Here we go. Tonight’s 5A Division I softball championship between Chandler Basha (31-4) and Tempe Corona del Sol (28-7) is going to be sweet.
First pitch is 8:07 p.m. at Rose Mofford Softball Complex (9833 N. 25th Ave, Phoenix) and airing on Cox Communications ch. 7.
Yes, it’s annoying these two schools have already played each other three times, but both teams appear to have evolved since their last meeting which determined the Central Region champion (Basha won 2-1). Yes, coaches Scott Hoffmeyer and Jeep Ray are good friends, as are several players from each team.
(If experience makes any difference - and I don’t think it will tonight - Corona del Sol won the state championship in 2003 and was runner-up to Mesa Red Mountain in 2006 (a few current Aztecs were on the ‘06 team).
Plus it’s No. 1 vs. No. 2. Does this mean the new version of the Power Rankings system worked? You tell us.
Here’s tonight’s (not-so) quick scouting report:
Pitching: Basha junior Samantha Parlich doesn’t have the physical stature of a Dallas Escobedo, but she can throw fire with the best of them. She topped 250 strikeouts for the second consecutive year, and outdueled Escobedo and Phoenix St. Mary’s to get here in the do-or-die semifinal on Wednesday. Parlich’s beaten Corona twice this season (she didn’t pitch in Corona’s 14-6 victory), most recently the 2-1 game which decided the region championship. The Aztecs rely on Jamie Pollak and Marina Carroll, who’ve shared time in the circle. Both have been effective, but both rely on precise location and their defense behind them. They’re not going to strike out 10-15 hitters per game the way Parlich can.
Advantage: Basha.
Hitting: This is where Corona has been unlike any other tournament team. The Aztecs already had a good core of hitters in Ashley Hansen, Mary Spiel, Vanessa Alvarez and Laura Bohning. In the tournament, however, everyone has been a difficult out the past couple weeks. Sierra Vista Buena has a top pitcher in Meghan McIntosh. So, too, did Scottsdale Desert Mountain in Whitney Phillips, and Phoenix Xavier in Stephanie Janes. But the Aztecs were better, pounding (and blooping) hit after hit. They’ve scored 39 runs in four tournament games, and watching Hansen and Spiel hit and run are more than worth the price of admission.
Basha is no slouch either. They scored twice off Escobedo in the first semifinal game, then put the ball in play well enough to score twice again in the second game. They’ll have plenty of chances to do the same against Corona’s pitching.
Advantage: Corona del Sol
Defense: By their own admission, the Aztecs were inconsistent defensively throughout the regular season. At times they’ve been shaky in the postseason, but haven’t been damaged by their miscues, in-part because they’ve hit the ball so well. They can’t rely on that in one game against Parlich, but no one needs to tell them to be ready. There will be plenty of plays to make tonight.
Basha is underrated defensively. Parlich is a strikeout pitcher, but the Bears made four terrific defensive plays in beating Mesa Red Mountain, and were spot-on when they had to be against St Mary’s. Both of these teams’ strengths are up the middle.
Advantage: Even.
Who’s winning? Why?
