Sabino standout Gabby Ramirez (Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

The championship bracket of the Badger Softball Classic is set after three days of pool play and Salpointe (15-2) claimed the top seed by going 4-0 and Sunnyside (10-6) took the second seed with a 3-1 finish.

No. 6 Sabino (8-7) turned in the best day on Friday with a 9-3 win over No. 5 Tucson (11-5) and a 10-0 run-rule over No. 9 Marana (8-8). The victories moved the Sabercats into the Championship Bracket where the team will face No. 3 Catalina Foothills (11-8-1) in the first round on Saturday morning. The winner of that game will move to the semifinal round against No. 2 Sunnyside at 3 p.m.

Sabino avoided a spot in the consolation bracket thanks to the 10-0 win over Marana Friday night. Danielle Kirchofer took the circle for the Sabercats and she picked up seven strikeouts, limiting the Tigers to five hits in the five-inning game.

Destiny Vazquez and Arianna Garcia went 2-for-3 to lead Marana and Tatum Caldwell picked up the other hit.

The Sabercats plated four runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a solo shot from Gabby Ramirez and a 2-run double from Hannah Stark. Kirchofer picked up an RBI to finish out the scoring.

Sydney Gray hit a 2-run shot in the second and Ramirez and Kirchofer had doubles in the bottom of the fifth to fuel four more runs. Ramirez went 2-3 with the home run and double, Taylor Ostrum went 2-2 and Kirchofer finished 2-3 with her double and two RBI. Cassandra Castaneda picked up a single for the Sabercats.

Freshman Leila Rouhani took the circle for the Tigers and she gave up only two earned runs. Cheyenne Hudson also saw pitching action for Marana. In all, the Tigers have seven freshmen and three sophomores on their roster.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

No. 4 Desert View vs. No. 5 Tucson, 9 a.m.

(winner plays No. 1 Salpointe at 1 p.m.)

No. 3 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 6 Sabino, 11 a.m.

(winner plays No. 2 Sunnyside at 3 p.m.)

CHAMPIONSHIP: 5 p.m.

 

CONSOLATION BRACKET

No. 10 Rio Rico vs. No. 11 Empire, 9 a.m.

(winner plays No. 7 Mountain View at 1 p.m.)

No. 9 Marana vs. No. 12 Buena, 11 a.m.

(winner plays No. 8 Vista Grande at 3 p.m.)

FINAL: 5 p.m.