Orange crush: Kofa hammers Camelback

Christina Padilla had some big cleats to fill Tuesday when she took the circle for Kofa in place of two-time reigning region player of the year Alyssa Rhodes. But the junior varsity right-hander rested her trust in the King's offense with Kofa facing elimination, and her teammates rewarded her by peppering 16th-seeded Camelback with 18 hits in a 19-0 rout at Caballeros Field.

All Padilla did was allow a pair of hits in five innings of shutout ball to earn her first-ever win at the varsity level.

"I was not expecting to throw (Tuesday)," said Padilla, who learned she would be starting about an hour before the first pitch. "I had a lot of confidence in these girls so I kind of just threw it over the plate and let them hit it."

It sure was a Hollywood beginning for Padilla, but the road only gets steeper for the No. 8 seed Kings (21-12,) who must prod through the losers' bracket in their quest to return to the 5A Div. II semifinals.

They travel to Phoenix Thursday to battle No. 5 Glendale-Deer Valley at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex. Padilla will have to bring her A-game again with Rhodes shut down until she's ready to take the rubber for Yavapai College next fall.

"Alyssa's got a problem with her arm, so she can bat and run but she can't throw," Kofa softball coach Emma Morrison said. "The muscle is almost trying to cause a stress fracture in her wrist, so if she throws any more it could possibly break it. She's going to school next year, so you know you don't want to do anything that is going to damage it permanently."

After losing 2-1 to Paradise Valley in extra innings Saturday, Kofa mustered baserunners in every conceivable manner against Camelback.

No. 2 batter Priscilla Roman reached first safely three times while trying to set the table for Kaylee Renick with sacrifice bunts, and Crystal Corea was awarded first when she connected with Genny Morales' catcher's mitt in the third inning.

Renick didn't disappoint with ducks on the pond, going 3-for-3 with 6 RBI before grounding into a fielder's choice in the fourth while attempting to belt a home run for the cycle. The Arizona Western College-bound senior said Kofa remains a force in the tournament.

"We wanted to win and keep going on," she said. "Every team wants to go to state and take first place and that's one of my dreams, so hopefully we can go all the way."

Camelback sophomore starter Danielle Touhey allowed eight runs on nine hits in two innings before swapping with fellow sophomore first baseman Cerena Guzman. The loss eliminated the Spartans from the playoffs, which they had been outscored 34-0 in two games.

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Mark Saxon can be reached at msaxon@yumasun.com or 539-6882.