Postseason softball requires a little something extra and when it shows up there’s usually no denying it.

Daniella Gloria, Hadlie Goodman, and Allison Robles provided it Saturday and the trio made sure Mountain View was not going to be deprived of the feeling that comes with knocking off a better seed.

The visiting Toros, seeded 10th, topped No. 7 Highland 2-0 on Saturday in the first round of the 6A state tournament.

All three contributed in different ways to push the Toros (21-10) to the second round as they play at No. 2 Desert Vista on Wednesday, while the Hawks (20-9) host No. 15 Desert Ridge on Monday in an elimination game.

Gloria, a Kansas recruit, was dominant, allowing three hits with no walks and 10 strikeouts. By the sound of the ball hitting the mitt and the late swings by the Hawks hitters, it was clear she had a little extra oomph that included striking out the side in the first after Karsyn Norton started the winning with an opposite field single to left field.

“I felt I had a little extra,” said Gloria, who went over the 200-strikeout mark on the season. “I think I was pushing off the rubber a little harder. I knew I had to be better against them. They are really competitive and selective. I had to hit my spots and keep doing my thing.”

Mountain View coach Fernando Lopez saw this happen before at Highland’s field.

“I’ll be honest with you, it is the field I think,” Mountain View coach Fernando Lopez said. “We play this team in the preseason and fall, and she’s throwing harder here. It made a big difference today. You could see the swings were late.”

While Gloria was doing her thing all game long, Goodman and Robles contributed in the top of the first to set the tone.

“We want to come in the first inning and punch them in the mouth,” Mountain View coach Fernando Lopez said. “Let them know we are here."

The glimpse of the fact that Mountain View might have something special instore came in the first inning after the Goodman sisters – sophomore catcher Hadlie and senior shortstop Keelie – both reached on errors to set up Robles.

With the Goodmans on first and second with one out, Robles pulled a single to left field off Highland senior Kennedie Nelson. Hadlie stopped at third, but the throw from center field was up the third-base line and got past the catcher Renya Herrera.

Goodman took off for home, Herrera flipped the ball to Nelson in plenty of time, but Hadlie eluded the tag with a dip of the shoulder on the headfirst slide to score the first run.

“I thought I was going to be out, but I knew I couldn’t just give myself up, so I tried to get to the back of the plate,” said Goodman, who went 1 for 3 with an RBI. “I was able to get there before the tag,”

The hit by Robles came from the cleanup spot as a freshman. She has played her way into more playing time and a higher spot in the order as the season has progressed.

The move in from California hit a couple of grand slams on JV, got promoted and came through with big hits against Perry and Red Mountain to become the full-time third baseman. Robles also made a good defensive play late in the game when she ventured far to her left to get a runner at first.

“I am always going with my gut for the lineup,” Lopez said. “I believe in everyone one of them. It’s a matter of how we’re going to set them up. We put her in fourth spot, and I believed she could get it done and she hit the ball hard.”

Highland, which was playing without clean up hitter Maggie Mullarkey, committed three errors in the first inning and it led to a run in a game that both pitchers had control of the game.

“Three errors in the first, and the overthrow hurt us,” Highland second-year coach Marty Stricklett said. “That can’t happen, but Kennedie fought back and gave us a chance. We haven’t dealt with adversity in a while. We’ll learn and grow from it.”

Goodman, who has been catching about half the season out of necessity, wasn’t done contributing in the first inning as she also threw out the potential tying run trying to steal third in the fourth and added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh to give Gloria a little cushion in the final frame.

“Anywhere I put her she is going to give me 150 percent,” Lopez said of Goodman. “I love watching her play and having her on the team. I’m glad I have her for two more years.”

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