Sports
Bobcats get out the lumber in first 10 wins
Thelma Grimes
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Playing a lot of games in the first week of the season was no problem for the Benson Bobcats' softball team last week, as they took first in the Wickenburg Wrangler Softball Classic, and remain undefeated after 10 games.
Last Tuesday the Lady Bobcats opened the season up against familiar opponent Pusch Ridge Christian Academy.
Senior pitcher Megan Ellsworth picked up right where she left off, by keep the Lions off balance at the plate. The only Lion to do anything against Ellsworth was Shawn Bleyl.
After Brittany Batten scored in the bottom of the first to give Benson a 1-0 lead, Bleyl came up in the top of the second to smash one over left center for a homerun.
With the game tied in the bottom of the third, lead-off hitter Brooke Tibbitts was walked to put the go-ahead runner on base. Batten got on first when the Lions failed to field a bunt. Ellsworth brought Tibbitts home, but was thrown out at first.
Gabi Cardenas didn't leave runners stranded. After Batten came home on a Lions fielding error, Cardenas hit a grounder to get heavy-hitter Shalena Solis home, and give the Bobcats a 4-1 lead.
Batten went 3-3, with two runs and two stolen bases. Solis finished the game 1-1, with a run, a double an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.
Bleyl scored in the top of the fourth for the Lions, but the Bobcats' strong defense and Ellsworth pitching held them off.
"This was a solid opening game to start the season," said Coach Ernie Batten. "We were able to knock some rust off against a good team."
On Thursday the Lady Bobcats got their first 2A East Conference victory of the season, smashing the Morenci Wildcats in a 13-0 shutout.
Ellsworth pitched a perfect game, with 11 strikeouts and no hits.
"It's always nice to get that first one in the conference action," Coach Batten said. "Ellsworth was untouchable today. Very impressive victory against a good ballclub."
At bat, Solis got her first homerun of the season, going 3-3 with two runs, four RBIs and a stolen base. Ellsworth also made her mark on offense, going 2-2 with three runs, four RBIs, a homerun and a walk. Kayla Haro was 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
Over the weekend, the Lady Bobcats won seven straight to take the Wickenburg Wrangler Softball Classic.
In the first round, it was all Bobcats, as they defeated Ganado 17-0. In the victory, Haro got her first pitching start of the season, giving up no hits and getting four strikeouts in three innings.
At bat, Haro also got to work, going 2-2 for four RBIs and a homerun. Bethany Martell was 2-2 with a run, three RBIs and a walk and Tibbitts was 2-2 with three runs, an RBI, a homerun, a walk and a stolen base.
"We were able to play everybody a lot and get some of the tournament jitters out of the way," Coach Batten said. "Kayla Haro picked up her first varsity win in the circle and hit a homerun to boot. Great effort."
In the second round, the Bobcats had their third shutout in a row, beating Desert Edge 12-0.
Ellsworth picked up the win, pitching an no-hitter, with a walk and 12 strikeouts.
Solis dominated at the plate, going 3-3 with two RBIs, a double and a homerun. Ellsworth was 2-3 with three runs, an RBI, a homerun and a walk. Batten was 2-4 with two runs, three RBIs and a homerun.
"Ellsworth was once again dominant in the circle," Batten said. "This was our third no-hitter in a row from the pitchers. Awesome. Solis, Ellsworth and Batten supplied the heavy lumber offensively, with three homeruns. This was a big win over a 4A school."
In the third round, the Bobcats didn't win a shut-out, but dominated Payson in a 7-1 victory.
Ellsworth allowed one unearned run, with four hits and 16 strikeouts.
Offensively, Solis stayed strong, going 3-4 with a run, a double and an RBI. Tibbitts was 3-4 with a run and an RBI.
The Bobcats went on to defeat Hayden 8-3 and Flagstaff 4-0, before meeting Bourgade Catholic in the semi-finals.
Martell came up big for the Bobcats against a tough team, hitting a two-run single in the first with two outs. Cardenas and Solis worked a double steal to perfection in the third inning to earn the third run of the game.
The win put the Bobcats into the championship game against Santa Cruz.
The Bobcats had no problems in the title game, wining 8-0. Ellsworth, locking up her seventh win of the season, pitched a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts.
Solis was 2-3 with a run, three RBIs, a homerun and a stolen base. Martell was 203 with a run, two RBIs and a homerun.
"We took the tournament behind great pitching from Ellsworth and Haro," Coach Batten said. "We hit 11 homeruns in the tourney, and made a lot of great plays in the field. A great performance all around. Overall, it was a great opening week for the 2008 season."
Ellsworth and Solis were named to the All-Tournament Team, and Ellsworth was the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
This week the Lady Bobcats have another busy week, hosting Bisbee on Thursday at 4 p.m. and traveling to Desert Christian on Friday at 4 p.m.
