Sahuarita head coach Chris Fanning (Andy Morales/AZPrep365.com)

 

No. 11 Sahuarita beat No. 7 Empire 14-4 Saturday to advance to the 3A state championship game set for Tuesday night against No. 5 Winslow. The game will be played at ASU with the first pitch scheduled for 7:45 p.m.

Sahuarita (29-9) will be playing for the third championship in program history and this will be the ninth trip to the finals under head coach Chris Fanning. Winslow (23-12) will be playing for the fourth championship in school history.

Fanning earned his 500th coaching victory in mid-April and he feels his current squad is one of the most dynamic he has had.

“All of our girls can hit from one through nine,” Fanning said. “It’s the best offensive team I have had and we are peaking at the right time with a great defense behind Gracie (Mejia).”

Mejia is 13-6 from the circle but five of those losses came in February and March and the team has gone 9-1 since the first week of April.

“We can’t control our low ranking,” Fanning added. “I told them to just do their best against anyone in front of you. Play our game.”

The Mustangs beat No. 6 Payson 4-2 in the first round and No. 5 Show Low 10-2 in the quarterfinals before the victory over Empire. Winslow upset No. 1 River Valley 12-2 in the other semifinal game.