CDO Holds Off Rival Mountain View Marana 4-3 for 10th State Title

The Canyon Del Oro Dorado defeated the Mountain View Marana Mountain Lions 4-3 at the Grand Canyon University softball stadium in the 5A state championship game. 

Losing the 5A title game in 2025 to Desert Mountain, Canyon Del Oro only needed one season to get back to the biggest stage and bring a trophy back home. 

Canyon Del Oro head coach Kelly Fowler told her players before the 2026 5A title game that her team had already won the journey.

“This is our journey, we’ve won our journey, our journey was to get here because it’s so difficult,” Fowler said. “Now we start all over, it’s game on.” 

In the first inning, the Dorados came out swinging.

Starting the game with a lead-off single was 2029 second baseman Brooklyn Benavides. 

The Dorado would shortly get two runners on base after 2027 shortstop Jacey Maruza was walked. 

With two runners on base early, the Dorados followed with a three-run bomb. 

Having the best hit of the game was 2027 first baseman Emma Shaffer.

Shaffer barreled the ball perfectly and sent it over the right field wall for a three-run homer. 

Knowing they were at bat first, Shaffer went all out to begin the game.

“We were going up, taking the first pitch, playing the odds of that,” Shaffer said. “After my past teammates at bats that, she was going to throw a next pitch strike. I knew I was swinging, so I went all out for that next pitch.” 

Immediately, Canyon Del Oro put up three runs, and the pressure was on Mountain View Marana to get on the board. 

At the bottom of the first, the Mountain Lions were able to put up a run of their own. 

Putting them on the board was 2026 Alycia Gordin, who found a gap in right field for an RBI single.

Scoring off the single was 2026 Mia Quinonez.

With one inning down, Canyon Del Oro held a 3-1 lead over Mountain View Marana. 

The Mountain Lions were able to tie the game up in the bottom of the second. 

Getting her team going, 2026 Julia Donnelly floated a ball into right field for a two RBI single.

Donnelly was able to bring home 2028 Mia Lynch and 2029 Makenna Dwyer for the runs. 

With two innings down, the game was tied at three apiece and anyone's game. 

The third inning would see Canyon Del Oro put the pressure back on.

During the inning, the Dorados would be patient and draw a few walks, and eventually, they had bases loaded.

Staying patient at the plate was 2026 infielder Braelyn Leiber, who drew an RBI walk. 

Scoring off the walk was Benavides. 

The Mountain Lions managed to get out of the jam after allowing the RBI walk and got the third out. 

2026 pitcher Arianna Figueroa was able to get the final out and mitigate the damage.

After three innings, Canyon Del Oro held a 4-3 lead that they would never let back up. 

A big factor in keeping Mountain View Marana limited offensively was Canyon Del Oro 2029 pitcher Savanna Mares.

Mares was named the game MVP after her impressive performance on the mound. 

Between innings three through seven, she put very few runners on base. 

Fast forward to the bottom of the seventh, Mountain View Marana had one last chance to tie or win the game.

However, like she did all game, Mares delivered. 

Mares was able to force Mountain View Marana to have three pop flies and secure the victory for Canyon Del Oro. 

With the final out caught by Canyon Del Oro 2027 third baseman Sadie Jones, the Dorado were officially 5A state champions.

Every player on Canyon Del Oro knew Jones would come down with the final catch.

“I knew Sadie had it. Sadie is such a good player,” Shaffer said. “I knew she was catching it, so I was already excited.” 

With the win, Canyon Del Oro is now tied second with the most softball state championship victories in AIA history at 10. 

They will have a big returning group and could be back in this situation next season. 

Every year is new, though. Canyon Del Oro will enjoy their 2026 5A championship, then, when the time comes, they will be ready to work to get back to the biggest stage. 

“Every year is new,” Fowler said. “You start with the group that walks through the gate, and go, okay, our goal is to get there. Then we start working towards it.”