Apparently, the only thing that can stop the Salpointe Catholic High School softball team from winning a state championship tournament year after year: not having the tournament altogether.
Salpointe won its state-record sixth consecutive championship Saturday night at the University of Arizona’s Hillenbrand Stadium — an 11-0 victory over Canyon del Oro to claim the 2024 Class 4A crown. That streak runs back to 2018, only interrupted by COVID’s cancellation of the 2020 state tournament.
Salpointe players celebrate after run-ruling Canyon del Oro 11-0 to win the Arizona Class 4A state championship Saturday night at Hillenbrand Stadium. The game, originally slated for the Phoenix area, was moved to Tucson when it became clear two Southern Arizona teams would be vying for the trophy.
Heading into Saturday’s championship game — a matchup moved from the Phoenix area to Tucson after it was clear two Southern Arizona teams would be vying for the trophy — the Lancers were 0-3 against Canyon del Oro this season.
But Saturday was a different story, with Salpointe run-ruling the Dorados in five innings.
The Salpointe Catholic Lancers rush pitcher Macee Jackson (26) in the circle after recording the final out of their 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship win over Canyon del Oro Saturday at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson.
“Phenomenal. Phenomenal. It’s just so exciting,” Salpointe head coach Tricia Sztan said. “So exciting. They are all heart and I’m so proud of them.”
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Salpointe’s Molli Daley rounds third on her way to the plate after drilling a solo homer to left in the second inning of the Lancers’ victory over CDO in Saturday’s 4A state title tilt.
It’s Sztan’s third state championship in three seasons as the Lancers’ head coach. The first three in the streak came under Amy Rocha.
The Lancer players didn’t know about the record.
“Did we really? Oh, my gosh,” junior Molli Daley said. “That’s so amazing. I’m so happy to be a part of it. This team is just amazing — same with this program.”
With the win, Salpointe passed Mesa Red Mountain for most softball consecutive state championships across all conferences. Sabino with four (2019-23) and Sahuaro with three (1991-93) are the other local teams in the top 10 of that list.
“Oh my gosh. That’s, honestly — that’s a flex,” Salpointe senior Alma Garcia said with a laugh. “I’m just really proud of this team.”
CDO (33-3) won its first matchup with Salpointe 3-0 back on Feb. 24 in the Dorado Classic Championship. Then the Dorados won the two region games, 4-3 at home on Apr. 12 and 4-0 a week later at Salpointe.
The Salpointe Lancers get their hands on yet another Arizona state championship trophy — their sixth in a row after taking out CDO on Saturday.
Sztan said they didn’t change a lot from the regular season games against the Dorados.
“We really took intentional reps at practice and made each rep better than the last one and just put the ball in play and swung the bat,” Sztan said.
Canyon del Oro junior Amelia Streuber was one pitch away from a perfect game against top-seeded Mesa Eastmark in a 1-0 win in the semifinals, but the Lancers knocked her out of Saturday’s finale after four-plus innings.
Streuber gave up six hits, five earned runs and two walks, striking out nine.
Salpointe senior Jaelyn Castillo hit a solo home run over the batter’s eye in the top of the first. In the second, Daley hit a solo homer.
In the fifth, it was Salpointe senior Jordan Goedel’s two-run round-tripper that knocked Streuber out of the game.
“Just looking for our pitch. I know Jae Castillo was saying ‘look inside’ and so that’s what both her and I did and obviously that was the result,” Daley said about the extra-base hits they got off Streuber, an Oregon State commit.
Salpointe second baseman Alma Garcia (17) runs down a high chopper to throw out Canyon del Oro’s Molly Herman (5) in the third inning of Saturday’s Arizona Class 4A State Championship game.
After getting one run in each of the first and second innings and then three in the third, Salpointe blew the game open further with six in the fifth to set up the mercy-rule win.
“Obviously we knew our game plan going in was we needed to hit the ball. We needed to put it in play,” Sztan said. “We needed to keep continuous pressure on the defense and so hitting is contagious and once once started, the next one, the next one, the next one, so it was very exciting.”
With the win, Salpointe moved into a tie with Sahuaro for the second-most Tucson area state championships with eight. CDO is first with nine, which is second most overall in state history.
CDO had won 18 games in a row — the Dorados’ last loss coming at 6A No. 10 Tucson High, 3-2 in 12 innings. The Dorado’s other loss was to 6A No. 2 Chandler Basha.
Salpointe (31-4), the 4A tournament’s fourth seed, only lost to No. 3 CDO and seventh-seeded Mica Mountain — that one came in the first half of Thursday’s semifinal doubleheader. The Lancers, however, rebounded off the loss in that first semifinal to beat MM 10-1 before their 11-0 win on Saturday.
Salpointe’s Anyssa Wild (9) runs to the plate after cracking a solo homer in the fifth inning to give the Lancers an 8-0 lead Saturday night.
