Photos: Mica Mountain comes back to edge Sahuarita, 4-3 in nine innings in the 4A state softball playoffs
The Thunderbolts were down 3-0 to the Mustangs, but scrambled back, tying the game with a run in the seventh and eventually walking-off in a 4-3 extra innings win, May 13, 2025, Tucson, Ariz. Next up, No. 2 seeded Salpointe in the semis at Amphitheater on Thursday.
Mica Mountain's Bibiana Tanori (3) gets mobbed by Acelynn-Rose Heston (7), left, and Addison Rogers (13) after her double drove home the walk-off run in a 4-3 nine inning win over Sahaurita in their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025. The Thunderbolts move on to face No.2 Salpointe on Thursday.
Sahaurita's center fielder Emily Donia (4) hangs on to the ball after making a diving catch on a fly ball knocked down by the wind in the eighth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game against Mica Mountain, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's right fielder Riley Johnson (4) dives in to snare a drive in no-man’s land in the eighth inning against Sahaurita in the 4A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's Jayd Villa (9) winds up while facing Mica Mountain in the second inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's Acelynn-Rose Heston (7) hurls a pitch facing off against Sahaurita in the second inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's shortstop Shaylee Fuell (22) lines up a grounder by Sahaurita's Emily Donia (4) in the third inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's second baseman Bibiana Tanori (3) gets the big hop on a grounder from Sahaurita's Jayd Villa (9) that ended the third inning on a fielder’s choice in the 4A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's Dezeree Lopez Taylor (10) beats the throw under Sahaurita's third baseman Brenna Figueroa (24) for a stolen base in the third inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's pitcher Jayd Villa (9) in the fourth can’t get to the the dying quail of a bloop by Mica Mountain's Bibiana Tanori (3) fourth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's second baseman Bibiana Tanori (3) fires over Sahaurita's Gracie Soto (1) to turn the double play in the third inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's Emily Donia (4) slides home with the second run on Callie Fox’s two-RBI single in their 4A state playoff game against Mica Mountain, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's Callie Fox (8) can’t get to a fly ball by Mica Mountain's Shaylee Fuell (22) that got caught in the afternoon’s high wings in the fifth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025. The infield single drove home a run for the ‘Bolts.
Mica Mountain's Nicole Sandison (1) comes home with the Thunderbolts’ first run against Sahaurita in the fifth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's shortstop Eliana Romero (3) back tracks to run down a grounder b yMica Mountain's Caeli Shellenbarger (6) in the hole during the sixth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's catcher Camila Vargas (7) gets to a soft foul pop-up by Mica Mountain's Nicole Sandison (1) in the seventh inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's Violet Suarez (11) jumps for joy in front of Bibiana Tanori (3) after scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning on Shaylee Fuell’s (22) sacrifice fly for a 3-3 tie against Sahaurita during their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's Acelynn-Rose Heston (7) slips around Sahaurita's shortstop Eliana Romero (3) for a stolen base in the eighth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's shortstopEliana Romero (3) gets a little leather on a hard grounder from Mica Mountain's Dezeree Lopez Taylor (10) in the ninth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's left fielder Cyra Price (2) makes a lunge to finally track down a fly ball from Mica Mountain's Brooke Sandison (26) that got swirled around in the gusty winds during the ninth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Mica Mountain's coach Steve Garcia has a little Peo-talk with starter Acelynn-Rose Heston (7) before they take on Sahaurita in the 4A state playoffs, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025.
Sahaurita's coach Chris Fanning makes his case to the first base ump that Mica Mountain's right fielder Riley Johnson (4) didn’t make the diving catch in the eighth inning of their 4A state championship playoff game, Tucson, Ariz., May 13, 2025. There was a brief huddle by the umps the out call stood.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Most Popular
The Badgers took the Pumas to the wire after falling behind in the third quarter but lose 69-64 in the state 6A semifinals, March 4, 2026, Tuc…
All Elite Wrestling's Collision made it's first appearance in Tucson, Ariz., March 7, 2026, with a televised slate of professional wrestling.
The Wildcats answered a lone Cougar run in the first with 11 of their own in the bottom half of the inning, then tacked on two in the second t…
The Wildcats notched four runs in the first to get a shutout and open their series with a 6-0 win, March 6, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
The Lancers went down early, fought back, but couldn't hold a fourth quarter lead in a see-saw loss to fourth seed Paradise Honors 56-54, Marc…
Thursday's news: What you missed while you were at work.
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Arizona Daily Star.
Don't miss Wednesday's most popular stories from Arizona Daily Star.
A hot day four of pro rodeo at La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, February 27, 2026, Tucson, Ariz.
Get a recap of Tuesday's local news stories from Arizona Daily Star.