O'Connor defeats CDO 3-2 to win Dorado Softball Classic

March 1, 2015 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Hayley Busby led O'Connor.
(Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

Sandra Day O'Connor held on to defeat Canyon del Oro 3-2 Saturday to win the championship of the 21st Annual Dorado Classic held at the Mike Jacobs Sports Park in Marana.

The Eagles (6-1) lost to the Dorados during pool play but came into the final with a new mindset according to head coach Melissa Hobson.

"We have a great group and they have become a team in a real short time," Hobson explained. "We have about 13 returning players and they have welcomed the new girls and have been really positive. We didn't change anything from pool play, we told them to play hard and have fun."

It's easier to have fun when you are winning and the Eagles scored first in the top of the third inning after senior Justyce McClain reached on a lead-off single and moved to third base on a two-base error and then came home on a wild pitch.

Meanwhile, Canyon del Oro (7-1) struggled at the plate and left six runners stranded through five innings due in most part to the pitching of junior Stevie McLemore. McLemore and McClain were part of four Eagle players named to the Division I All-State team last spring after they led O'Connor to a fourth place finish in the state playoffs.

O'Connor picked up another unearned run in the top of the fourth after Hayley Busby tripled to left field and then scored on an errant throw.

Canyon del Oro came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning after Jordan Bishop reached on an infield error. Kate Klotz came in to run for Bishop and Arianna Felix followed with a single to put two runners on with no outs.

Freshman Ellessa Bonstrom singled off of McLemore and Klotz scored on a throwing error on the play. Freshman Anya Gonzalez brought in Bonstrom and the game was tied at 2-2 with no outs.

Jenna Martinez sacrificed Bonstrom and Gonzalez over for the first out. Brenna Griesser put down a squeeze bunt and Busby came charging in from first base to field the ball. Busby tagged out Bonstrom at home and then moved over in an attempt to throw Griesser out at second base.

Realizing Gonzalez was also coming home, Busby turned and threw her out at home for the third out, limiting the Dorados to two runs.

"I just did what I had to do," said Busby. "I thought about what the play might be and I went in to get the bunt."

With the game now tied, McLain put down a bunt-single to lead off the top of the seventh. All-State sophomore Savanna Avilla followed with an infield hit to put two runners on with no outs.

Dorado freshman pitcher Faith Orton limited the Eagles to two quick pop ups but Busby came through again with a double to score McLain. Canyon del Oro went down in order in the bottom half of the seventh to preserve the 3-2 victory.

"I was just trying to get a base hit," added Busby. "It's what I had to do."

Canyon del Oro finished in second place in the Division II state playoffs last year and have reloaded with the return of head coach Kelly Fowler.

CDO will be tested once again when they host Vail Cienega on Tuesday while O'Connor travels to Phoenix Mountain Pointe on Monday.