Don Ketchum
Former Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Home runs rescue Desert Mountain softball from elimination

May 5, 2011 by Don Ketchum, AZPreps365

"=""> By Don Ketchum
"=""> They were running out of daylight and their pitcher was running out of energy because of back spasms.
"=""> Could Scottsdale Desert Mountain’s softball team avoid what appeared to be an almost certain elimination from the Class 5A Division II state tournament?
"=""> The cure came in the form of the long ball.
"=""> The Wolves erased a one-run deficit with a two-run home run from Jessica Guffey in the top of the seventh inning, and after a gritty Yuma Cibola team tied it in the bottom of the seventh, Desert Mountain got another two-run homer from Ashley Palmer in the top of the eighth and held on for an 8-6 triumph on Thursday (May 5) at Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor.
"=""> Desert Mountain, the No. 6 seed, moves on to face No. 11 Tucson Sunnyside on Saturday (May 7) in a rematch at noon at Sandra Day O’Connor. Sunnyside defeated Desert Mountain 7-1 in the first round on April 30.
"=""> Desert Mountain coach Rick Sharp said his team was confident, yet apprehensive entering Thursday’s game, because of pitcher Andy Wellins’ back spasms and the fact that other front-line players were injured and were being replaced by players who didn’t have as much experience.