(Superior won the 1A Conference softball champioship Monday at Arizona State. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)

Bagdad tried its best to extend a 1A Conference 2017-18 softball season that Superior had visions of claiming as soon as last season ended.

Superior walked off Arizona State’s Farrington Stadium dejected after dropping a 1-0 decision in the 2016-17 final to its rival, Ray. Superior returned to ASU Monday, and this time, despite Bagdad’s efforts, the result was different, a 13-7 win.

The losing pitcher in last year’s championship game, Alicia Arriola, took the circle again, and used her right arm and bat to thwart Bagdad’s comeback attempt from a 10-run deficit. The senior struck out 10, tossed a complete game and went 4 for 4 with a home run and 4 RBI’s.

“I’ve been working really hard on my hitting,” Arriola said. “Going 4 for 4 here today at ASU’s stadium, in my senior year and in the championship game is overwhelming. This is so crazy. The home run (6th of the year) was just a bonus.”

Superior’s hitting and errors by Bagdad led to a seven-run second inning for Arriola's team.

More hits and errors allowed the lead to increase to 12-2 after the fourth inning, when Superior was about to close the door on Bagdad’s season. But, with Bagdad down to its final strike, Sadie Guthrie, the starting pitcher, cleared the bases with a triple to keep her team in the game.

A wild pitch tacked on another run for Bagdad in the top of the fifth. Guthrie hit another 2-out triple in the seventh to plate another run, but the next batter grounded out for the final out in the game.

“I think they let the nerves get the best of them early,” said coach Dalton Mill about his Bagdad team. “We haven’t had that many errors in a while.

“They (Superior) are a really good team. They deserve it, but I’m really just proud of my girls for what they did and how they kept battling until the very end.”

This is the first time since 2011 that Bagdad won more than two games in a postseason.

No. 3 seed Bagdad (19-9) had six errors in the game but out-hit Superior 11-8 and also had a couple of web gems. Michelle Loveall made a spectacular catch in centerfield in the sixth, robbing No. 1 Superior (23-2) of at least a double, and Bethany Loveall showed off her strong right arm a couple of times at third base.

Superior (zero errors) also flashed the leather in the final. Shortstop Anisah Cardenas made a diving catch to rob Lexi Romeror (2 for 3) of a hit in the fifth inning, and Lindsay Ketron made a running catch in deep center field in the seventh inning.

“This all goes back to the last year’s championship,” said Superior coach Martin Navarrette, whose program won its first title since 2015 and third overall. “We lost the game, but there was no other option this year. From the beginning of this year to the end, we knew we were going to go out and win it.”