Friday night’s Conference 1A high school softball championship at ASU’s Farrington Stadium came down to two 1A East rivals who split their regular season games 2-2, as the #1 San Manuel Lady Miners met the #2 Superior Lady Panthers – and, in a game decided in the seventh inning, the Lady Panthers broke that tie to earn the title.

After San Manuel took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Superior tied it at 2 in the third. The game remained tied, at 3-3, after five innings. Superior then scored three runs in the top of the seventh and held the Lady Miners scoreless in the bottom of the inning to clinch a 6-3 victory and the state title. Seniors Myika Cruz and Danika Bryant led the Lady Panthers in scoring with three runs and two runs; junior Jasmin Ortega also crossed home plate for Superior. Bryant also excelled on the pitcher’s mound, recording a two-hitter and striking out 14 San Manuel batters. (At press time, no stats had been entered for the Lady Miners).