Tucson's high school sports scene was bustling on Thursday, with several spring playoff contests in baseball, softball, beach volleyball and boys volleyball taking place.
After beating top-seeded Chandler Valley Christian 9-4 in the Class 3A state semifinals, No. 4 Sabino's boys baseball team will play in its second straight state championship game. The Sabercats won the title in 2019, and didn't play last season due to the pandemic.ย
Sabino will face No. 2 seed Phoenix Odyssey Institute at 4 p.m Monday in a game that will be played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
In boys volleyball, second-seeded Cienega advanced to its first Class 5A state championship game since 2017 with a 25-17, 25-22, 18-25, 25-17 win over third-seeded Gilbert. The Bobcats will square off against top-seeded Queen Creek Casteel at 3 p.m. Saturday in a match that will take place at Mesa Skyline High School.
Here's a look at what happened on Thursday โ and what's next in what's sure to be a few days:ย
Beach volleyball
Division II state title gme
No. 1 Salpointe Catholic 4, No. 6 Chandler Valley Christian 1*
*Lancers claim first state title in program history
Baseball
Class 3A state semifinals
No. 4 Sabino 9, No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian 4
Up next: No. 4 Sabino will face No. 2 Phoenix Odyssey Institute Monday at 4 p.m. in a game that will be played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Class 4A state semifinals
No. 4 Salpointe Catholic 5, No. 1 Canyon del Oro 1
Up next: No. 4 Salpointe Catholic will face No. 2 Gilbert Mesquite Monday at 7 p.m. in a game played at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Softball
Class 4A state semfinals
No. 2 Casa Grande Vista Grande 6, No. 3 Canyon del Oro 5
No. 1 Salpointe Catholic 9, No. 5 Surprise Paradise Honors 1
Up next: No. 1 Salpointe Catholic will face No. 2 Casa Grande Vista Grande Monday at 2 p.m. at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium on Monday at 2 p.m.ย
Class 5A state semifinalsย
No. 2 Waddell Canyon View 11, No. 14 Ironwood Ridge 0
Boys volleyball
Class 5A state semifinals
No. 2 Cienega 3, No. 3 Gilbert 1 (25-17, 25-22, 18-25, 25-17)
Up next: No. 2 Cienega will face top-seeded Queen Creek Casteel at 3 p.m. Saturday in a match that will take place at Mesa Skyline High School.
Class 4A state semifinals
No. 2 Phoenix Northwest Christian 3, No. 6 Salpointe Catholic 1 (23-25, 25-18, 25-14, 25-19)
Friday's games
Softball
Class 3A state semfiinals
No. 10 Tanque Verde vs. 3 Payson at Rose Mofford Softball Complex, 7 p.m.
No. 4 Empire vs. No. 1 Sabino at Amphitheater High School, 7 p.m.
Saturdayโs games
Baseball
Class 3A state final
No. 4 Sabino vs. No. 2 Phoenix Odyssey Institute at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 4 p.m.
Boys volleyball
Class 5A state final
No. 2 Cienega vs. No. 1 Queen Creek Casteel at Mesa Skyline High School, 3 p.m.
Mondayโs games
Baseball
Class 4A state final
No. 4 Salpointe Catholic vs. No. 2 Gilbert Mesquite at Tempe Diablo Stadium, 7 p.m.
Softball
Class 3A state final
Teams TBA at Hillenbrand Stadium, 11:30 a.m.
Class 4A state final
No. 1 Salpointe Catholic vs. No. 2 Casa Grande Vista Grande at Hillenbrand Stadium, 2 p.m.
Photos: Ironwood Ridge in 5A State Softball Championship semifinal game
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge pitcher Samantha Sotelo delivers a pitch against Canyon View during the fourth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge base runner Lauren Radtke (15) slides hard into second base to break up a double play attempt by Canyon View shortstop Kayla Bryant during the sixth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge left fielder Ariana Aguirre can't make the catch on a fly ball hit by Canyon View during the fourth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge pitcher Liliana Vigil German delivers a pitch against Canyon View during the first inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge's Kalista Axtell hits a single against Canyon View during the second inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge shortstop Caelan Beatty fields a throw from catcher Haidyn Warner as she tags out Canyon View base runner Sadie Groshong on a steal attempt during the fifth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge shortstop Caelan Beatty, left, forces out Canyon View base runner Alana Roman as she looks to turn a double play during the first inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge catcher Haidyn Warner, left, can't field a throw to the plate as Canyon View base runner Anise Romo scores during the fourth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge's Katelyn Jamieson watches the ball as she fouls off a pitch against Canyon View during the first inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge shortstop Caelan Beatty throws to first base on aground ball out against Canyon View during the first inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge players call out to teammates from the dugout during the fifth inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game against Canyon View in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge shortstop Caelan Beatty, left, looks to tag out Canyon View base runner Anise Romo as she attempts to steal second base during the second inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
Ironwood Ridge vs Canyon View Softball
Updated
Ironwood Ridge left fielder Ariana Aguirre swings at a pitch against Canyon View during the second inning of the 5A state softball championship semifinal game in Waddell on Thursday, May 13, 2021.
