Lucky 7.

For the second time in as many meetings this season with Santa Cruz Valley, Ray used a seven-run inning to guide victorious fortune.

A seven-run, third inning and clutch pitching the final three innings were the ingredients Monday night in Ray winning its first softball championship in 21 years.

Senior pitcher Stormee Galka was in charge when she had to be and No. 9 batter Ashley Ortiz hit like she was in the clean-up spot as top-seed Ray slipped past No. 2 Santa Cruz Valley, 7-5, to take the Division 5 title at ASU's Farrington Stadium. Ray's last title came in 1995 while Santa Cruz was seeking its first championship since 2008.

"I expected a tight game," Ray coach Rikki Galka said. "We played them early in the season and won 11-2, but it was much closer than that. We had a big inning late. (seven runs in the top of the seventh). We got a big inning earlier this time, an amazing inning. We needed it."

Ray (23-3) sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning to put a 2-0 deficit in the rearview mirror. Ortiz, who wasn't in the batting lineup the first time the teams played back in late March, opened the inning with a single. An infield hit by Janae Ruiz and bunt single by Stormee Galka loaded the bases against crafy Santa Cruz right-hander Tylor Gil. Two pitches later, Ray was ahead for good. A three-run triple by freshman shortstop Tara Lorona got past Santa Cruz right fielder Madison Murray as she slipped fielding what looked to be single. That hit opened the flood gates.

An error by Gil, a hit batter and walk loaded the bases again as the lead grew to 4-2. Gil got the next two outs and faced Ortiz again. Ortiz lined a single to left for two more runs and Ruiz followed with her second hit of the frame to make it 7-2 before Santa Cruz go the third out.

Having seen Santa Cruz (27-6) and Gil once before, Ortiz said that helped even though she didn't bat in that game.

"We knew to try to be picky," Ortiz said. "Just watch the ball. Both pitches I hit were down the middle."

With a 7-2 lead in her pocket, Stormee Galka seemed to have more than enough support . She'd alllowed only eight hits, two runs and 22 strikeouts in her three previous state tournament wins covering 12 innings.

"The first inning I had to figure out the strike zone," she said. "It was kind of small. Got through the first inning and took a deep breath. I felt good when we got the seven. But I knew then that might not be enough. They're capable of coming back."

Galka gave up two runs in the first by walking leadoff hitter Wylee Crumbaker and the next batter reached on an error sacrificing. A ground out by Gil scored the first urn and and another bunt by cleanup hitter Arllena Martinez made it 2-0.

Santa Cruz pecked away against Galka in the fourth (two runs) and fifth (one run). The Dust Devils hit her hard in the fourth with three hits and loaded the bases with noone out in the fifth. They scored to make it 7-5 on a bases-loaded walk. Galka reached back from there. She struck out the next two batters and got a fly out to right to escape the inning with onlhy a run given up.

From the final three outs of the fifth to game's end she allowed one hit and got a double play on a pop up in the seventh that negated the only hit in that span. A line out to center was the final out. 

Galka finiished allowing eight hits, walking two and striking out eight. Three of the five runs were earned. Her counterpart Gil gave up 11 hits, three walks and fanned six. Four of the seven runs she allowed were unearned.

Ortiz led Ray with three hits. Daniella Hinojos and Ruiz finished with two hits. Gil paced Santa Cruz with three hits and an RBI. Teammate Jordan Aleman had two hits and an RBI.