Kofa softball dances past Cougars

Kofa looked like a softball team with one eye on the state playoffs and the other on the prom.

Thanks to senior Alyssa Rhodes' walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th, the Kings overcame a lackluster performance at the plate and in the field in Wednesday's 6-5 win over Casa Grande.

Kofa coach Emma Morrison hopes Wednesday's performance was not lost on her team as they prepare for the opening round of the 5A Division II state playoffs, which begin Saturday at Kofa, the same day as the prom.

"They know even against the slightest team you have to be on your A game," Morrison said. "They understand that now and we got to get ready for Saturday."

Kofa (20-11, 11-1 Gila Valley Region) is eighth in the 5A Div. II power ratings and would host No. 9 Tucson-Flowing Wells (11-13, 5-4 5A Southern) in the first round of pool A of the state playoffs. A time has not been determined.

Neither team had a baserunner in the extra innings until Bernice de la Rosa's two-out double in the bottom of the 10th, which was followed by Rhodes' game-winning single. It was the only hit of the day for de la Rosa, who reached on an error and scored in the sixth.

"I wish we could have played tough the whole game," said de la Rosa, who was one of six seniors recognized prior to the start of the game. "We came back and we didn't quit and got the win and that is all that matters."

Rhodes was a home run from hitting for the cycle. She finished 4-for-6 with a triple and two doubles.

With their second straight Gila Valley Region title wrapped up, Kofa came out flat against the only team that had beaten it in region play the past two seasons.

If not for a Cougars' substitution blunder in the top of the seventh, the Kings would not have tallied their eighth straight win.

Kofa took its first lead of the game, 5-3, with a four-run sixth, fueled by singles from Crystal Corea and Monica Roman and an RBI double from Kaylee Renick.

The Cougars (14-13, 7-5 Gila Valley) opened the top half of the seventh with two singles and a double off Rhodes (20-9) and tied the game at 5 with two runs.

With Joy Mattia on second after the double and one out, pinch hitter Avalycia Villa stepped to the plate and yanked the first pitch she saw to right field for a single easily scoring Mattia.

Kofa quickly pointed out that the Cougars did not notify the umpire they were inserting Villa into the lineup. Villa was called out and Mattia put back on third. Rhodes ended the threat with one of her 10 strikeouts.

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Brian Williams can be reached at bwilliams@yumasun.com or 539-6883.