Madison Sorenson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Campo Verde High School for AZPreps365.com.

GILBERT — After a back-and-forth start, Campo Verde softball pulled away in the bottom of the fourth inning to defeat Higley at home 10-4 Monday evening. 

Although now non-conference opponents, the two teams have history as just two years ago they were both in the 5A San Tan Region. Campo Verde is now in the 5A East Sky Region, while Higley is now in the 6A Fiesta Region. 

Familiarity between the Coyotes and Lady Knights was clear right away as both teams traded runs early.

“We’ve played them twice a year for a long time,” Campo Verde head coach Joseph Delsante said. “You kind of get to know their kids, but on the flip side, they get to know ours, too.” 

The first three innings were a combination of early errors and timely hits.

Higley scored one in the first inning and two in the third off singles and an error by Campo Verde’s defense that allowed a runner into scoring position. 

Campo Verde responded with two runs in the first inning and one in the third, highlighted by doubles in both innings by freshman Maddy Baird. 

“A first-pitch strike, if it was there, I was going to hit it,” Baird said. 

The game was tied 3-3 after three innings and it seemed like neither side was able to hold onto the momentum, until Campo Verde broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

With one out, Amaya Hernandez got the Coyotes going with a single before a double by Ava Forsythe brought her in. A single by Baird scored Forsythe and another double by Chloe Singer scored Baird, putting the Coyotes up 6-3. 

The Lady Knights were never fully able to regain the momentum as they only scored once more in the top of the fifth inning after a combination of singles made the score 6-4. 

The Coyotes, on the other hand, picked up right where they left off the previous inning as they built upon their lead in the bottom of the fifth. A pair of singles by Anna Zehring and Forsythe, a sacrifice fly by Baird, a double by Singer, and a single by Myla Robertson put the Coyotes up 9-4. 

The Coyotes were able to tack on one more run in the bottom of the sixth after an error on Higley’s defense allowed another run. 

Campo Verde’s pitcher Addyson Armstrong played a key role in holding Higley to four runs as she recorded six strikeouts on the evening. She credits her defense as the reason she was composed in the circle.

“Whatever happens, they have my back,” Armstrong said. “They’re going to help me and just make good plays back there.”

That confidence is something that can be found throughout the team, and it shows in the way Campo Verde plays regardless of their opponent. 

“The team doesn’t stop,” Armstrong said, pointing out how it doesn’t matter how good the team they’re playing is, they need to keep hitting and playing good defense together.  

The Coyotes look to carry this mentality with them the rest of the week as, according to Delsante, they face tough matchups against Arizona College Prep and Highland.