Danielle Block has a hard time balancing the rigors of pitching and hitting.

Three years ago, a bunt, overthrow, or bobbled grounder led to a 1-0 win or loss.

An evening of snazzy clothes, cocktails, art, music and fine dining could be fun for you — but crucial for some of Arizona’s struggling men, women and children.

Duncan Salon

People have always speculated about what might or might not happen in 2012, but this past year turned out to be one full of waiting.

Few of you know about this new government takeover of our education system. It’s being touted as the greatest thing since The Bill of Rights. As Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education said, this is “absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lift American education to a new level—and make us more competitive in the global economy.”

The second trial for an Ahwatukee Foothills man accused of murdering his 5-year-old son in 2004 has not yet begun as appellate courts decide whether or not the same judge will continue to oversee the case and whether Jeffrey Martinson will be allowed to retain his sixth set of legal counsel.

Jeffrey Martinson will no longer face the death penalty in the case of his 5-year-old son’s 2004 death in Ahwatukee Foothills.

The new trial in the case of Ahwatukee man Jeffrey Martinson is set to get under way next month after a judge requested it to be reconsidered in March.

Fueled by state budget cuts to higher education, tuition increases of 49 percent at the University of Arizona and 44 percent at Arizona State University landed the two schools in the top 20 for tuition hikes from 2008 to 2010.

The diagram is titled, “The shot that cleared the clock.”

The diagram is titled, “The shot that cleared the clock.”

Red Mountain has one, possibly two to spare. Gilbert and Saguaro both have it. Basha, Corona del Sol and Saguaro are working on it.

Red Mountain has one, possibly two to spare. Gilbert and Saguaro both have it. Basha, Corona del Sol and Saguaro are working on it.

A judge denied a motion to set bond for Jeffrey Martinson, an Ahwatukee Foothills man accused of killing his 5-year-old son in 2004.

Washington • Arizona has “shut the door” on preschool programs by making funding cuts that leave a bleak educational future for the state’s children, according to a report released by the National Institute for Early Education Research.

The Valley Youth Theatre became the first and only theater outside of New York to premiere “Freckleface Strawberry, The Musical” last Friday before its national tour in 2013.

A judge ordered a new trial in the case of Jeffrey Martinson, an Ahwatukee Foothills man accused of killing his 5-year-old son in August of 2004.

For a high school sophomore, Andrew Nicla is set for an experience that could help shape a future career. The problem is he needs to raise about $2,000 in order to do it.

Duncan Salon

Jury members took the stand Tuesday during a post-trial hearing for the first-degree murder trial of Jeffrey Martinson, and revealed some confusion among jury members over the judge's instructions and advice from the jury foreman.

This past year Ahwatukee Foothills saw dramatic changes and at the same time steady signs of hope.