It took a black-and-blue kind of semifinal battle between Mountain View and Chaparral to set up an all-red-and-black championship game in the Division I girls softball state tournament.

His acceptance speech was easily the most brief, but the thoughts shared Friday night by United Food Bank President and CEO Bob Evans were certainly among the most poignant.

5…4…3…2... You get the idea.

In front of hundreds of industry leaders, elected officials and other government and trade figures, Arizona State University President Michael Crow didn’t mince words while headlining the East Valley Partnership’s “Arizona to the World” discussion — a forum in Tempe Thursday evening highlighting the state’s place in the national and global economies.

They may be geeks. They may be non-conformists. They’re definitely champions for practically anything alternative.

EVT on your TV? Could be, thanks to a new partnership between the East Valley Tribune and Valley television media stalwart ABC15.

If the saying is right, it’s certainly not the geeks who shall inherit the Earth.

Over the last two decades, the word “growth” has been synonymous with just about anything having to do with the once-sleepy town of Gilbert.

The signature house burger at the Lincoln Restaurant — just a stone’s throw from the White House — runs about $16, before tax and tip.

Under normal circumstances, Sam Clark would hesitate to want the term “mob” associated with his upstart downtown Mesa coffeehouse.

Under normal circumstances, Sam Clark would hesitate to want the term “mob” associated with his upstart downtown Mesa coffeehouse.

The commitment to build a $5.3 billion chip fabrication facility in Chandler’s Ocotillo region — expanding on an already significant presence in one of the East Valley’s benchmark cities — has certainly brought Intel its fair share of global and national recognition over the past year.

This time four years ago, the mantra of “change” took center stage in our national political lexicon.

This time four years ago, the mantra of “change” took center stage in our national political lexicon.

This time four years ago, the mantra of “change” took center stage in our national political lexicon.

The unofficial theme of Friday’s Mesa Chamber of Commerce Leadership Awards event: milestones.

The unofficial theme of Friday’s Mesa Chamber of Commerce Leadership Awards event: milestones.

It’s been quite a while — last school year, to be sure — since young Amber Fernandez has seen her friends at Hull Elementary School.

Nobody wants to look at the bright side after a loss; that’s especially true after one that keeps a relatively-young program from reaching its first state championship game.

Hardly complex. Wildly effective.

It certainly wasn't the prettiest of games

There was only one problem with Tony Hatfield's impersonation of Alex Howard Friday night.