The Winslow Lady Bulldogs won their first two games in the Arizona State 3A Softball Tournament last Friday and Saturday at Rose Mofford Complex in Phoenix. The Lady Bulldogs easily topped River Valley, 9-0, and Show Low, 10-0, in those games to earn a berth in the semifinals against Safford today (May 13).

The Lady Bulldogs, now 30-5, began their quest for a repeat as Arizona State 3A Conference Champions with the win over River Valley May 6.

Halle Hayes pitched the full seven innings, allowing no runs on just four hits and three walks. She fanned 16 batters.

Winslow scored three runs in the first inning, which Gabby Stacey led off with a home run. There was also a walk, two errors and a single by Taylor Baca. Six runs in the second inning completed the scoring. The Lady Bulldogs had six hits and a walk in the rally, and there was also an error.

Halle and Jaleisa Hayes were each four for four to lead the Lady Bulldogs at the plate. Baca was one for two. Megan Lymer and Stacey were each one for three, with Stacey having the home run, the only extra base hit for Winslow. Mireya Ulibarri and Arianna Huerta were each one for four.

The following day, the Lady Bulldogs shutout the Show Low Lady Cougars 10-0 in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Show Low had edged Window Rock 3-2 to earn the berth against Winslow in the quarterfinals.

Winslow took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single by Stacey, a hit batsman and a stolen base. The margin became 6-0 in the third inning on a double by Melissa Jacobs, and singles by Huerta, Stacey and Jaleisa Hayes. The four-run fifth inning brought the 10-run mercy rule into effect, and featured singles by Jaleisa Hayes and Baca.

Jaleisa Hayes went the distance for the win, allowing just two hits in five innings and striking out 13 Lady Cougars.

She also led the team at the plate with a three for three day. Baca was two for two with a double. Jacobs was two for three with a double. Huerta was one for one. Stacey was one for two.

In the other bracket, Snowflake and Estrella Foothills will meet in the semifinals at 7:30 tonight after the Winslow-Safford game slated for 5:30 p.m.

Snowflake defeated Florence 6-3 in the quarterfinals, and Estrella Foothills beat Empire 10-4 in their quarterfinal game.