It was a pitching duel with Kendall Friedinger (21-1) collecting 16 strikeouts for No. 1 Empire (27-1) and Cherish Trujillo (24-3) giving up one hit through five innings and only four hits through regulation for No. 3 Yuma Catholic (25-4), but the Ravens broke through in the bottom of the eighth with three hits, including a single from Eva Peace with the bases loaded, for the 1-0 walk-off championship victory at ASU Stadium Monday night.

Friedinger is no stranger to shutouts and close games with four straight clean sheets in the playoffs including a nine-inning 1-0 win over No. 5 Tanque Verde in the semifinal round to go along with the championship game Monday night. The Shamrocks had one hit on the night and one walk with Mailyn Milan breaking up the perfect night with a single in the top of the seventh with two outs on a full count.

The Ravens almost ended the game in the bottom of the sixth with Abby Zsitvay shooting a ball through the infield with two runners on, but Ahna Dhaliwal was thrown out at home on a run from second base.

In the bottom of the eighth, speedster Lainey Kroeger reached on a short tap with one out and then Gabrianna Brooks followed with another infield hit to put two runners on with Kroeger standing at third base. Zsitvay was intentionally walked to set up a potential force at home and then Trujillo picked up her second strikeout of the night to make it bases loaded with two outs. Peace hit a sharp ball down the third base line to score Kroeger for the 1-0 win.

It was the fourth championship for Empire since 2015 and the second in a row for the Ravens. Head coach Shannon Woolridge also picked up a runner-up finish in 2023. The Shamrocks also took second place to Empire in 2017 under then head coach Madison Miller. It was the only other championship appearance for the program. Current head coach Byron Lackey guided the Shamrocks to a 9-2 win over Show Low in the semifinal round.

(Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

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