Among the whirlwind of post-championship activities in these past three weeks was a stop at a jewelry shop. A stream of Chandler Basha softball players designed rings for the 5A Division I state title winners.
See the special All-Tribune athletes section as it appeared in print
Among the whirlwind of post-championship activities in these past three weeks was a stop at a jewelry shop. A stream of Chandler Basha softball players designed rings for the 5A Division I state title winners.
See the special All-Tribune athletes section as it appeared in print
It’s a green stone with a Basha logo that reads: “Business Finished.”
It’s a play on the team’s season motto of “Unfinished Business.” After being stopped one spot short of last year’s championship party, 5-foot-6 junior pitcher Samantha Parlich wasn’t going to miss this dance.
Parlich trailed 5-2 after two innings against Central Region rival Tempe Corona del Sol in the title game. But after being knocked around twice (her season ERA almost reached 1.00), Parlich was back to being the dominant player on a dominant team. She fired five shutout innings, and had two hits and scored twice as the Bears chiseled away until Darlene Valles’ grand slam ensured they were state champions.
“It still hasn’t sunken in that we won,” Parlich said. “Maybe when we get our ring it will, but I don’t know.”
That won’t happen until September.
Until then, she’ll have to settle for being the Tribune Player of the Year.
The numbers can stand alone: 18-2 with four saves, a 0.91 ERA and 200 strikeouts for a second consecutive season, plus a .553 average with 40 runs and 42 RBIs.
“There’s nothing she hasn’t done in the past two years,” Basha coach Scott Hoffmeyer said. “It’s a tough act to follow up with (next season), but she’ll find something.”
“It’ll push us,” Parlich said of next spring’s target. “Everyone wants to come beat us and it drives me to win another.”
Looking Back
MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM THE 2008 SEASON
Basha wins bash-fest: From start to finish, Basha had the best record in 5A-I and lived up to its No. 1 seed. When it counted, the Bears conquered last year’s state semifinals disappointment to win their first softball state championship. The Bears rode pitcher Samantha Parlich and an unheralded lineup to a 9-5 victory against Corona del Sol in the title game.
Desert Valley Region: You could see it coming. St. Mary’s returned almost every key player from its 2007 championship season, the same season Xavier set new benchmarks for itself and returned nearly everyone. Desert Mountain is a perennial contender under Rick Sharp. Throw in Glendale Mountain Ridge (which knocked the Wolves out of the state tournament) and the Desert Valley Region was easily the toughest from top to bottom. The Wolves quietly won a fourth region title in five years. St. Mary’s and Xavier both reached the state semifinals.
Arcadia three-peat falls short: Coming off consecutive state championship runs, Arcadia was the squad every other 4A Division II team was gunning for from the start of the season. Despite having to play with that pressure all year, the Titans were a loose bunch and were ranked No. 1 from wire to wire. They went into state seeded No. 1 and came up just shy of finishing there. After pulling out a 15-inning victory in the quarterfinals and a dramatic late-inning comeback in the semis, Arcadia was done in by two unearned in a 2-1 loss to Phoenix Greenway in the title game.
Class 5A All-Tribune first team
Name School Yr. Pos. Comment
Samantha Parlich Basha Jr. P Sub-1.00 ERA, also hit .553 with five HRs, 42 RBIs
Stephanie Janes Xavier Sr. P Dominated (23-8, 1.28 ERA) without dominant pitch
Ashley Hansen Corona Sr. C Stanford recruit hit .636 with 57 runs, 42 RBIs
Katelyn Boyd Horizon Sr. IF Best hitter in the state, .690, 12 HRs, 61 RBIs, 33 SB
Sara Sandoval Mesa Sr. IF Do-everything star led Mesa revival
Laura Bohning Corona Jr. IF .404 with 32 runs and 37 RBIs
Sierra Rodriguez Basha So. IF Hit .520, 6 triples, 3 HRs, 50 runs, 33 RBIs
Caitlin Bayley Xavier Sr. OF Batting average increased 170 points (.600)
Alyssa Goldsmith Gilbert Sr. OF .554, 34 runs and terrific fielder
Becca Tikey Horizon Jr. OF .425 with 30 runs and 33 RBIs
Talor Haro Highland Sr. DH ASU signee hit .632, injury prevented her from pitching
Dallas Escobedo St. Mary’s So. UT Only hand injury slowed ASU-bound phenom
Player of the Year: Samantha Parlich, Basha
Coach of the Year: Scott Hoffmeyer, Basha. Held the best record in 5A (32-4) from start to finish and got the most out of unheralded lineup.
