Hit parade propels Centennial

Peoria Centennial sure knows after its offense came alive in a 7-1 win over Goodyear Millennium in the Class 4A softball quarterfinals at Rose Mofford Sports Complex on Wednesday.

Centennial plays Scottsdale Chaparral in the semifinals at Tucson's Hi Corbett Field at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Centennial (29-6) scored four runs in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead. Britnee Barnett had a two-run single up the middle, and Ashlie Rosenberg belted a two-run homer to left. Rosenberg had an RBI single to left in the first.

"We came out pumped, and we came out ready," said Rosenberg, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. "If our hitting isn't up to par the game before, all we do at practice is hit, hit, hit."

Centennial pounded 11 hits in the game, four of which came in the fourth.

"Man, they came out hitting," Millennium coach Derek Drumtra said. "We played perfect defense. It's just they hit the ball."

Millennium (22-9) scored in the fourth when Jessica Pacheco singled to left, took second on a passed ball and came home on Shelbie Lindsey's single to left. But Barnett struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

Barnett gave up three hits, two walks and struck out 16.

Centennial added two more in the fifth on Natalie Perkins' two-out, two-run single to center. Perkins was 3 for 4. Olivia Bustamante doubled and scored Centennial's first run.

Bre Peterson went 1 for 3, and Carly Benford doubled in her only at-bat for Centennial. Bianca Figueroa, Pacheco and Lindsey each went 1 for 3 for Millennium.

For Centennial, there's unfinished business still ahead.

"We're feeling pretty good, but we're never really satisfied," Rosenberg said. "It all pays off in the end."