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Road to the WCWS: Arizona can’t defend the long ball, Duke wins Durham Regional

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Road to the WCWS: Arizona can’t defend the long ball, Duke wins Durham Regional


The Arizona Wildcats needed to win one game on Sunday to advance to regionals. They couldn’t do it.

Next time someone says that balls fly out of Hillenbrand because of the “desert air,” point to the home runs in more humid, low-lying areas around the country. Like Durham, NC, where one Duke home run after another put a nail in the Wildcats’ season on Sunday by scores of 8-6 and 9-4.

Duke hit four home runs in the early game. The Blue Devils returned to hit four more in the late game. Durham is at 404 feet above sea level and was supposed to have humidity between 45 and 70 percent on Sunday. So much for the lazy broadcasters’ take of “altitude and dry air.”

There are three parts of a game. Both Duke and Arizona have had their difficulties with pitching. Both are very good offensively. So, defense can make the difference. Both teams made crucial errors in the opener, but Arizona’s turned out to be the deciding one. The officials also made some interesting calls that ended up having huge impacts in the game.

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A critical obstruction call was not made in the bottom of the first that would have put runners on the corners with one out. Arizona chose not to challenge, and the inning ended with Duke leading 1-0.

The lack of the challenge evened out an earlier missed call when Sereniti Trice was out of the box but it went unseen. While out of the box isn’t open to challenge, obstruction is. Regardless, missed calls affected both teams in the opening inning and it wasn’t the last time.

A bigger missed obstruction call came in the second. Duke threw the ball away as Regan Shockey got to first, and she took off for second. In the interim, a run scored for the Wildcats.

Centerfielder D’Auna Jennings came in to cover second base, but completely blocked it. As Shockey tried to slide in, Jennings’ knee hit her shoulder. Jennings also lost the ball. Yet, Shockey was called out on the play.

Arizona’s baserunner on third took off when the ball came loose and crossed home plate. A score of 3-1 went up on the ESPN score bug. That’s when the challenges started.

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Duke challenged that Shockey was out at first. That was obviously a futile challenge even when looking at the TV replay. The safe call was upheld.

Arizona challenged obstruction at second base. That call of out was overturned and obstruction called. Not only did Jennings slow Shockey down, but she literally left the Arizona centerfielder clutching her shoulder in pain due to contact. It was an easy call.

After that, Duke challenged again. This time, they said Arizona’s second run shouldn’t have scored because it didn’t cross home until after the second base umpire signaled Shockey out. The officials sent the baserunner back to third and took an Arizona run off the board. A 3-1 game became 2-1 in Arizona’s favor.

Arizona likely caught a break that got that run in the third, though. Tayler Biehl was hit on the finger by a pitch, but it looked like it happened when she was swinging. It was called a foul ball. Arizona challenged the foul ball ruling and it was overturned. Biehl took first on a HBP to put two on with no one out.

Biehl came around to score, putting Arizona up 4-3 after three innings.

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The obstruction and contact with Shockey in the second had a bigger impact than one play or a couple of runs. Arizona’s centerfielder stayed in the game at the time, but she was obviously in pain. Her next at-bat was taken by Emma Kavanagh, who drew a leadoff walk in the fourth. Shockey then went in to run.

The fourth was the start of the defensive drama. Kavanagh’s walk was followed by a hit-by-pitch that put Trice on base.

Arizona slugger Sydney Stewart continued to press. She has struggled this postseason, chasing pitches that are obviously out of her “plan” and not taking walks as consistently when the pitcher doesn’t throw what she’s looking for. Her foul-out and Biehl’s strikeout left Shockey and Trice standing on first and second.

It looked even more dire when Grace Jenkins popped up onto the infield. What should have been a routine catch for Duke shortstop Jessica Oakland simply went off the end of her glove. While the ACC Network commentators kept talking about the sun, it was the exact location Biehl had been playing without sunglasses or a visor. It looked like Oakland simply let the moment get to her.

It was a big moment. Two runs scored and Jenkins motored into second base. Arizona tied the game at six runs apiece, but that’s all the Wildcats could get. They didn’t score again.

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Biehl is an amazing shortstop who gets to balls that many others would not. She’s a former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. She’s also prone to trying to make the spectacular play and having it go awry. That tendency hurt Arizona in the top of the sixth.

Freshman righthander Rylie Holder walked the first batter in the sixth, but she followed that with two quick outs. The third out proved elusive.