Class 5A All-Tribune second team
Name School Yr. Pos. Comment
Bri Robles Mesa Sr. P 19-11, 1.65 ERA, 200 Ks
Mel Willadsen Red Mtn. So. P 1.11 ERA, 128 Ks in 130 IP
Molly Smith St. Mary’s Jr. C .433 with 30 RBIs despite injuries
Tess Casey Xavier Jr. IF .427 hitter at her best in state tourney
Brittany Lobell Basha Sr. IF Punished those who walked Parlich
Vanessa Alvarez Corona Jr. IF .375, 41 RBIs behind Hansen
Kayla Ensminger Red Mtn. Jr. IF .374 and 8 SB for young Mountain Lions
Bailey Blake Gilbert So. OF .419, 40 runs next to Goldsmith
Alexis Lawton Mesquite So. OF Fiesta Region player of the year
Sara Strickland Horizon Sr. OF Terrific career with Boyd and Tikey as Huskies’ core
Chelsea Rodriguez Highland So. DH .387 with 8 HRs with more to come
Meredith Whitney Desert Mtn. Sr. UT 1.95 ERA, 219 Ks; .414, 8 HRs, 46 RBIs
Class 4A-1A All-Tribune first team
Name School Yr. Pos. Comment
Paula Liebler Arcadia Sr. P Undefeated until title game, 13-1, 0.55 ERA, 242 Ks
Mackenzie Popescue Chaparral Jr. P 14-2, 0.63 ERA; hit .402 with 11 HRs, 50 RBIs
Carrie Peters McClintock Sr. C Powered school’s charge with .447 avg., 47 RBIs
Kelsey Rodriguez Seton Catholic So. IF Led team with .604 avg., 10 triples, 34 RBIs
Kristy Kellogg Paradise Valley Jr. IF Hit .495, had 28 stolen bases
Jade Wilson Tempe So. IF Led Buffaloes with .462 avg., 5 HRs, 32 RBIs
Madison Williams Notre Dame Jr. IF .415 with 5 HRs, 13 doubles, 40 RBIs
Kristina Butcher Paradise Valley Jr. OF Hit .455 with 35 RBIs
Kaela Carrieres Seton Catholic Sr. OF Stellar fielder set table for Sentinels with .439 avg.
Brandi Heimburg Arcadia Fr. OF Played beyond years, .352 avg., 28 RBIs, 3 HRs
Annie Lockwood Paradise Valley Sr. DH Headed to ASU after hitting .624, 14 HRs, 53 RBIs
Hayley Temple Valley Christian Jr. UT .591, 5 HRs, 55 RBIs; 18-9, 0.65 ERA, 307 Ks, 175 IP
Player of the Year: Paula Liebler, Arcadia
Coach of the Year: Jason Foster, Arcadia. Under heavy pressure, still led Titans within one game of a 4A-II three-peat.
Class 4A-1A All-Tribune second team
Name School Yr. Pos. Comment
Steph Pesqueira Tempe So. P 1.28 ERA, 82 Ks; Hit .438, 26 RBIs, 12 doubles
Olivia Bergman Seton Catholic Fr. P Guided team to state semis, 9-3, 1.08 ERA, 73 Ks
Shelby Richardson Valley Christian Jr. C Hit .490, 25 RBIs, 23 SB
Terra Ciesielski Apache Junction Sr. IF Hit .376 with 4 HRs, 26 RBIs
Ashley Gonzales Queen Creek Sr. IF Natural athlete was Bulldogs’ leader
Liz Hudson Chaparral Jr. IF Hit .398 with 7 doubles, 26 RBIs
Jamie Kottcamp Queen Creek Jr. IF Defensive standout, hit .398 with 3 HRs, 19 RBIs
Kelsey Whittier Notre Dame Sr. IF Hit .500, 4 triples, 25 RBIs
Carissa Reisinger Seton Catholic Jr. OF Singles specialist, batted .481
Kennedy Byxbee Chaparral Sr. OF Hit .416 with 7 triples, 6 doubles
Megan Johnson Seton Catholic So. DH Cleanup hitter batted .436 with 5 triples, 23 RBIs
Marissa Smith Arcadia Sr. UT 10-3, 1.85 ERA, 72 Ks; led East Sky with 35 RBIs
