Lady Bulldogs win two, advance to semifinals in state playoffs

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Winslow Lady Bulldogs defeated the Coolidge Lady Bears 7-2 and the Mingus Lady Marauders 4-2 May 3-4 at Rose Mofford Complex in Phoenix in the Arizona State Division III Softball Championship Tournament to advance to the semifinals on Friday.

The Lady Bulldogs win against Coolidge sent the Lady Bulldogs into a quarterfinal game against Mingus on Saturday.

Winslow started strong by plating four runs in the bottom of the first inning after two outs. Renee Bollin cracked a home run after Coolidge retired the first two batters to make it 1-0. Taylor Baca doubled and Jamie Bollin walked. Both scored on a double by Megan Lymer. Lymer stole third and scored on a wild pitch for a 4-0 Winslow first inning lead.

Coolidge cut the lead to 4-1 on a single by Sara Garcia who went to second after a wild pitch, to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Sammie Ortiz.

The Lady Bulldogs scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning to increase the lead to 7-1. Halle Hayes singled and Jaleisa Hayes got on base on an error. Both scored on a double from Renee Bollin who scored on a single by Megan Lymer.

Coolidge scored in the top of seventh on a walk, a double by Sammie Ortiz and a single by Mariah Cavazos but the game ended with the Lady Bulldogs winning 7-2.

Halle Hayes pitched the full seven innings for the victory but had trouble with control and walked two batters in the fourth inning with no outs and three more batters in the fifth. She managed to strike out key batters in both innings and benefit from a magnificent catch for the final out in the fifth. She finished giving up just five hits with eight walks. She also fanned eight.

Renee Bollin hit two for three for Winslow with a double and a home run. Taylor Baca also hit two for three with a double. Dallas Zamora hit one for three with a double. Jamie Bollin also hitone for two. Megan Lymer hit one for three with a double. Halle Hayes hit one for four.

Ortiz led Coolidge with two hits in three at bats including a double. Tiffany Thompson hit one for two for the Lady Bears. Sara Garcia hit one for three and Mariah Cavazos hit one for four.

On Saturday the Lady Bulldogs defeated the Mingus Lady Marauders 4-1. The win sent the Lady Bulldogs into a semifinal game scheduled for Friday. Winslow will play the Payson Lady Longhorns, a 7-3 winner over River Valley on Saturday. The win improved Winslow's record to 25-3. Payson is 29-4 for the season and beat Winslow 4-1 in a tournament at Payson earlier in the year.

The Lady Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a walk and two out singles by Baca and Renee Bollin.

Mingus tied the score in the top of the second inning on three walks and a wild pitch. The Lady Marauders left the bases loaded for the second straight inning in the top of the third inning.

The Lady Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the third on a triple from Halle Hayes, a single from Jaleisa Hayes, a hit batter and a Mingus error which led to three runs and a 4-1 lead.

Mingus cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning with an unearned run on a single by Bailey Mabery and a dropped fly that allowed her to score.

Halle Hayes started on the mound for winslow but left the game after working two and two thirds innings. She gave up a run on three hits but was plagued by control issues allowing four walks and striking out two. Richelyn Villanueva got the win giving up only an unearned run on four hits and two walks while fanning five in four and a third innings of work.

Halle Hayes led the Lady Bulldogs at the plate with a three for four day including a triple. Jamie Bollin went two for three. Jaleisa Hayes went two for four. Taylor Baca and Hailee Branson were one for three.

Before the Winslow-Payson game on Friday, Empire will meet Estrella Foothills in the other semifinal game. Estrella Foothills defeated Benson 1-0 in a shutout May 4 while Empire edged Show Low 4-3 to qualify for the semifinals May 3. The winners of those games will meet on Saturday for the Arizona State Division III Softball Championship.

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