CDO over Salpointe 3-0 to win the Dorado Softball Classic

February 25, 2024 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Canyon del Oro (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

Canyon del Oro beat Salpointe 3-0 to win the championship game of the Dorado Classic held at Lincoln Park over the Rodeo Break in Tucson. The Dorados went 8-0 over the three days and the Lancers went 7-1 to start the year. The 4A Kino Region rivals have a rich history, with the Lancers beating the Dorados three times last year, including a third round victory to send Canyon del Oro to the elimination bracket where the team fell in the semifinal round. Salpointe went on to win the fifth state championship in a row.

The five championship streak is a state record. The Dorados have nine state titles, with the last coming in 2017, and the Lancers have seven. The record is 12 by Seton Catholic.

Salpointe beat Desert Vista 15-2 in the semifinals behind the hitting of Alma Garcia, who went 2-3 with a home run and four RBI. Jordan Goedel went 3-4 with a home run, a double and two RBI, Anyssa Wild went 3-3 with two doubles and three RBI, Izzy Soo went 3-4 with a double with an RBI, Jocelyn Gastellum had a double, Jocelyn Gastellum had two RBI and Brooke Wild added an RBI. Macee Jackosn picked up the win with eight strikeouts. Desert Vista finished 5-1.

Canyon del Oro and Marana went at it in the other semifinal with the Dorados pulling out a 7-4 victory in dramatic fashion.

The Dorados scored three runs in the top of the first inning after the bases were loaded with two walks and a hit-by-pitch and Malayah Rentaria sacrificed Kayla Hendrix to make it 1-0. Another walk one out later loaded the bases again and two runs came in on an error for the 3-0 lead.

The Tigers got two back in the bottom of the second on a solo shot from Ella Joplin and then Sadie Silverstein singled in Eva Quezada later in the inning to cut the lead down to 3-2. Marana took a 4-3 lead in the third when Cadence Beck doubled in Alexa Corona and Joplin with two outs.

Renteria tied the game up 4-4 on a home run in the fifth and then Kelsey Rolls hit a home run later in the inning with Taya Kelly and Julissa Lopez on base for the 7-4 final. Nez picked up three strikeouts to start the game and Amelia Streuber added four more for the win. Marana finished 6-1.

In the final, the Dorados scored two runs in the top of the first on a run from Hendrix and then Kelly knocked in Molly Herman to make it 2-0. Herman doubled to lead off the third inning and Nez brought her in to make it 3-0 and that lead held up the rest of the way.

Taiya Texiera and Molli Daley picked up hits for the Lancers and Garcia walked twice. Arianna Flores took the circle for the Lancers and she gave way to Jackson, who finished with eight strikeouts.

Nez went 2-4 for the Dorados and the team collected six hits. Streuber got the win with nine strikeouts.

Cactus Shadows beat Vista Grande 16-6 to win the consolation bracket.

Canyon del Oro travels to Cienega (4-1) on Tuesday and Salpointe will play at Catalina Foothills (3-2) on Wednesday.

Salpointe. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)