Watching Highland pitcher Arianna Ashcraft pitch one notices nothing out of the ordinary. Dig deeper and you come to find she is not your ordinary pticher. Not when she pitches with two rods and 26 screws in her spine, there to correct scoliosis (curviture of the spine).

Hamilton qualifying for the state softball tournament for the first time since 2003, will make it a primo year for the Chandler district in the sport. All four of its schools are going to state.

Highland softball coach Jamie Waldron figured after a couple weeks of the season if the Hawks were to make some noise this season it would have to be with hitting and defense. That was the formula Thursday night as the Hawks used timely hitting, plate discipline and defense to upend Dobson, 11-7, in a 5A Central Region game at Highland High.

Remember the name of junior Kasey McCravey.

Pioneers use seventh-inning run to edge Desert Mountain 3-2 in battle of Desert Valley powers.

Last season Red Mountain softball won the 2010 5A-I state title with extraordinary pitching and very good hitting. The Mountain Lions are certainly in the mix -- if not the lead -- to repeat as state champs in 2011. The reason? Extraordinary hitting and very good pitching.

A pitcher who did not feel good pitched lights out. A power hitter who set the table rather than drive in runs. And a cleanup hitter that delivered what her role requires. Perry used those contributions Friday to put a stranglehold on the lead in the 5A East Valley Region softball race by defeating Skyline, 6-0, at Skyline High School.

Strong effort from pitcher Hall helps Chiefs record 5-1 softball victory.

Mustangs and Raymond S. Kellis play for cancer awareness.

Team scores nine runs in the seventh inning to rally for a 12-5 victory over Desert Edge.

Two base hits and a sacrifice in the sixth inning produce the only run of the game against Deer Valley.

The top four teams in the 5A Central Region softball race are not separated by much. And when Gilbert (4-1), Mesa Mountain View (3-2), Dobson (2-1) and Basha (2-1) have played one another the margin of error has been thin for the most part. Nothing changed in that regard Tuesday afternoon as Gilbert used a pair of two-run homers to beat Mountain View, 5-2, in a clash of teams tied for first in the region at Gilbert High.