Palo Verde pitcher Chela Romero hugs Titans coach Selina Heald after scoring the winning run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning. The second-seeded Titans advanced to play top-seeded Desert View at 4:30 this afternoon in the 4A Gila Region final.

dean knuth / arizona daily star

More Photos (1):

Other articles by Tyler Hansen:

Opinion by Tyler Hansen: The winner is... High schools' best Pusch Ridge seniors treat their beat feet after another feat Weldon's intense focus leads to a big celebrationMiraculous comeback lifts Lancers Surprising Ironwood Ridge is 'prepared' for its opportunity to capture a state title Cienega overcomes ejections, late-game mistakes to advance Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Some fearless predictions as 2008 state titles go on the line Opinion by Tyler Hansen : Quiet Hawk makes noise with stick Fridley accepts advice, paces Eagles past Titans Foothills is No. 1 even without No. 1

Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER

Douglas softball coach Abe Grijalva walked off the outfield grass Monday at Cherry Field, shaking his head in disappointment.

With a heavy sigh, he muttered three words: "Ay, ay, ay."

There wasn't much else to say, except, perhaps: "At least we don't have to face Chela Romero again this year."

Romero, a Palo Verde freshman, piled it on as Douglas wasted one-run leads in the seventh and eighth innings, leading the Titans a rousing 4-3 victory in the 4A Gila Region tournament semifinals.

Romero was everywhere, scoring the winning run on a wild pitch, reaching base all five times at the plate and pitching a complete game six-hitter.

Not bad for her playoff debut.

"Wow, that was pretty fun," Romero said between smiles afterward. "That was a lot of pressure to deal with, but I wanted to prove a freshman could do something special."

The second-seeded Titans will play top-seeded Desert View in today's 4:30 p.m. championship game at Cherry Field.

Palo Verde coach Selina Heald took a gamble starting Romero in place of staff ace Jenelle Klassen. Romero was an unimpressive 1-2 entering the game, but Douglas' familiarity with Klassen's repertoire gave her teammate the nod.

"Everyone in the (region) has seen Jenelle twice now, so Douglas could have just sat back and waited for the pitches they know she was going to throw," Heald said. "Chela came in and gave them a look they hadn't seen before."

The unfamiliarity was a nonfactor in the first inning when the Bulldogs' first four batters reached base and took a 1-0 lead. From there, though, Romero was steady and smooth.

But the title-game berth seemed a long shot for Palo Verde given the circumstances. The Titans (13-10) were helpless against the Douglas defense and pitcher Trista Campbell.

They stranded nine base runners — six in scoring position — in the first five innings as Campbell worked out of one jam after another.

It was all in vain.

"We have been left on the field a few times because we can't make the plays at the end," Grijalva said. "We are 17-12, and in more than half of those losses, we have been ahead and let it slip away.

"We're just not mentally tough."

After Palo Verde cut the deficit to 2-1 in the sixth inning, Romero reached on an error to lead off the seventh. Four batters later, Kim Wojtak singled to right field to score Romero and send the game to extra innings.

Campbell put Douglas ahead with a leadoff double in the eighth, scoring on a double by Alexis Quintana to make it 3-2.

But even after getting two quick outs in the bottom half, the Bulldogs faltered. Victoria Chavez, Romero and Klassen singled to set the stage for Romero's final heroics. Campbell's pitch to Lavonda Smiley hit the dirt and scooted past catcher Jackie Gonzalez.

Romero broke for home immediately and beat the tag for the winning run.

● Catalina Foothills 6, Cienega 5: At Cherry Field, infielders Gabby Danaher and Stephanie Carramusa made stellar defensive plays in the top of the seventh inning, saving the game for the Falcons (22-9) and sending them into today's 4A Kino championship game against Sahuaro. April Hamilton homered and doubled for Cienega (25-11).

● Sabino 6, Pueblo 1: At Cherry Field, Killian McEwan pitched a five-hitter and struck out five to lead the No. 2 Sabercats (21-13) into today's 4A Sonoran final against Canyon del Oro.

● Salpointe Catholic 4, Chandler Basha 3: At Salpointe, Nicole Rascon singled in Ashleigh Hendrickson with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to lead the eighth-seeded Lancers into today's second round.

Salpointe (19-11-1), which plays at No. 1 Sierra Vista Buena today at 4 p.m., got all four of its RBIs from freshmen. Kristiana Campuzano knocked in two, and Rascon and Heather Schulz each had one.

Read more high school sports information at Tyler Hansen's new online blog: go.azstarnet.com/highschoolhotshots