A double put runners on the corners with two outs. Aminah Vega then singled up the middle. Biehl stopped the ball just behind second base and tried to throw to first. It was obvious that the ball was never going to catch Vega. It not only wasn’t there in time, but it went sailing into foul territory. A second run scored, giving Duke an 8-6 lead.

Arizona made nothing out of its final six outs, although Shockey showed the Wildcat faithful some hope by reaching on a bunt single in her final at-bat. How much her shoulder is hindering her could be important in the next game.

Arizona used all three of its pitchers.

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Errors at critical times were big in the late game, too. Duke scored its first run after a throwing error by Sniffen allowed Duke leadoff hitter Jennings to take an extra base to start the game. She moved to third on a fielder’s choice that had Sniffen fail to get a tag down at third. That wasn’t an official error, but it was one of the “miscues” that are just as damaging.

From there, a run scored on a sacrifice fly. Adams got out of it with only one run despite another error by her defense in the inning.

Once again, Arizona showed that blaming the desert environment for giving up home runs is an easy explanation for broadcasters and perhaps those who want to sell the line to pitchers when going up against Arizona on the recruiting trail.

Duke put up its second run off a solo shot to lead off the second inning. Two different Blue Devils had two-run shots in the fourth.

The four runs in the bottom of the fourth were especially difficult for the Wildcats. They had just cut Duke’s lead to one on RBI singles by Emma Kavanagh and Shockey.

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Even worse, the first home run knocked Shockey from the game. That outcome was so close to happening in the first game when Jennings’ obstruction led to a collision at second base. This time, there was no way for Shockey to come back from it.

The Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year showed that it’s not just about skill but about heart. She did everything she could for her team, running towards the wall, timing her jump perfectly, and getting the ball in her glove. It looked like a tremendous out.

Then, Shockey collided with the outfield wall. First, it was her shoulder, then it was her face.

Shockey dropped the ball and fell to the ground with her face forward. The trainers and coaching staff huddled around her for an extended period, then walked with her back to the dugout. Shockey was holding her nose as if it was bleeding or broken.

The second two-run homer really put the Wildcats’ back against the wall. Duke was up 7-2 with only three more offensive innings to go for Arizona. That also meant three more offensive innings for the Blue Devils, and neither Arizona’s pitching nor its defense had been up to that task.

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The loss of Shockey made a big impact on everything Arizona does. She was 2-for-3 with an RBI in both games on top of being the center of the outfield defense.

Arizona had to move Kiki Escobar to left field and move Addison Duke to center. Escobar started at first base, so Kez Lucas took over there. That also made Lucas the leadoff hitter in Arizona’s lineup.

The Wildcats cut the Duke lead to three runs in the fifth. The sixth would have presented a prime opportunity to cut further into that lead. Shockey should have been leading off the inning. Instead, the freshman first baseman who has been scuffling at the plate was in her place. Lucas got into a 2-1 count then swung at two pitches out of the zone.

Both Trice and Stewart went down without much trouble, as well. The 1-2-3 inning was the last thing Arizona needed.

Jenae Berry had her usual outings in both games. She threw a strong inning or so, but then the opposing offense caught up to her. The same was the case for Holder earlier in the contest.

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Adams started the game and was brought back in during the bottom of the sixth to finish her career on the field. She surrendered the final Duke home run of the day.

The Arizona offense went down quietly, going 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh.

The game ends Arizona’s season at 37-18. With Biehl, Stewart, Jenkins, Adams, Escobar, and reserve Camilla Zepeda all completing their eligibility, next year will be another round of new faces trying to break through. With the portal opening soon, the Arizona faithful will also have to wait and see whether money, playing time, and more attention in bigger leagues lure away some of those they’ve come to love.



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Former Arizona mental health counselor arrested by ICE for producing of CSAM, officials say

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Former Arizona mental health counselor arrested by ICE for producing of CSAM, officials say


A former Tucson mental health counselor was arrested for allegedly producing child pornography.

What we know:

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According to the Department of Homeland Security, 33-year-old Xiomar Diaz, of Tucson, is accused of being involved in the production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) with child victims, one of whom lived in Tucson. 

(Department of Homeland Security)

Diaz, who was a mental health counselor at a behavior health care organization, worked in some capacity with kids. Officials said he spoke to children online under the usernames “velander12” or “Xixi.” 

