyes watering as she cradled the Division II state championship trophy.
The Ironwood Ridge senior pitcher had just won her second title but this one meant more than the first, won two years ago.
“It’s so special because I actually contributed this year,” said Lorenson, a four-year varsity player. “I took the team under my belt and knew that this is what I had to do. I knew I had to do this, not for myself but for my team.”
Ironwood Ridge pitcher Mandy Lorenson delivers a pitch against Cactus during the third inning of their Division II State Championship softball game at Ferrington Stadium in Tempe on Monday, May 16, 2016.
Boy, did she contribute.
Lorenson pitched a complete-game three-hitter on Monday night as second-seeded Ironwood Ridge beat No. 4 Glendale Cactus 6-2 to win its second state crown over the last three seasons under coach Rich Alday.
Just when it looked like the Cobras were starting to figure out Lorenson, the right-hander settled down to retire the final four batters she faced. Meanwhile, the Nighthawks put together a four-run frame in their final at-bat to break a 2-2 tie.
“This one was really good because they’ve been working their tails off, they really have,” Alday said. “We’ve done it all year, we’ve kind of started off slow and then we put it together in the fourth, fifth or sixth inning.
Ironwood Ridge's Jaiden Reid is congratulated by teammates after scoring against Cactus during the second inning of their Division II State Championship softball game at Ferrington Stadium in Tempe on Monday, May 16, 2016. Reid had what turned out to be the game winning 2-RBI triple in the sixth.
“What can I say? I got nervous but they kept their composure and made some key base hits.”
The time around, I-Ridge’s rally came in the sixth inning — just as it did in last week’s come-from-behind 5-3 victory against Cactus in the semifinal of the double-elimination tournament.
Freshman right fielder Jaiden Reid hit a go-ahead two-run triple in the sixth and then senior first baseman Morgan Haft blasted a two-run shot over the center-field wall. Haft rounded third and threw both hands in the air as she approached a celebrating mob at the plate on her first home run of the season.
“My heart was racing and, honestly, I didn’t even realize what I just done until I reached home plate and my whole team was there,” said Haft, who was on the 2014 championship team. “My first championship game, I didn’t really feel like I did much because I was on the bench. This year to be on the field, in the game and a part of it was amazing.”
Ironwood Ridge right fielder Kelsey Buechler catches a sinking line drive against Cactus during the first inning of their Division II State Championship softball game at Ferrington Stadium in Tempe on Monday, May 16, 2016.
Before I-Ridge’s offensive spurt in the bottom of the sixth, it looked like Cactus had pulled the momentum into its dugout after the Nighthawks went ahead 2-0 on a two-out error in the second inning.
The Cobras had back-to-back doubles to lead off the top of the fifth – one of which first appeared to be a two-run home run — and then tied the game on two-out solo home run to left in the top of the sixth. Senior center fielder Reina Bondi said the message heading back into the dugout in the middle of the inning was to “loosen it up and get it done.”
“I’m really pumped and I’m really blessed to be a part of a program that’s so talented,” said Bondi, who was playing in her third title game. “I’m happy that we were not only able to get the first championship but also the second championship for our school. It feels pretty good.”
Ironwood Ridge players celebrate after the final out of their 6-2 victory over Glendale Cactus in the Division II state softball championship game Monday night. The Nighthawks have won two titles in the past three seasons.
Sophomore third baseman Isabel Pacho was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth and then junior shortstop Annika Baez followed with a single. Two batters later, Reid brought in both on a triple off the right-field wall, putting the Nighthawks ahead 4-2.
Right after that, Haft came up with her two-run homer to put I-Ridge up 6-2 heading into the final inning.
The Nighthawks graduate seven of 10 starters from Monday’s game but Reid, arguably the hero of the night, doesn’t expect a drop off.
“I think we’ll definitely grow from this,” Reid said. “I think we’ll come out strong next year; we’re losing a lot but it won’t hurt us.”
