Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Arizona Lutheran looking like contender in D-IV softball

April 14, 2014 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365


The softball team from Phoenix Arizona Lutheran Academy has only one senior on its roster, but the Coyotes play like a team full of experienced fourth-year players.

The team, which entered Monday’s (April 14) play as the No. 3 power-points team in Division IV behind  Superior and defending state champion San Manuel, rolled up an impressive 12-0 road victory in five innings (shortened due to 10-run rule) over Phoenix Christian.

Arizona Lutheran raised its record to 19-6 while Phoenix Christian dropped below the .500 mark at 10-11.

The Coyotes took control early by scoring 10 runs in the first inning.

They did it in a variety of ways – including four hits, two errors and five walks. The team had seven hits for the game, with nine walks and four Phoenix Christian errors.

One run scored on a hit by Elizabeth Benavidez after it ricocheted off the foot of the base umpire.

Arizona Lutheran sent 14 batters to the plate in the big inning.

The biggest run-producers were Brynlee Gibbs and Alicia Borchardt, with two RBIs each.

ALA scored one more in the third inning on an error and another in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Sammie McCorry.

Jordan McClellan had a strong effort in the pitching circle. She gave up three hits and struck out seven.

Phoenix Christian’s Athena Tapia-Trumbull showed off a strong arm in center field, throwing out a runner at the plate in the fifth inning.

Arizona Lutheran hits the road – the long road – for its next game on Wednesday (April 16). It will face San Pasqual in Winterhaven, Calif., just across the border from Yuma. Phoenix Christian also plays on Wednesday, at Glendale Joy Christian.