Top Plays of 2023: Reliving some of the highlight reel moments
YUMA, Ariz., (KYMA, KECY) - As the page flips to the summer season, we leave behind another school year that provided three action-packed seasons with tons of special moments.
Now halfway through 2023 before another fall season comes around, it's a great time to go back and hit the highlight reel from the winter and spring seasons - dating back to the turn of the calendar year.
#10 - You have to look at the ups on Luke Foppe for this one. The Gila Ridge Hawk showing off the pure athleticism to take away a base hit in a big spot of an extra-inning game that was picked up in the middle of the day. Unfortunately, the Hawks would still go on to fall shortly after.
#9 - Up next, to the Yuma City Championship track meet event that was decided by 0.2 seconds as Kofa's Olivia Taylor would outstretch Gila Ridge's Chay Barron at the finish line to take home the girls 100 meter hurdle by a flash frame.
#8 - To another web gem on the diamond - this time at Cibola. A line drive into the gap was snagged by Illianna Cordova who went full extension with the cradle to reel it in. One of many great plays that had her on her way to Region Defensive Player of the Year honor.
#7 - Back to the baseball diamond and the curtain opens for San Luis' Javier Rochin - who would flash the leather in a big spot over Gila Ridge to take away an extra base hit.
#6 - On the soccer pitch, Cibola's Itzel Meza was just playing with her defender in this top play - pulling the spin around, getting the separation and delivering a double doink that would ricochet off a defender and then again off the keeper and in for the score. One of the examples of her route to playing ball at the next level.
#5 - To Holtville in one of the wackiest plays of the spring. Demi Johnston lays down a peach, but you'd have to see Kamryn Walker just stand there in between third and home like she's eyeing her prey. Then she would play the duck to avoid the tag, followed by the dive and crawl into home safely. Just special to watch for the Imperial Valley softball Player of the Year.
#4 - Back to the pitch at No. 4, we've called his name before: Tiernan Nicewander. The senior pulling off the spin cycle and back heel boot for the goal in a win over Independence. One of his couple on the night and 58 goals on the year in style!
#3 - To yet another top soccer play - look at the ball ricochet and find the boot of Miguel Valenzuela on the rebound, along with some bonus points for the celebration as the lone goal on the night in a Cibola win.
#2 - Can we get enough Holtville softball? With Brawley down to their final two outs in a two-run game, Kalli Strahm gets a popper right back to her and would then fire behind the bag to her sister Brooke to double up the Wildcats and end the game - a huge win en route to Holtville's second straight IVL title.
#1 - Wrapping up at Yuma High at Doan Field. Kofa put on a fierce comeback in the late innings after being down seven. With bases loaded in the seventh, David Salas would hit hard comebacker to Juan Lugo on the hill, where he would throw to second as Eli Lujan barely kept his foot on the bag and then shoots to first for the game-ending double play in a thriller. Crims would walk away with the rivalry win in grand style to avoid the Kofa comeback.
