Eight championship appearances in a row. Even the most “veteran” Salpointe Lancer was only in the fifth grade when Salpointe beat Cactus 2-0 in the 2018 4A championship game. The program reached the final day of the season five times before that, with championships in 1993 and 1996, but nothing matches this current streak and the streak continues this year with top-seeded Salpointe run-ruling No. 6 Cactus Shadows 16-1 in the semifinal round on Thursday.

The Lancers have a record six championships in a row from 2018 to 2024 and it took an eight inning 2-1 loss to Coconino last year to put an end the streak of championships but the hill ahead of them this year doesn’t seem as high, more like a step back to the top.

Salpointe (26-4) beat Cactus Shadows (22-9) in every aspect of the game with Macee Jackson (15-2) collecting 11 strikeouts, to give her 200 for the year, while giving up only two hits and an unearned run. The Lancers collected 17 hits with sophomore Torrence Salyer going 3-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a double. Salyer had eight RBIs.

Sophomore Catherine Sztan went 3-4 with a triple and an RBI, junior Isabel Otero went 3-3 with a double and two RBIs, senior CC Moraga went 3-4 with a double and two RBIs, junior Isa Palomarez went 2-3 with an RBI and senior Sarah Camp went 2-3 with an RBI.

Cactus Shadows. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

For Cactus Shadows, Molly Brown (3-2), Megan Hughes (5-0) and Lilie Rea (1-1) took the circle. Ava Fossey and Caylee Cundall had the hits for the Falcons.

Salpointe will play the winner of No. 2 Mica Mountain (28-6) and No. 4 Paradise Honors Tuesday night, May 18, for the 4A championship. Mica Mountain hosts Paradise honors Friday night and Paradise Honors will have to beat Mica Mountain twice to advance. Salpointe beat Mica Mountain twice in region play and Salpointe beat Paradise Honors 9-1 on Saturday to send the Panthers to the elimination bracket.