Softball: Desert Vista hands CDO first loss

March 15, 2016 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Desert Vista prepped for what it hopes to be a fruitful week at the Desert Mountain Invitational by dealiing one of Division II's top teams -- Canyon del Oro -- a 10-0 defeat in a softball power-ranking game Monday afternoon at Desert Vista.

Senior pitcher Brooke Hughes wasn't overpowering, but highly effective. She tossed a two-hitter, walked one and struck out two  in a game shortened to six innings by the 10-run rule. Hughes also delivered an offensive blow early with a three-run single to stake Desert Vista to a 3-0 lead.

Desert Vista improved to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in power-ranking games. The loss was the first of the year for CDO (12-1-1, 4-1). CDO opened the season in late February by winning its own Dorado Classic.

Hughes quality two-out, bases-loaded at-bat in the Thunder first came off the first of four CDO pitcher, senior Randi Longville. Hughes plugged the left-center field gap with a liner to the base of the wall with the bases loaded. It was retrieved quickly, but delivered every runner.Hughes had a perfect day at the plate, walking in her other three plate appearances.

Designated player Brynn Gullinson was 2-3 hitting in the ninth spot for Desert Vista, She cracked a solo homer to dead center to make it 4-0 in the second.

Desert Vista tacked on three more runs in the third off reliever Gabrielle Blevins. Gullinson drove in one of the runs with a single and Taijah Ellison the other with another single. CDO committed two of its three errors for the day in the inning.

CDO's third pitcher, freshman Halle Morris, surrendered two runs in the fifth. Rion Simms (3-for-4) had the lone RBI in the inning. The Dorados weren't crisp in their play in a game that's bound to happen occasionally in 30-game season. Two of Desert Vista's runs, including the final one, scored on wild pitches. A couple of sharply-hit line drives by Desert Vista that were catchable caromed off gloves instead of landing in them.

Desert Vista opens play Tuesday (March 15) in the week-long Desert Mountain tournament against Desert Ridge at 3 p.m. at Horizon Park, the site for all games in the tournament. CDO makes a return trip to the Valley on Tuesday for another power-ranking game at Gilbert High.