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SPRING JAMBOREE: Palo Verde falls in title game, but pleased with 5-1 effort

Palo Verde’s softball team came up just short in its quest for a tournament championship Saturday.

But the Panthers gained something far more valuable than any trophy or plaque — experience and confidence.

Palo Verde fell behind early, rallied to tie and then gave up three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of an 8-6 loss to Carson (Calif.) in the Gold Bracket championship game of the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.

The Panthers (19-5) went 5-1 in the event, including a win over nationally ranked El Camino Real (Calif.) on Friday.

“This was a great tournament for us,” said Palo Verde coach Kelly Glass. “We played some quality teams, probably the best teams we’ve played in this tournament over the years.”

Carson, which features several high Division I recruits, including shortstop Brianna Tautalafua (UCLA) and catcher Hillary Edior (Arizona), scored four runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning and appeared on its way to a runaway win in the final.

But Haley Harrison drew a bases-loaded walk, and Mackenzie McBride stroked a two-out, two-run single in the top of the second to pull the Panthers within 4-3.

“I knew Carson was going to hit the ball,” Glass said. “We told the kids that we had to hit the ball just as hard. It was going to be a fight, and I’m proud of my girls for fighting back.”

The Colts (19-5) took a 5-4 lead into the sixth before Kiley Harrison’s two-out double scored Breanna Beatty to tie the game.

Three Panther errors in the bottom of the sixth inning led to three unearned runs and allowed Carson to take an 8-5 lead into the seventh.

But Palo Verde didn’t go down without a fight. Melissa Lacro tripled to lead off the seventh, and Rachael Turner reached on an error to bring the potential tying run to the plate.

Carson freshman pitcher Jessica Robledo got a pop out, a sacrifice fly and a line out to center field to end the threat.

McBride was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Rachel Williams went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Palo Verde.

“The experience we got here is crucial,” Glass said. “This game is what it’s going to feel like if we make it into the postseason.”

Palo Verde 9, Fallbrook (Calif.) 0 — Williams and Kelsea Sweeney combined on a two-hitter as the Panthers moved into the final with a win over the Warriors.

Rachael Turner was 4-for-4 with a double, and Haley Harrison went 3-for-4 with a double for Palo Verde.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Calif.) 5, Liberty 4 — Anissa Loera hit a two-run home run to help the Cardinals edge the Patriots.

Marisa Olmos tripled and singled, and Felicia Rivera, Breanna Alvarez and McKenna Hefley each added two hits for Liberty.

Liberty 12, Rancho 9 — Rivera homered, and the Patriots used an eight-run fourth inning to erase a 7-3 deficit and down the Rams.

Alvarez had two doubles for Liberty.

Brandy Marlett was 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBIs, and Tori Hafen was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Rancho, which also got a home run from McKinzi Vega.

Centennial 10, Rancho 7 — Kara Simpson was 2-for-3 with a home run and a double as the Bulldogs outlasted the Rams.

Savannah Horvath was 2-for-3 with a home run, and Jaden Tate went 2-for-4 with a home run for Centennial, which led 6-0 after four innings before Rancho rallied to tie it at 7-7.

Stephanie Day and Gabby Kennedy each went 2-for-3 for Centennial.

Hafen was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Katerina Anthony was 2-for-2 with three RBIs for Rancho.

Green Valley 16, Marshall (Calif.) 3 — Samantha Loving was 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and six RBIs to help the Gators rout the Barristers in five innings.

Fenixx Henderson was 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for Green Valley. Autumn Owens and Henderson had back-to-back home runs in a four-run fourth inning for the Gators.

Maggie Manwarren was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and teammate Jinger Meuir was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for the Gators, who scored in every inning and finished with 19 hits.

Fernley 12, Desert Oasis 3 — Serena Olson was 3-for-5 with a home run and a double as the Vaqueros downed the Diamondbacks in six innings.

Anders was 2-for-4 with a double for Desert Oasis.

Port of Los Angeles (Calif.) 12, Lincoln County 3 — The Polar Bears scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning and cruised by the Lynx in six innings.

Kelsea Short doubled twice for Port of Los Angeles.

Desert Oasis 16, Lincoln County 12 — Anders was 4-for-5 with a triple and a double as the Diamondbacks outlasted the Lynx.

The Diamondbacks scored five runs in the sixth to take a 13-10 lead before Lincoln County got two back in the bottom of the inning. Desert Oasis tacked on three runs in the seventh to secure the win.

Kaylee Teel homered and doubled, and Bailey Free and Easton Tingey also homered for Lincoln County.

Basic 9, Cheyenne 5 — Jodi Williams went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Ashlee Lampkey was 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Wolves downed the Desert Shields.

Bailey Cunanan was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Becca Pullen went 2-for-4 for Basic.

Courtney Gain was 2-for-4 for Cheyenne.

Banning (Calif.) 6, Cheyenne 1 — Alysia Flores went 4-for-4 to help the Pilots down the Desert Shields.

Lexus Guzman tossed a three-hitter for Banning.

Brittany Leeds was 1-for-3 with a double for Cheyenne.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Calif.) 9, Cheyenne 2 — Loera was 2-for-3 with a home run and a triple to lead the Cardinals by the Desert Shields.

Destiny Gain went 1-for-2 with a solo home run for Cheyenne.

Pahrump Valley 6, Harbor Teacher Prep (Calif.) 1 — Amanda Pryor tossed a four-hitter and struck out three to lead the Trojans by the Monarchs.

Bryana Soliwoda was 3-for-4 with a home run and a double, and Kristal Kaiwi, Whitney Roderick and Melanie Lawdensky all went 2-for-4 for Pahrump.

El Camino Real (Calif.) 9, Coronado 1 — Lauren Pascual pitched a four-hitter to lead the Conquistadors past the Cougars in six innings.

Jasmin Joseph and McKenna Arriola each had a double for El Camino Real, which scored five runs in the third inning.

Coronado’s Dylan Underwood went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

River Valley (Ariz.) 4, Cimarron-Memorial 0 — Regan Glenn spun a four-hitter to lead the Dust Devils by the Spartans.

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