Playoff softball was at its best Friday night at Quail Run Park in Mesa.

After nearly two hours and four lead changes, No. 3 Queen Creek came out victorious by a score of 7-6 over No. 7 Pinnacle in a 6A winners' bracket showdown that sends Queen Creek to the semifinals next Wednesday.

The Bulldogs (25-4) will get some rest while they wait for either Red Mountain, Corona del Sol or Hamilton to come out of the 'A' side of the elimination bracket.

Pinnacle (25-5) will face either Basha or Tucson Monday on the 'B' side of elimination.

"What a great game and a great win," Queen Creek coach Ann Pierson said afterward. "I'm just so proud of how our girls have improved over the course of the season. Tonight's game could've gone either way. Pinnacle was playing great. We made just enough plays."

Senior catcher Makenzi Padilla made two of the  biggest plays with the game on the line. In the bottom of the sixth with the score tied at 6, Padilla belted a deep line drive to right-center field, scoring Cecelia Marquez for the go ahead run.

In the top of the seventh, Pinnacle's Torynn Slaughter led off with a single before trying to steal second base. But Padilla made a near perfect throw from home plate for a huge out. Pitcher Jenae Berry struck out Brianna Stowe on the next pitch before retiring Julianna Hynes for the final out.

"Catchers never give enough credit and Makenzi has been outstanding behind the plate all season," Pierson added.

Alessia Velazquez and senior Corrie Shull each drove in two runs for Queen Creek. Berry went the distance in the circle, enduring a few turbulent innings and 10 hits, but also struck out 11 Pinnacle batters.

Pinnacle junior Payton Crank drove in three runs, two of which came on a home run in the fourth inning to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead. But Queen Creek stormed back in the bottom half with five runs of their own.

Pinnacle reclaimed the lead 6-5 in the fifth inning. Torynn Slaughter drove in one run on a single before Sienna Caro drove in two more with a single.

 

Velazquez, a freshman, added her second RBI to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom half of the fifth before Padilla's game winning heat in the sixth inning.

"Our younger players have really stepped up this season, and our seniors have done a great job integrating the younger kids," Pierson said. "It's a really special group."

 

Xavier 7 Hamilton 5

Freshman Angie Falls went 2-4 with 2BI's while picking up the win from the circle for Xavier. Jazmin Ramirez hit a grand slam for Hamilton