“Oh my gosh, I’m gonna cry. It feels really great, honestly,” Gacia said, who had two RBIs. “I had a rough start coming in freshman year. I had a lot of self-doubt but honestly just I’m really proud of myself; I’m proud of the team.
“I think we were the underdogs for sure and we just came and smoked it.”
Extra bases
Empire High School won the Arizona 3A state championship on Saturday night at ASU’s Farrington Stadium in Tempe. The Ravens, the tournament’s seventh seed, defeated No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian 10-6 in the title game.
The win is the third championship for the Ravens under coach Shannon Woolridge; they also won a title in 2017 (3A) and 2015 (Division III). Empire defeated 11th-seed Tanque Verde 6-0 in the semifinals on May 3 to push a Tucson program into the 3A championship round.
Save for the 2020 COVID cancellations, 2024 marks the the eighth straight season that multiple Tucson-area teams have won softball state championships.
Salpointe’s Macee Jackson lines up a pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning Saturday against Canyon del Oro.
Joining Salpointe and Empire in winning at least one title each over that span: Cienega, Ironwood Ridge, Catalina Foothills, Pueblo, CDO, Sahuarita and Sabino.
Salpointe’s win marks the seventh straight 4A softball championship for Southern Arizona, as CDO won it in 2017.
In 2016 under the old “divisional” format, three Tucson area teams won titles — Ironwood Ridge (D-II), Catalina Foothills (D-III) and Pueblo (D-IV). In 2015, where there were four divisions, Cienega and Empire won titles in the middle divisions and in 2014 Ironwood Ridge won the D-II championship. The 2013 season the last a Tucson-area team didn’t win a state softball championship.
VIDEO: High school softball: The Salpointe Catholic High School Lancers celebrate after the final out of their 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship game victory over Canyon del Oro on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school softball: Salpointe Catholic High School senior Jaelyn Castillo hits a home run during the Lancers' 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship game victory over Canyon del Oro on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school softball: Salpointe Catholic High School senior Anyssa Wild hits a home run during the Lancers' 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship game victory over Canyon del Oro on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school softball: Salpointe Catholic High School senior Taiya Texiera knocks a run home during the Lancers' 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship game victory over Canyon del Oro on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
VIDEO: High school softball: Salpointe Catholic High School senior Alma Garcia hits an RBI single during the Lancers' 11-0 Arizona Class 4A State Championship game victory over Canyon del Oro on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at Hillenbrand Stadium in Tucson. (James Kelley, Special to the Arizona Daily Star)
Photos: Salpointe run-rules Canyon del Oro in the 4A state championship game, high school softball
Salpointe's players celebrate after run-ruling Canyon del Oro 11-0 to win the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium in five innings, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az. The title is the Lancers’ sixth in a row.
Salpointe's Jaelyn Castillo (10) comes home with the Lancers’ first run of the night, her solo shot in the top of the first inning of their 4A state championship against Canyon del Oro at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Canyon del Oro's Amelia Streuber flips the ball while waiting to pitch against Salpointe in the first inning of their Class 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024.
Salpointe's center fielder Taiya Texiera (13), left, and right fielder Carsyn O’Daniels (61) get tangled up trying to catch Canyon del Oro batter Kayla Hendrix’s (26) fly into no-man’s land in the first inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az. Hendrix reached third, but was stranded.
Salpointe's Molli Daley (2) routs third on her way to the plate after drilling a solo homer to left in the second inning of their 4A state championship game against Canyon del Oro at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's shortstop Anyssa Wild (9) celebrates so hard she loses her mouthpiece after tagging out Canyon del Oro's Taya Kelly (18) on a steal attempt in the second inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Canyon del Oro's shortstop Molly Herman can’t find the handle on a hard shot into the hole by Salpointe's Jordan Goedel in the second inning of their Class 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024.
Salpointe's shortstop Anyssa Wild (9) lines up the generous bounce on a grouper by Canyon del Oro's Jacey Mazura (22) in the third inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's second baseman Alma Garcia (17) runs down a high chopper to throw out Canyon del Oro's Molly Herman (5) in the third inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Canyon del Oro's third baseman Julissa Lopez (1) gets a glove on slow bouncer up the line by Salpointe's Brooke Wild (30) for a hit in the fourth inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
The Salpointe Lancers get their hands on the trophy, their sixth in a row, after taking out Canyon del Oro in a run rule 11-0 win in the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Anyssa Wild (9) runs to the plate after cracking a solo homer in the fifth inning and an 8-0 lead over Canyon del Oro in the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Macee Jackson (26) lines up a pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning against Canyon del Oro in their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az. Jackson shut out the Dorados on six hits.
