SUNRISE REGION: Wildcats’ glovework supports Hernandez in Sunrise opener

If Las Vegas junior pitcher Monique Hernandez didn’t have a rabbit’s foot in her pocket, she might invest in one after the Wildcats’ performance Tuesday in the first round of the Sunrise Region softball tournament.

Hernandez allowed four extra-base hits, but the Wildcats made several stellar defensive plays behind her and defeated Liberty 3-1 at Majestic Park.

Las Vegas (15-8) will meet Green Valley, a 6-1 winner over Rancho, in the winners’ bracket semifinals at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The other semifinal pits Silverado, a 9-1 winner over Northeast Division champion Valley, against Foothill, which got four perfect innings from Shelbie Medrano in a 6-3 victory over Eldorado.

Tuesday’s win was sweet for Las Vegas. The Wildcats were unable to practice Monday because bees swarming the campus caused the school to be locked down for more than four hours.

“I didn’t know how the team was going to respond,” coach Danielle Rumph said. “Our defense was just awesome. We made plenty of plays behind Monique. They (Liberty) knocked the cover off the ball. We just made plays.”

Liberty (22-11) threatened three times in the first five innings, but came away empty. In the first, the Patriots had Breanna English on base when Francesca Foti doubled. But English was thrown out at the plate.

Nikki Blindeagle tripled to open the Liberty third but was stranded. In the fifth Robin Lowery doubled and stole third, but again the

Patriots couldn’t get her home as Blindeagle struck out and Carson Cooper was robbed of a hit by Las Vegas second baseman Bri Guzman.

In all, the Wildcats got two defensive gems by Guzman and two diving catches by left fielder Erin Berkley. Liberty’s run came on English’s solo homer in the sixth.

The Wildcats scored a run in the first, then two in the fourth on RBI singles from Nikki Diaz and Sabrina Anderson.

Silverado 9, Valley 1 — Milayka Thielges’ three-run homer keyed the Skyhawks’ four-run first inning, and they coasted.

Silverado (15-12) added a run in the third and four in the fourth.

Akina Zuccaro had four hits for the Skyhawks, and Emily Galante and Alexa Garcia two each.

Katie Devlin scattered eight hits and struck out five to get the win.

Green Valley 6, Rancho 1 — Sophomore Carly Aughney pitched a five-hitter and fanned 11 as the Gators beat the Rams.

Ali Bodnar and Kayla Anderson had two hits apiece for Green Valley, which scored in every inning except the first and sixth.

Jessica Ramirez had two hits and an RBI for Rancho (8-19). The Rams will play Liberty at 4 p.m.

Foothill 6, Eldorado 3 — Kylee Taylor and Amy Austin homered to support Shelbie Medrano’s pitching for the Falcons.

The Sundevils didn’t get a hit until two were out in the fifth. Taylor and Austin homered during Foothill’s three-run second, and the Falcons added two runs in the fourth.

Brittany Young drove in two runs for Eldorado (10-11). The Sundevils play Valley at 4 p.m.