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The pint-sized junior second baseman had her seven-game hit streak snapped, going 0 for 6 at the plate, and the Sabercats needed 15 innings to get past Empire. Most of the credit deservedly went to Sabercats pitcher Riley Nielson, who not only struck out 26 batters but also drove in the winning run.

That inspired the Sabino offense, led by Romero, to roar back in Monday’s Class 3A state title game. The top-seeded Sabercats took down No. 3 Payson with a 4-1 victory at the UA’s Hillenbrand Stadium.

Romero drove in three runs despite coming into the game with just six on the season.

“I came out a little angry today,� Romero said. “I wanted to do something big and came up clutch a few times.�

Sabino (20-1) was in control throughout the game.

Nielson survived a second-inning scare, striking out three batters to strand a leadoff double by Bree Hall, and then the Sabercats went to work.

Gianna Parcost delivered a leadoff double in the bottom of the second, and Ashley Stewart beat out a close play at first to send Parcost to third with no outs.

Payson pitcher Raci Miranda then fired back, striking out both designated player Madison Moreno and third baseman Bailey Nichols. With two out, Romero drove a high fly ball to right field. The ball landed over the head of Payson’s Kayde Johnson.

A fourth-inning bloop single by Romero scored Stewart. In the sixth, Stewart knocked in a run with a bloop to the outfield.

Meanwhile, Sabino’s defense was perfect, and Nielson’s lone blemish was a home run allowed to Bree Hall, who also had a double. The junior allowed just four singles, a walk and a hit batter while striking out 10. That was after throwing all 15 innings Friday.

“I think the adrenaline for her was going to take over no matter what,� first-year coach Kyle Howell said. “She may say she got rest, her mom told me otherwise. She was amazing.�

With a little more help from her defense, which committed three errors, Miranda might have been able to match Nielson. She allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits with 10 strikeouts.

Parcost, Stewart and Romero each had multiple hits for Sabino.

“I didn’t expect (to win the title) but I expected the kids to come out, work hard and compete,� Howell said. “And they did. It’s just what happens when you have really good kids who happen to be really good players, too. I’m very fortunate and this win is all on them.�

Like so many other teams, across all levels of softball, last season had such a surreal ending.

Nielson and the rest of Sabercats played in their 2020 finale last March 14, losing 5-0 to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High to finish 5-5-1. They’ve come a long way since.

“We just know we can’t take anything for granted,� Nielson said. “We just came out every practice, worked our butts off and hoped for the best.