The Empire Ravens are riding a 27-0 winning streak that began almost one year ago to the week and that streak includes a 3A state championship last May and an impressive run through the Badger Classic on Wednesday and Thursday against 5A and 6A competition, where the program went 6-0 to capture the championship of the tournament held at Cherry Field in Tucson.

Empire (11-0) beat Cienega 15-4 in the championship game Thursday afternoon by collecting nine hits, including three home runs and two doubles, to go along with another victory in the circle from senior Kendall Freidinger (6-0). Freidinger picked up seven strikeouts in four innings of work.

Cienega (11-5) made it to the 5A semifinal round last year under Kelsey Harshman and the Bobcats are expected to challenge again this spring from the 5A Southern Region. The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead on Empire in the bottom of the first, set up by a double from Allison Mullen, and then Mullen scored later on an error. Freshman Kapri Tiggas tied things up right away with a home run in the top of the second and that was followed by a two-RBI double from Gabrianna Brooks and then a solo shot from Angelina Dehler to make it 5-1 Empire.

Mullen cut the lead down to 5-3 in the bottom half of the second on two-run single and Maya Fimbres homered in the third to cut the Empire lead down to 5-4. The Ravens exploded for ten runs in the top of the fourth, all on two outs. The scoring run was paced by a double from Dehler and a three-run home run from Eva Peace.

Brooks went 4 for 4 with a double and four RBI to help lead Empire, Dehler wen 3-3 with a home run, double and four RBI, Peace had a home run and three RBI and Tigass had a home run. For Cienega, Mullen went 2-3 with a double and two RBI, Fimbres had a home run and Kay Morel added a double.

Empire and Cienega are part of the Vail School District and both squads will have a bit of spring break before the Ravens host Tombstone (6-5) on Tuesday, March 18 and Cienega will play at Casa Grande (9-2) on March 19.

Shannon Woolridge picked up his third state championship with Empire last spring (2015, 2017 and 2024).

Cienega. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

 

BADGER SOFTBALL CLASSIC

March 12-13: Tucson High

 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12

Cienega 10, Marana 2

Sabino 14, Buena 3

Marana 14, Buena 0

Cienega 27, Sabino 4

Cienega 15, Buena 0

Marana 10, Sabino 2

Mountain View 16, Vista Grande 1

Empire 3, Tucson 0

Empire 15, Mountain View 0

Tucson 21, Vista Grande 0

Mountain View 5, Tucson 1

Empire 12, Vista Grande 0

 

THURSDAY, MARCH 13

Cienega 12, Vista Grande 2

Empire 15, Buena 2

Mountain View 1, Sabino 0

Tucson 15, Marana 7

Cienega 11, Mountain View 5

Empire 4, Tucson 1

 

CHAMPIONSHIP

Empire 15, Cienega 4