Elvia Verdugo

2 days ago | tucson.com | Elvia Verdugo

The Empire High School Ravens are state softball champions once again. Empire defeated Yuma Catholic High School 1-0 in the Class 3A state championship game at Arizona State University’s Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe on Monday night. The game remained scoreless through seven innings until Empire third baseman Eva Peace hit a walk-off single in the eighth, putting the team on the board and giving the Ravens their second state title in a row.

1 week ago | tucson.com | Elvia Verdugo

With the academic year coming to a close in the next few weeks, it’s time for Southern Arizona student-athletes to test their skills at the highest level at the AIA Spring State Championships. Conference play-in games and first-round matches began last week. Here's how local high schools are doing in the tournament (so far). Check out our previous coverage for play-in results. BaseballAll games are listed in division order, conferences 6A-2A.

1 week ago | tucson.com | Elvia Verdugo

During the final at-bat of last season’s AIA State Softball Championship, Empire High School pitcher Kendall Freidinger threw two rise balls inside. The batter swung at both, putting two strikes on the board. While Empire was still ahead, the Valley Christian Trojans were attempting to make a comeback in the last inning by bringing in four runs, making the score 10-6. The pressure was on for Freidinger as her catcher called for her to throw another rise ball.

1 week ago | tucson.com | Justin Spears |Elvia Verdugo

No. 13 Arizona softball put a bow on its regular season schedule Sunday afternoon with an 8-3 win over the Houston Cougars at Cougar Softball Stadium. The Wildcats (43-10) swept the Cougars (22-24) over the weekend and ended the regular season winning all four of their road series in Big 12 play. Arizona is 14-3 on the road this season — 10-2 against Big 12 teams. In Big 12 road games this season, Arizona outscored its opponents by a combined 91-28.

1 week ago | tucson.com | Elvia Verdugo

Arizona track and field wrapped up its outdoor regular season on Saturday with six wins at the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson. The Wildcats started the Classic on the right foot with a win in the men's 110m hurdles from Zach Extine. The senior logged a school and Drachman Stadium facility record time of 13.17 (+2.4). Extine won the event with a mark that currently ranks second in the NCAA this season, according to Arizona Athletics.