For the first time in program history, Arbor View’s softball team is heading to the Class 5A state tournament — but they’ve got one more challenge to overcome before then.
The No. 2 seed Aggies defeated visiting No. 5 seed Coronado 8-2 on Thursday in the semifinals of the 5A Southern League playoffs, earning them a spot in the state playoffs.
Arbor View (26-8) freshman center fielder Peyton Williams was a run-producing force for the Aggies, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs.
“Getting to state was always our main objective at the beginning of the year,” Williams said. “We had a rough start, so just getting here is a big deal to us.”
However, if the Aggies want that top seed at the next level, they’ll have to beat top seed Palo Verde on Friday — twice. The Southern League playoffs are a double elimination tournament, and the Panthers are unbeaten this postseason.
Palo Verde beat Arbor View 5-4 in the previous round on Wednesday, though the Aggies dealt the Panthers their only loss of the year, back on March 31.
Arbor View is confident about their ability to make some noise in the state playoffs, regardless of how Friday’s game turns out.
“This team is built to win a state championship,” Aggies coach Lea Ann Jarvis said.
Arbor View flexed its offensive muscles in Thursday’s win, while senior starting pitcher Audrey Melton kept the Cougars (14-12) at bay. Right fielder Mayala Tellis went 3-for-4, including a triple.
The Aggies got the scoring started in the first inning, when Williams’ double scored Tellis. Williams added two more Arbor View runs in the following inning, plating freshman Brooke DeLuna & designated player Aliyah Loafea-Carter to give the Aggies a 3-0 lead.
A run-scoring single in the fourth by Arbor View’s Madilyn Lowy made it a 4-0 game.
Coronado broke the shutout in the fifth on the strength of sophomore second baseman Isabella Basta’s RBI single. The Aggies responded in the bottom of the inning with run-scoring hits from second baseman Shawnee Casorla, pinch hitter Maliah Harrell and Williams.
“What a young, talented, unbelievable athlete,” Jarvis said of Williams. “We moved her up to two instead of the five spot to try to get her more at-bats, and it paid off for us.”
The Cougars added a second run in the seventh when senior designated player Aubrey Kallus drove in senior courtesy runner Chloi Wheaton. Kallus finished 3-for-4 on the afternoon. Coronado senior shortstop Bailey Goldberg, an Oregon commit, went 1-for-2 with a pair of intentional walks.
