#5 Campo Verde edges #13 Sunrise Mtn., 7-5

May 2, 2023 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Campo Verde's Baylee Peters is welcomed home after her third-inning home run in Coyotes 7-5 win over Sunrise Mtn. (Azpreps365 photo)

#5 Campo Verde's six-run, third inning Tuesday night certainly was the difference in defeating #13 Sunrise Mountain in the second round of the 5A state softball tournament.

The Coyotes managed those half-dozen runs with the benefit of just one hit - a rally-capping three-run homer by Baylee Peters. Sunrise Mountain tried to rally late, but Campo hung on for a 7-5 win at Campo Verde.

Campo Verde's second win in the tournament advances it to Saturday's third round. Campo Verde's opponent Saturday is two-time defending champion and #1 seed Willow Canyon. Willow Canyon advanced run-ruling Casteel, 11-1, in six innings on Tuesday. Saturday's Campo-Verde-Willow Canyon game is set for 9:30 a.m. at the Papago Sports Complex in Phoenix.

Junior pitcher Addison Gavigan threw a complete game as usual, allowing 10 hits, walking one and striking out nine. Three of the five runs were unearned. Gavigan gave up two home runs - a solo homer by Sadie Sua in the fifth and three-run shot in the sixth by Camryn Davis. Davis helped Sunrise Mountain rally not only at the plate, but in the circle. She pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out eight.

Protecting the 7-5 lead in the seventh, Gavigan gave up a leadoff infield hit, but retired the next three hitters in order for the finish. Sunrise Mountain outhit Campo Verde, 11-4, but the Coyotes utilized two walks, a hit batter and both Mustangs errors in the game to help craft the six-run third inning.

Sunrise Mountain was led offensively by Sua, who was 3 for 3 with a single, double, homer and 2 RBI. Teammates Phoenix Avery and Kayla Boisevert were 2-4 and 2-3, respectively.