Yuma Softball team wins state championship

The Yuma Magic/Team Miken girls 12-Under fast pitch softball team won the Arizona ASA "B" state championship June 28 at Centennial Park in Kingman, beating the Douglas Gold Fire 8-2 in the final game.

Facing Douglas for the third time of the tournament, Yuma took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never fell behind as Cydni Lankford pitched for the Magic and let her defense do the rest.

"It is all about the girls. That is the key to winning," Magic coach Johnny Garcia said. "Pitching is everything. Pitching is paramount ... Second is great defense."

The Magic beat the Tucson Avalanche and Fort Mohave Insanity with a pair of 12-0 decisions Saturday to advance to the championship series. Lankford and Kennedy Garcia each pitched for Yuma, Garcia throwing a no-hitter in the opener and the two combining for a one-hitter against the Insanity.

On Sunday, the Magic fell 5-4 to the Gold Fire in eight innings and trailed Fort Mohave 3-0 through three innings in an elimination game. Yuma tied the game at 3 on sacrifice fly by Alexia Orozco to score Erica Baldenegro and went on to beat the Insanity 8-5 to set up a second meeting with Douglas.

Yuma fell behind once again, facing a 2-0 deficit in the third inning, when Sally Gastelo gave the Magic the lead with a three-run home run. Alyssa Gallegos also homered in the game, Orozco and Garcia each doubled, and Lankford closed out the game in the circle for a 13-5 win to force a rematch for the title.

The Magic earned a spot in the Best of the West tournament July 17-19 in Prescott. The team is sponsored by Miken Sports, James W. Carroll, Bowman & Smith P.C., Caliber Screen printing, Z Trendz, Audio Einstein and Lute's Casino.

Other members of the team are Bianca Zendejas, Jadie Miller, Krista Keller, Arianna Radar, Alondra Tapia, Marisol Ayala-Higgins.