Cibola softball loses on walk-off
4 locals still alive at state tennis tourney
CIBOLA’S IZAAK VARELA
team, you’ve got to play perfect defense. And I told them in practice that the team that’ll make the least amount of errors will win the game.”
Varela didn’t allow a hit or walk over the next two innings, but gave up hits to three of the first four batters he faced during a tworun fourth inning for Perry that extended the Pumas’ lead to 5-0.
Cibola finally got to Gates, and chased him out of the game, in the bottom
The Cibola softball team suffered its first loss of the regular season in heartbreaking fashion Friday.
The Raiders lost 5-4 at Perry in a matchup of teams ranked in the top six of the 6A Conference. Cibola led 4-2 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but back-to-back doubles followed by a walk-off home run won it for Perry.
Cibola (16-1 AIA) entered the game ranked No. 2, four spots ahead of No. 6 Perry (11-6).
The Raiders close the regular season Monday at home against Tucson High (12-5) in the 6A Southern region championship game.
MORE PREP SOFTBALL Gila Ridge 3, Estrella Foothills 0
Tinley Schmidgall pitched a complete-game shutout with 12 strikeouts for the Hawks, while also going 2-for-3 with a double offensively. Hannah EvansTapia also went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
With the win, Gila Ridge (13-4 AIA) finishes 4A Southwest region play with a perfect 8-0 record.
Cibola junior Tawanda Zvavamwe picked up a pair of victories on day one of the AIA Division I Boys Singles State Tournament at Indian School Park in Scottsdale on Friday to reach today’s third round.
Zvavamwe opened with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Mesa’s Lindbolm in the first round, followed by a 6-0, 6-3 win over Campo Verde’s Schneider in the second.
Zvavamwe, the only local Division I or II boys player still alive, will face Brophy Prep’s Jack Wood-