Canyon del Oro's head coach Kelly Fowler has some instructions for Jacey Mazura (22) during a time out in the fifth inning against Salpointe at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's catcher Jaelyn Castillo (10) has plenty of time to line up the tag on Canyon del Oro's Jacey Mazura (22), trying to score from second on a hit in the fifth inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
The Lancers rush the circle and pitcher Macee Jackson (26) after recording the final out in a 11-0 win over Canyon del Oro in the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's second baseman Alma Garcia (17) can’t handle a nasty hop on a hard grounder from Canyon del Oro's Sammy Hudgens (17) in the second inning of their 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Anyssa Wild (9) runs up behind head coach Tricia Sztan with the trophy, bombing her post-game interview after their win over Canyon del Oro in the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
A young Dorados fan offers some encouragement for Canyon del Oro just before first ptich against Salpointe in the 4A state championship game at Hillenbrand Stadium, May 11, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Photos: Salpointe gets past Mica Mountain in the state 4A softball semifinals
The Salpointe bench rushes the circle after clinching a spot in the 4A state softball finals with a 10-1 win against Mica Mountain at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) is pumped after scoring on an RBI double from teammate Jaelyn Castillo (10) to go up 2-0 over Mica Mountain in the fifth inning of game two in their state 4A softball semifinal at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az. The Lancers rolled late in a 10-1 win over the Thunderbolts and will face Canyon del Oro for the state title.
Salpointe's Anyssa Wild (9) can’t handle the wicked hop on a smash by Mica Mountain's Shaylee Fuell (4) in the first inning of their second game in state 4A softball playoff semifinals at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's Shaylee Fuell (4) gets a wicked hopper by Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) for the second out in the first inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's second baseman Bibiana Tanori (3) has to use every inch to snare a liner from Salpointe's Izzy Soto (20) in the second inning of game two in their state 4A softball playoff semifinal at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's shortstop Anyssa Wild (9) puts the tag on Mica Mountain's Violet Redondo (22) on a stolen base attempt in the third inning of their state 4A softball playoff semifinal game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) reaches a shot in the hole from Mica Mountain's Violet Suarez (11) that ended up a hit in the fifth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's Rylie Grabau (2) watches a bunt from Salpointe's Anyssa Wild (9) just trickle foul in the fourth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's bench celebrates Izzy Soto’s (20) RBI double that opened the scoring during the fourth inning of their game two of the state 4A softball semifinals at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's shortstop Shaylee Fuell (4) just manages to hold onto the pop fly by Salpointe's Molli Daley (2) in their state 4A softball semifinal game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) slips by Mica Mountain's catcher Rylie Grabau (2) in the fifth inning of their second game in the state 4A softball playoff semis at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's shortstop Leylani Cuesta (19) gets the throw late as Mica Mountain's Shaylee Fuell (4) swipes second in the sixth inning of the state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Molli Daley (2) comes home on her lead-off dinger that gave the Lancers a 4-2 lead in the sixth against Mica Mountain in their state 4A softball semifinal game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's third baseman Mia Garcia (6) leaps to snare a hopper down the line by Salpointe's Brooke Wild (30) in the sixth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Isabel Otero (32) gets her high-five from head coach Tricia Sztan on her solo homer against Mica Mountain in the sixth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's Violet Suarez (11) lets go a yell after scoring on an error during her steal of third in the first inning against Salpointe.in game one of the state 4A softball playoffs at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's shortstop Anyssa Wild (9) just manages to get the tag on Mica Mountain's Shaylee Fuell (4) after she over slid second in the third inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's second baseman Bibiana Tanori (3) loses the handle on a pop-up by Salpointe's Brooke Wild (30) in the third inning of their first game in the state 4A softball playoff semis at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Carsyn O’Daniels (61) goes a long way to track down a slicing hit to right field by Mica Mountain's Dezerre Lopez Taylor (10) in the fourth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's third baseman Mia Garcia (6) loses the grip on a dribbler down the line by Salpointe's Jaelyn Castillo (10) that drove in a run in their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Soli Ramos (6) just beats the tag from Mica Mountain's catcher Rylie Grabau (2) during the first game in their state 4A softball playoff semifinal at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's shortstop Shaylee Fuell (4) tags Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) and end a bases loaded threat in the fifth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Salpointe's Taiya Texiera (13) chases down a drive into the right field game from Mica Mountain's Mia Garcia (6) in the sixth inning of their state 4A softball playoff semifinal game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's shortstop Shaylee Fuell (4) just manages to get a touch on Salpointe's Molli Daley (2) on a stolen base attempt in the sixth inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's head coach Steve Garcia gives pitcherAcelynn-Rose Heston (7) a last second pep-talk as the Thunderbolts head out to defend their slim lead in the bottom of the seventh inning against Salpointe during the state 4A softball playoff semifinals at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's second baseman Bibiana Tanori (3) gets set to glove a chopper by Salpointe's Taiya Texiera (13) in the seventh inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's shortstop Shaylee Fuell (4) grabs the liner hit smack at her by Salpointe's Alma Garcia (17) in the seventh inning of their state 4A softball playoff game at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
Mica Mountain's Acelynn-Rose Heston (7) celebrates after the Thunderbolts got the third out to force a second game with a 4-2 win over Salpointe in the state 4A softball playoffs at Amphi High School, May 9, 2024, Tucson, Az.
