SOFTBALL: Cascos pitches Tech into playoffs

Gizele Cascos spun a six-hitter and struck out eight on Monday to help Tech’s softball team to a 12-2 win over Virgin Valley in a Division I-A Sunrise League play-in game.

Avery Rayos and Julia Lopez each went 2-for-4 for the Roadrunners, who scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning to build a 9-1 lead.

Tech (16-11) will face Sunset League champion Spring Valley (21-3) in the opening round of the Southern Region playoffs Tuesday.

Savanna Price was 2-for-3 with a solo home run for the Bulldogs.

Tonopah 14, Sandy Valley 4 — At Tonopah, Heaven Fitch tossed a five-inning one-hitter and struck out 10 to lead the Muckers by the Sidewinders in the final regular season game in the Division IV Southern League.

Lexy Bayne had three hits and two RBIs, and Belle Gonzalez added three hits and an RBI for Tonopah, which secured the No. 3 seed for the Southern League playoffs.

Blaze Hogan added two hits and an RBI for the Muckers, who erupted for nine runs in the third inning.

Tonopah’s win allowed Round Mountain to secure the No. 4 seed for the Southern League playoffs and eliminated Sandy Valley from playoff contention.