Diamond Notes

This weekend at the McClintock Invitational Baseball Tournament the Perry Pumas went 3-0 with wins against Apache Junction, Casa Grande and Skyline.

Friday 2-25-11
Perry Pumas 9 Apache Junction Prospectors 3

Perry:

Phil Raetz 3-4 4 RBI , 3B
Colin Braithwaite 1-2 1RBI, 2 BB
Jaren Drummond 3 2/3 Innings, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 8 K’s

Saturday 2-26-11
Perry Pumas 1 Casa Grande 0

Perry:
Max Arredondo 1-3 1 RBI
Nick Bell 1-2
Jarren Drummond 1-2 2B
Logan Swane 5 Innings, 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 4 K’s
A.J. Amaro Save

Perry Pumas 11 Skyline Coyotes 3

Perry
Alex Burridge 3-4 HR , BB, 4 RBI
Phil Raetz 4-5 3 R, 1 RBI
Colin Braithwaite 2-2 2 RBI, 2BB, 1HBP
Danny Valenzuela 7 innings, 7 K’s

In Marcos De Niza’s 2^nd game against Valley Vista of the Tolleson Preseason Tournament the final score was 11 to 4 Marcos. Two runs were scored by Marcos De Niza in the first inning. Valley Vista had no runs. Joey Vital had a great start in the second game of the tournament holding the other team to 4 runs. We had excellent pitch calling by the coaches. N. Fatica with a 2-2 count grounds up the middle for 2 runs for Marcos in the first inning. In the 3^rd inning C. Fields with ground ball hit to him throws out the runner head home. No run was scored. Benji, pitcher, for Marcos comes in to pitch in the 5^th inning. B. Montiel comes in to relieve Benji in the 6^th inning. He does an excellent job keeping Valley Vista to no runs in the 6^th and 7^th inning.

Horizon rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Desert Mountain, 7-6 in 8 innings. The Wolves jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first on a 2-run double by Jake McAdams, sacrifice fly by
Skylar Smith and an RBI single by Joey Mandros. An RBI single by Austin Mill in the 2nd and RBI double by Keaton Boysen in the 3rd made it 6-0 in favor of the Wolves, with Horizon left fielder Kyle Woods saving 2 more runs on a diving catch of Marios Mylonas' liner to end the inning. Johnny Rubino's 2-run homer in the 3rd inning was the key hit as the Huskies cut the deficit in half. A home run by Tanner Horn and sacrifice fly by Ryan Tomita pulled Horizon even in the 6th inning before Kyle Woods singled to drive in Nick Valenza in the 8th as the Huskies completed the comeback. Austin Mill and Keaton Boysen had 2 hits each for the Wolves while Woods (3-5), Valenza (2-4, BB) and Rubino (2-3, 2BB) led the Huskies. Dean Jackson picked up the win for Horizon with 2 scoreless innings of relief. Bryce Fronstin also pitched well in relief for the Huskies, hurling 3-1/3 innings and allowing just one hit.

Arcadia v. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa, CA) 2/25
Cardinal Newman H.S. (Santa Rosa, CA) handed Arcadia their first loss of the season, 12-0 in five innings on Friday, 2/25 in the Skyline Tournament. Cardinal Newman Sr. ace Justin Alexander stifled the Titans offense giving up only three hits and striking out eleven. Alexander also had a stellar day at the plate going 3 for 4 with two doubles, 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored. Catcher Brandon Calos (2-3, 2B, BB, 2RBI) and center-fielder Nolan Formway (2-3, 2 2B, BB, RBI) also starred at the plate for the Cardinals. The Titans, playing their third game in as many days, were short on pitching and Cardinal Newman showed no mercy putting up seven runs in the first inning en route to a 14-hit game. The only Titans to collect hits were Michael Roberts, Brendan Satran, and Gary Cornish (2B).

Arcadia v. Glendale 2/26
Arcadia defeated Glendale 10-2 on Saturday 2/26 in the Skyline Tournament. After a sluggish start, the Titans exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Senior second baseman Colton Sanchez led the charge with two doubles and three RBI in the inning. Third baseman Drew Butler also added an RBI double in the inning. The Titans trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Alex Reynolds reached on a bunt single and promptly stole second. Brendan Satran ripped a line-drive double to left, which plated Reynolds, then Butler singled to score Satran and tie the game at 2. Junior Gary Cornish worked four strong innings for the Titans striking out ten, walking one, and surrendering one earned run. Junior Mike Scannell relieved Cornish and got the victory allowing one hit and striking out two.

