Sabino outlasted Mountain View 8-6 Tuesday in an important Division II game between two teams still looking for an identity.  Sabino (3-7 overall, 3-1 in division games) is still rebuilding from the loss of several standouts including Wisconsin leader Kelsey Jenkins while Mountain View (3-5-1, 1-3) is coming off one of the best seasons in recent memory that included a rare trip to the state playoffs.

Sabino head coach Chelsea Slama won a championship playing for Sabercats in 2005 and then went on to earn All-Conference and All-Region honors playing for Pima. It's been a struggle to qualify for the state playoffs, but the second-year coach sees some progress this year including some leadership from her seniors.

"We are looking a little rough and figuring out our positions," Slama said. "But we are scrappy and are coming together. The difference is the leadership by Paulina (Romero), Hannah (Freer) and Justine (Valles). They are leading by example."

Sabino finished the year ranked in the top 10 two years ago but held on for playoff spot ranked 20th last year. The Sabercats will have to dig deep to earn another spot this year.

Mountain View does not have the history Sabino has but second-year coach Ashley Monceaux guided the Mountain Lions to the playoffs last year and is looking to build an identity for the program.

Monceaux was named the 5A State Player of the Year with Flowing Wells after leading the team to three state titles. She then led Pima to a national title before earning All-Big 12 honors playing for Baylor. An influx of freshmen and sophomores with speed and power has helped bring new life to the Mountain View program but it has also brought uneven play.

"I feel we are sitting on a hill and we don't know which way we want to go," Monceaux explained. "We have a bunch of newbies and bunch of returners. The newcomers are full of desire but we need all the girls to see our vision of the team.

"They need to believe they can be a force to reckon with," she added.

Sabino jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first. It was an inning that included a triple from Jessica Bauer, a double from Freer and a 3-run shot by Gabby Ramirez but the Mountain Lions responded with three runs of their own when it was their turn.

Alex Van der Werf came up with a 2-run triple to score Zaylie Calderon and Sierra Ornelas and then Marisella Sandoval singled her home to cut the lead down to 4-3.Mountain View tied the game up in the bottom of the second after Vanessa Carpenter led off with a single and Ornelas grounded her home three batters later.

Freer put Sabino up for good in the top of the third with a 2-run home run but the game still remained close the rest of the way.

Andrea Hernandez singled to open up the bottom of the third and Van der Werf followed with a double but Elizabeth Lyon settled down and picked up two strikeouts and an infield grounder to end the threat but Mountain View would get another shot in the fourth.

Calderon singled with one out and Ornelas followed with another hit. Chloe Cordova brought in Calderon to cut the lead down to 6-5 but Freer collected two quick outs to end that threat. Freer had replaced Lyon in the fourth.

Van der Werf got the start for the Mountain Lions and Alyssa Lovato came in to pitch in the fifth. Carly Grey doubled for Sabino and then scored on an error to give the Sabercats a 7-5 lead but Mountain View would strike back again.

Lovato singled with one out and then Carpenter reached on an error after attempting to sacrifice Lovato over to second base. Sam Angulo was walked and the bases were loaded with only one out. Calderon was hit-by-pitch to bring in Lovato but, again, Freer got out of the mess with a grounder and a pop fly.

Bauer knocked in a run for Sabino in the seventh and the Sabercats went on to win 8-6.

Calderon went 3-3 with an RBI; Hernandez went 2-4 and Van der Werf went 2-4 with a double and a triple. For Sabino, Bauer went 2-4 with a triple and two RBIs; Valles went 2-4; Freer went 2-4 with a double and 2-RBI home run and Ramirez had a 2-RBI home run.