No. 7 Mica Mountain scored four runs in the top of the first inning to pace the Thunderbolts to a 4-2 victory over No. 4 Salpointe in the first game of the 4A semifinal round held at Amphitheater High School on Thursday. The victory forced an “if game” situation in the double-elimination playoff format and the Bolts proceeded to load the base up again in the first inning of the second game, ready to put the Lancers on the ropes again, but the Lancers responded in a situation that could have turned the game either way.

Sophomore Macee Jackson (8-1) picked up three straight outs, including two strikeouts, and the early threat was erased. Salpointe (30-4) went on to clinch a spot in the championship game with a 10-1 victory but a hit in that situation might have changed the game atmosphere, especially since the game remained tied at 0-0 until the bottom of the fourth when Izzy Soto knocked in Peyton Green to put the Lancers up 1-0.

Salpointe went up 3-0 in the fifth on back-to-back RBI doubles from Jaelyn Castillo and Jordan Goedel, all with two outs and an error that put Alma Garcia on for Castillo. Mica Mountain got a run back in the sixth after Shaylee Fuell singled and Mia Garcia brought her in. The game was still in doubt but the Lancers exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, fueled by home runs from junior Molli Daley and freshman Isabel Otero. The 10-1 lead was too much to overcome and Jackson picked up the victory with 14 strikeouts.

Sophomore Acelynn-Rose Heston (18-7) guided Mica Mountain (22-9) to a win in the first game but the second game got away from her despite giving up only three earned runs in the loss.

Soto went 3-4 in the second game with two doubles and three RBI, Goedel also went 3-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Violet Redondo went 2-3 for Mica Mountain.

In the first game, Violet Suarez had a double and three RBI and Fuell added a double. Arianna Flores (6-3) got the loss despite collecting 12 strikeouts. Flores also hit a double at the plate.

Salpointe will face No. 3 Canyon del Oro (33-2) after the Dorados beat No. 1 Eastmark 1-0 in the other semifinal held at the Papago Softball Complex in Phoenix. Junior Amelia Streuber (18-0) had 18 strikeouts in the win and she gave up a perfect game in the top of the seventh on a two-out double.

Canyon del Oro beat No. 2 Arcadia 14-2 in the third round on Saturday before knocking out top-seed Eastmark. Salpointe beat Eastmark 8-3 on Saturday also.

The Dorados beat Salpointe three times this year, 3-0 on Feb. 24, 4-3 on April 12 and 4-0 on April 19, but all records are clean in a championship game. Salpointe beat Canyon del Oro to win the 2022 state championship and the Lancers sent the Dorados to the elimination bracket last year. Salpointe also beat Canyon del Oro in the semifinals in 2018 to help set the Lancer dynasty going with five straight state championships. Salpointe has seven state championships, with Tricia Sztan winning two, and Canyon del Oro has nine, with Kelly Fowler winning three of them.