Ky Westbrook’s standards are so high, it was hard for her to hide the disappointment of running an average race despite easily winning the 100-meter dash on Saturday.

It took more than four hours, nine sets, and an upset of the No. 1 seed, to create an all-Gilbert final in the boys volleyball state tournament.

Cameron Dudley had a great view from the bench last year when the Gilbert boys volleyball team won the state title.

After getting past No. 18 Ironwood Ridge in three games earlier in the day (25-17, 25-16, 25-19), No. 15 Hamilton ran into No. 2 Highland, who knocked the Huskies out of the second round of the boys state volleyball tournament, 25-17, 25-13, 25-18.

Her team found ways to stay alive for at least a few more days in the Division I state tournament, but Lindsey Collins wasn't gushing.

As if the first-round heart-pounding win wasn’t enough, the Desert Vista baseball team had to go to extra-innings again to keep its season alive.

Danielle Block has a hard time balancing the rigors of pitching and hitting.

Yet, about two hours and eight innings later, the Broncos were the ones dazed, in large because of a perfectly executed hit and run by Hicks as No. 22 Thunder erased a nine-run deficit to beat No. 11 Brophy 12-10 in 11 innings.

The progression of the Desert Vista softball program took another big step.

The road to Florence isn’t long when country music stars are in town. People flock from the East Valley to the Country Thunder music festival, spurring the question: What else is there to see in Florence? It didn’t take long to find an answer — alpacas.

Senior Ryan McGill made the most of senior day as Saguaro beat Fountain Hills, 5-4, on Tuesday in Division II baseball action.

It was no surprise a 20-year-old man was arrested over the weekend for stabbing another man at the Country Thunder music festival in Pinal County. News reports tell of an argument escalating into violence. I’d bet excessive and criminal alcohol consumption played a part in this crime.

While Thursday's opening day at Country Thunder was the shortest day concert-wise, there was no disappointment in the four acts that took the stage – especially not when it came to headliner Brantley Gilbert.

Samantha Leighty and Bailey Bergman combined to finish a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate, with three doubles, a home run and two RBI as host Campo Verde came back to upset Queen Creek,  8-7 in 10 innings, Thursday.

The same local dance company that takes audiences deep into vampire territory each autumn with its acclaimed "A Vampire Tale" is going into uncharted waters.