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Several items, including two iPhones, were seized. Officials found around 20 CSAM images or videos, including ones of Diaz engaging in sexual acts with a “young male in the back of Diaz’s vehicle,” according to a criminal complaint. Those videos were created on May 11. 

On a second phone, 20 additional images or videos were discovered, along with a conversation on Snapchat between Diaz and a 15-year-old victim, where they exchanged sexual videos and talked about filming sexual acts together, the report said.  

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Dig deeper:

Dropbox also reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about a user uploading videos of suspected CSAM in November 2025. 

He was arrested by special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations, following an investigation with Tucson Police. 

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What you can do:

Due to his profession working in proximity with children, authorities are looking for additional information to help identify potential victims he may have abused. 

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“If your child, or a child you know, was in contact with Xiomar Diaz, please contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or through ICE’s online tip form, or contact your local law enforcement.”

The Source: Department of Homeland Security

Crime and Public SafetyTucsonNews
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New law aims to curb squatting in vacant homes | Arizona Capitol Times

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New law aims to curb squatting in vacant homes | Arizona Capitol Times


Key Points:
  • A new law should stop squatters faster and allow property owners to get them out in about five days
  • Exact statistics don’t exist for the number of squatter cases per year in Arizona, but law enforcement and real estate agents say it is a problem
  • The new law does not affect rights and remedies under the state’s landlord and tenant act

Goldilocks won’t be squatting for long in any Arizona homes after a new law takes effect. 

Sen. Wendy Rogers made the fairy tale comparison herself at a press conference on June 1 after her Senate Bill 1426 was signed into law by Gov. Katie Hobbs. The new regulations intend to make it easier for property owners to evict squatters faster. 

“It’s like Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” she said. “This is when Goldilocks goes into a home, enters the bears’ home without permission when they’re out. She eats their porridge, sits in and breaks their chairs, sleeps in their beds, making her the classic intruder squatter.”

It’s what happened to D’Andrea Turner and her then-husband Keith. D’Andrea had been traveling back and forth to Michigan to take care of her elderly mother and also recovering from surgery after an aneurysm. Keith was a long-haul trucker on the road and when he came back, he discovered squatters in their home. 

They tried to remove the squatters, but they kept coming back and eventually, the Turners found out their identities were stolen from documents in their home and their home had been fraudulently sold. Affidavits and forms had been notarized and submitted through Maricopa County and the sale wasn’t stopped until the squatters tried to cash the check in the Turner’s names multiple times but were unsuccessful, according to previous media reports. 

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Turner said the hardest thing was the identity theft and the property being defrauded, plus losing irreplaceable items in their home, such as photos of her children, a teddy bear and computers. They raised their children and lived in their home for over 12 years, she said. 

“I had many tearful nights, many terrible nights because of this,” she said. “As working class people that’s putting our money into mortgages and things that we think is going to sustain us for when we’re done. We buy properties so that we can leave it for generations.”

Turner said she’s grateful to Rogers for getting the bill passed. In the Turners’ case, two people were eventually charged with identity theft, forgery and fraudulent schemes. Despite that progress, the Turners are still sorting out the mess with their insurance company. 

“I feel very fortunate that someone heard me. It’s like you’re screaming at the top of a mountain and someone can hear you,” she said. “I feel very confident that the senator heard me and she understands that we, as Arizonans, will not accept this.”

A squatter is different from a trespasser. Whereas trespassers usually leave after they’re told, squatters can use tactics to make it look like they live at the property or create a false lease to try to prove they have a rental agreement. 

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The law requires the court to issue a writ of restitution immediately after the court signs any judgement against an unauthorized person, according to the bill language. It outlines conditions that constitute an eviction lawsuit, such as an unauthorized person unlawfully occupying the property and the property owner has directed the person to leave. Another condition is the person did not have a prior verbal or written agreement to cohabitate with the property owner at a residential property.

The new law would not apply or modify the rights and remedies available to landlords and tenants as prescribed by the Arizona Residential Landlord Tenant Act. The law will not affect current or former tenants, immediate family members or people who had a verbal or written agreement to live on the property with the owner.

The law will take effect 90 days after it was signed. This was Rogers’ third attempt to get the bill passed. The bill originally came to Rogers from a constituent who is a real estate attorney and told her it’s a prevalent problem. 

