Bourgade SB returns to semifinals, blanks Benson in D-III
May 5, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Jackie Aguilar has enjoyed a rather spectacular season again pitching for Bourgade's softball team. With four perfect games among her reportoire in 2012, she's shown she's more than ready for postseason.
For the second time in less than 24 hours, Aguliar fired a one-hit shutout for fifth-seeded Bourgade -- this one a 3-0 decision over No. 4 Benson in the Division III quarterfinals at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex.
Bourgade (30-3-1) advances to face top-seed Payson on Friday May 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Rose Mofford. Payson recorded an 8-7, 8-inning win over Mingus in its quarterfinal game. Payson scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra frames. Benson, the 2A state champ last season and a program that has won three softball titles since 2006, closed out its season 28-5. The other Division III semifinal on Friday May 11 is set for 7:30 p.m. and will pit No. 3 seed Winslow against No. 2 Estrella Foothills.
"She wants (championship) bad," Bourgade coach Jin Hee Huff said of Aguilar. "The whole team does. That's a solid, fundamental team we beat.."
Agullar, a senior left-hander and four-year starter, opened the tournament Friday night with a 17-strikeout performance in a 4-0 triumph over Tuba City. Saturday morning it was much the same as Aguilar recorded 15 strikeouts and allowed only an infield single with two outs in the sixth. The hit came off the bat of Benson leadoff hitter Stacie Ramirez, a chopper back to Aguilar on a bang-bang play at first. Aguilar faced two batters over the minimum with the only other hitter reaching on an error. Neither reached second base.
Bourgade tallied the only run it would need in the second. Catcher Katie Gallucc's single opened the inning and her courtesy runner, Gianna Bowman, scored on a two-out single up the middle by freshman left fielder Cadie Weisheit.
Aguilar recorded the first 10 outs on strikeouts, with a rise ball doing most of the damage. She mixed in a changeup in the middle innings that further frustrated Benson's hitters
Aguilar got added support off a home run by senior teammate and No. 9 hitter Tori Royster, a blast over the center-field fence one out after Lauren Mordhorst had doubled.
"Tori didn't start playing with us until she was a sophomore," Huff said. "She's hit a home run for us each year I think. This was her first one this season. It made us feel real good to have two more runs."
Bourgade was limited to five hits by Benson's Kendra Behr, who went the distance and was effective despite suffering the loss. Behr was backed by athletic plays from shortstop Stacie Ramirez and center fielder Stephanie Ramirez. Stacie Ramirez's turn of a double play in the sixth was particularly impressive.