San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Playing a lot of games in the first week of the season was no problem for the Benson Bobcats' softball team last week, as they took first in the Wickenburg Wrangler Softball Classic, and remain undefeated after 10 games.
Last Tuesday the Lady Bobcats opened the season up against familiar opponent Pusch Ridge Christian Academy.
Senior pitcher Megan Ellsworth picked up right where she left off, by keep the Lions off balance at the plate. The only Lion to do anything against Ellsworth was Shawn Bleyl.
After Brittany Batten scored in the bottom of the first to give Benson a 1-0 lead, Bleyl came up in the top of the second to smash one over left center for a homerun.
With the game tied in the bottom of the third, lead-off hitter Brooke Tibbitts was walked to put the go-ahead runner on base. Batten got on first when the Lions failed to field a bunt. Ellsworth brought Tibbitts home, but was thrown out at first.
Gabi Cardenas didn't leave runners stranded. After Batten came home on a Lions fielding error, Cardenas hit a grounder to get heavy-hitter Shalena Solis home, and give the Bobcats a 4-1 lead.
Batten went 3-3, with two runs and two stolen bases. Solis finished the game 1-1, with a run, a double an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.
Bleyl scored in the top of the fourth for the Lions, but the Bobcats' strong defense and Ellsworth pitching held them off.
"This was a solid opening game to start the season," said Coach Ernie Batten. "We were able to knock some rust off against a good team."
On Thursday the Lady Bobcats got their first 2A East Conference victory of the season, smashing the Morenci Wildcats in a 13-0 shutout.
Ellsworth pitched a perfect game, with 11 strikeouts and no hits.
"It's always nice to get that first one in the conference action," Coach Batten said. "Ellsworth was untouchable today. Very impressive victory against a good ballclub."
At bat, Solis got her first homerun of the season, going 3-3 with two runs, four RBIs and a stolen base. Ellsworth also made her mark on offense, going 2-2 with three runs, four RBIs, a homerun and a walk. Kayla Haro was 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
Over the weekend, the Lady Bobcats won seven straight to take the Wickenburg Wrangler Softball Classic.
In the first round, it was all Bobcats, as they defeated Ganado 17-0. In the victory, Haro got her first pitching start of the season, giving up no hits and getting four strikeouts in three innings.
At bat, Haro also got to work, going 2-2 for four RBIs and a homerun. Bethany Martell was 2-2 with a run, three RBIs and a walk and Tibbitts was 2-2 with three runs, an RBI, a homerun, a walk and a stolen base.
"We were able to play everybody a lot and get some of the tournament jitters out of the way," Coach Batten said. "Kayla Haro picked up her first varsity win in the circle and hit a homerun to boot. Great effort."
In the second round, the Bobcats had their third shutout in a row, beating Desert Edge 12-0.
Ellsworth picked up the win, pitching an no-hitter, with a walk and 12 strikeouts.
Solis dominated at the plate, going 3-3 with two RBIs, a double and a homerun. Ellsworth was 2-3 with three runs, an RBI, a homerun and a walk. Batten was 2-4 with two runs, three RBIs and a homerun.
"Ellsworth was once again dominant in the circle," Batten said. "This was our third no-hitter in a row from the pitchers. Awesome. Solis, Ellsworth and Batten supplied the heavy lumber offensively, with three homeruns. This was a big win over a 4A school."
In the third round, the Bobcats didn't win a shut-out, but dominated Payson in a 7-1 victory.
Ellsworth allowed one unearned run, with four hits and 16 strikeouts.
Offensively, Solis stayed strong, going 3-4 with a run, a double and an RBI. Tibbitts was 3-4 with a run and an RBI.
The Bobcats went on to defeat Hayden 8-3 and Flagstaff 4-0, before meeting Bourgade Catholic in the semi-finals.
Martell came up big for the Bobcats against a tough team, hitting a two-run single in the first with two outs. Cardenas and Solis worked a double steal to perfection in the third inning to earn the third run of the game.
The win put the Bobcats into the championship game against Santa Cruz.
The Bobcats had no problems in the title game, wining 8-0. Ellsworth, locking up her seventh win of the season, pitched a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts.
Solis was 2-3 with a run, three RBIs, a homerun and a stolen base. Martell was 203 with a run, two RBIs and a homerun.
"We took the tournament behind great pitching from Ellsworth and Haro," Coach Batten said. "We hit 11 homeruns in the tourney, and made a lot of great plays in the field. A great performance all around. Overall, it was a great opening week for the 2008 season."
Ellsworth and Solis were named to the All-Tournament Team, and Ellsworth was the Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
This week the Lady Bobcats have another busy week, hosting Bisbee on Thursday at 4 p.m. and traveling to Desert Christian on Friday at 4 p.m.
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