“Arizona is sending a clear message. Unlawful occupation of someone else’s property will not be tolerated,” Rogers said. “Our border is secure, but we still have nefarious actors inside our country who would perpetuate this on property owners.”

The game changer this year was an early start in collaboration and most notably, the constables’ support, along with realtors, she said, and added she was pleasantly surprised by the amount of bipartisan support the bill received. 

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“That’s the way we should get stuff done,” she said. 

Tim Beaubian, senior director of government affairs at Arizona REALTORS Association, said the bipartisan support of this bill this year shows what an impact this is going to be for the state of Arizona and that private property rights are a bedrock. 

The bill passed with wide bipartisan support in both chambers. Sen. Catherine Miranda cast the lone no vote. She said she understood the need to protect homeowners, but she cited homelessness and a lack of support from the state and the city of Phoenix.

“The state isn’t doing enough to help homelessness,” she said. “I’m not willing to attack any efforts that homeless people are trying to make to survive.”

In October 2025, Hobbs announced $13.5 million in grant funding in the Arizona Promise budget to support eviction prevention, homelessness response and referral efforts across Arizona, according to a news release. At that time, it put the Hobbs Administration’s total investment in services to over $150 million.

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Constable Scott Blake, who works in the Hassayampa district in northwest Maricopa County, said the new law should help people remove squatters faster. 

Currently, the law says people have to go through an eviction process, starting with a five-day notice, Blake said. A court summons and complaint is required, in addition to showing the judge the “lease” and showing it’s illegitimate. After another few days of waiting, the judge can order a writ and then a constable can come and do the eviction. That whole process takes over two weeks. 

“The new law shortcuts all of that, you’re going to be able to get into court and say, ok, this person’s going to have to leave and you’re going to get a writ and somebody’s going to come out there and take care of that,” he said. “I think in less than five days you’d be able to remove somebody who is a squatter and unauthorized occupant.”

It will help a small handful of people right now with the possibility of more in the future as things tighten up, he added. 

Blake said another trend he has started to see more often is people squatting on vacant, rural land, which is usually owned by the state or a private property owner. Systemic issues like the increased cost of living will likely keep contributing to people looking for places to live, he added. 

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“I’m not sure that we’ve seen the end of financial difficult times,” he said. 

The new law would require a five-day notice to vacate before going to court. If the criteria listed in the law is met, a judge may order the immediate eviction of that tenant, and it gives the property owner a legal hammer too, the spokesperson said.

There’s technically two different types of squatters: ones with an agreement to live at the property for a limited time and those who do not have an agreement with the property owner, a spokesperson for the Maricopa County Justice Courts said. Both types of cases come to justices of the peace. 

The second type is what the new law speaks to and is rare. If there is no written, verbal or implied tenancy agreement, the case can come to court, but a judge may dismiss it and say the court has no jurisdiction because there’s no agreement. Then it would be a trespassing issue for the police to write a citation, which is a different court process, they said.

The data on how many squatter cases happen per year in Arizona does not exist because landlords have to deliver a notice to vacate before they go to the courts. The courts don’t track what type of criminal activity or other breach might have triggered an immediate eviction and essentially, it doesn’t matter once the case reaches court, the spokesperson said.

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There is a category of evictions called “immediate,” which usually involves a breach of the lease that is not fixable, such as if criminal activity took place. The landlord has to give notice of the breach and may file the court case the same day. If the tenant is found guilty in court a few days later, the judge can order the immediate eviction, which means they have to be out the day following the court appearance. 

As for statistics on that type of case, landlords brought 84,805 cases to court and 406 of those were immediate evictions in 2025, but it’s likely few to none of those involved squatters, the spokesperson said.



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#Woof: Huskies Land 4 Star Wide Receiver from Arizona

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#Woof: Huskies Land 4 Star Wide Receiver from Arizona


Happy Friday Husky fans. The Huskies got some good news when 4 star wide receiver Dontay Tyson from Peoria HS, AZ committed to UW over his other finalist Texas A&M. The 6’1” and 190 pound receiver is a physically mature prospect who should contribute early for the Huskies. The Huskies honed their attention in on Tyson early and were able to secure a commitment from him after hosting him for an official visit this last weekend. In 7 games Tyson had 37 catches for 448 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Tyson is now the 3rd wide receiver commit in the 2027 class and 4th commit from the state of Arizona. The Huskies now have 17 commits and could look at to take another wide receiver which we will have more on Sunday.



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