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A photographer walked into the Ironwood Ridge softball dugout Wednesday in Phoenix and asked if he could take photos among the Nighthawks players.

"What are you doing watching us?" quipped an Ironwood Ridge assistant coach during his team's win in the Class 5A-II state semifinals. "We're just the No. 9 seed. We're not even supposed to be here." 

The coach's playful comment seemed a bit out of place for a program that has had its share of success over the last five years.

But one thing seems certain: Except for the few dozen players, coaches and parents in the program, nobody expected the Nighthawks to be playing Saturday in the state championship game. 

"There hasn't been a year where we didn't believe we could win the whole thing," said coach Randy Anway, whose team will play Peoria Sunrise Mountain in the title game at 8 p.m. at Phoenix's Rose Mofford Complex. "We've had some really good teams before, but none of them were as prepared for this situation like this team is."

Ironwood Ridge fell short in the state semifinals in 2005 and 2006. The program's first-ever trip to the final seemed unlikely two weeks ago. 

The Nighthawks (19-12) went 5-5 in their last 10 games of the regular season, and Anway did not settle on a batting order until the week before the state playoffs began. 

Since then, they are 6-0. 

"We are very strong offensively, and it seems like we improved in every area as the year went on," Anway said. 

It shouldn't be a surprise, really. The Nighthawks' core group of four-year starters — Morgan Long, Rachel Chapman, Kelsey Groff, Laken Anway and Adriana DiMatteo — is made up of Southern Arizona all-stars. 

I-Ridge has 10 seniors, with key contributions also coming from Allie Martinez, Lacey Swihart and Kristina Moore. 

The next test, No. 2 Sunrise Mountain (33-2), appears to be the toughest.

"They are a good team, but we are only concerned about us," Anway said. "If we execute the way we have been, things will continue to go our way." 

The area's most successful big-school softball programs — Sahuaro and Canyon del Oro — will square off today at 5 p.m. in the 4A-I title game at Rose Mofford Complex.

The teams have more in common than winning: CDO first baseman Megan Franklin and Sahuaro second baseman Kayla Basye are best friends. They will play and room together next year at El Paso Community College. 

They also have worked out every Sunday morning at Sahuaro for three hours since last June — and quit playing club ball — to help Basye recover from shoulder surgery. 

Their self-help work paid off: Each has a batting average hovering around .400, and neither CDO nor Sahuaro would be in this position without their production. 

"I'm not surprised at how well we're doing because we push each other so hard," Basye said. "Seeing how good Megan is reminded me that I can play at that level, too." 

CDO (32-4), the No. 1 seed and defending champion, is gunning for its fifth crown. Seventh-seeded Sahuaro (26-8) is in its 12th state final and won eight times previously, but not since 2001. 

"I've been wishing for this moment, to play Sahuaro for the championship," said Franklin, whose RBI single in the first inning helped CDO beat Glendale O'Connor 2-1 in the semis. "It's a win-win situation for me. If we lose, then my best friend wins." 

The game will be televised live on Cox cable Channel 7.