Arcadia leading hitters:
Colton Sanchez 3-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, R
Drew Butler 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Brendan Satran 2-3, 2B, RBI, 4 SB, BB, 2R
Alex Reynolds 2-3, SAC, 2 RBI, R

Chaparral jumped out in the top of the first when a pop-up in shallow right fell for an error and Dillon Jackson and Joey Bielek hit back to back doubles to give Chaparral a 2-0 lead. A two run homer in the top of the second by Schillinger gave Chaparral a 4-0 lead. It would stay that way until the third when Christian Jantze singled, Noe' Mitchell was hit by a pitch and Xavier Corrales hit a three run bomb to make it a game.

Highland scored a run in the bottom of the fourth when Gentry Kinsella singled home Weston Wiederhold, who had walked and stolen second.

Chaparral then took over with three in the 6th and three in the 7th to blow it open.

Ziedler got the win in relief of Nick Diamond, who gave up the four Highland runs. Dillon Jackson earned a save, striking out all five batters he faced. Ethan Evanko took the loss in his first varsity appearance for Highland. He deserved better, battling deep in counts several times only to be solved by an experienced Chaparral team. Taylor Speth made his first varsity start, pitching four strong innings keeping Highland in the game early.

For Chaparral, Jackson was 2-4 with a double

Joey Bielek 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI
Adam Aker 2-4 with 4 RBI
AJ Schillinger 2-3 with HR, 2B and 3 RBI

For Highland
Gentry Kinsella 2-3 with RBI
Xavier Corrales 2-4 with HR, 2B and 3 RBI

On Friday night, Gilbert & Highland locked up in one of their classic 3 hour plus marathons. Gilbert took an early 5-0 lead, but Highland answered with a 7 run second. From there, Gilbert relief pitcher Alec Merriman shut down Highland and Gilbert chipped away every inning, taking the lead the lead for good with a four run third.

To avoid carpal tunnel, I'll simply list the offensive highlights:

Gilbert:
Dustin Peterson 2-4 w/ 2 doubles

Drew Stankiewicz 3-5

Nathaniel Causey 3-5, HR 2 RBI, 2BB

Jacob Hoefert 2-5, HR - I believe it might've been his first HS HR

Lecometros 2B and 2 RBI

Swift 2-4 with a RBI

Highland:
Gentry Kinsella 2-3 with a sacrifice fly

Tyler Clancy 2-3 with a 3R HR

Lots of others with hits in the one big inning, but no other multi-hit games

Merriman got the W, Kayden Openshaw got the L for Highland

        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R H E
Mountain Ridge 0 0 2 0 0 0 0           2 5 1
Liberty                2 6 2 0 0 0 2         12 16 0

In pool play of the Cleats 101 Baseball Classic, Liberty pounded out 16 hits to beat Mountain Ridge 12-2. Jeremy Dietrich paced the Liberty offense with 4 hits and 2 RBI's. Nathan Bannister also reached base 5 times and Ryan Benedict hit a 2-run home run. Zach Johnston went 5 solid innings on the mound to pick up the win.

In pool play in the Cleats 101 Baseball Classic, Cienega comes out swinging en route to a 10-5 victory over Liberty. Daniel Gonzalez hit a 2-run home run in the 2nd inning and a 3-run home run in the 3rd inning to give Cienega an early cushion. Tom Foley went the distance on the mound giving up 5 runs, 3 earned, and scattering 6 hits to earn the victory.

Pinnacle 9 Notre Dame 6 -8 innings

Pinnacle 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 - 9 (8 innings)

Notre Dame 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 - 6

Pinnacle was down to their last out and trailing Notre Dame 5-0 in the top of the 7th inning when the game changed. Notre Dame scored 4 runs in the 1st inning off Pinnacle starter Kris Ayers to jump to an early lead before Ayers settled in and held the Saints scoreless until giving up another run in the bottom of the 6th. Notre Dame Starting Pitcher Caleb Badder, making his first varsity start, held the Pioneers scoreless on 2 hits into the 7th, and was one out away from the win when things begin to unravel. Badder hit the 8th hitter in the Pinnacle lineup, then gave up a triple to sophmore MJ Hubbs to score a run, the leadoff Jake Peevhouse then hit a 2 run homer, followed by a double by Senior Rudy Bogojevich, then an error at 3b, then a walk, and finally a single by Senior Adam Price to drive in 2 runs to tie the game before the Saints would get out of the inning.

Jake Peevyhouse came on to Pitch the 7th and set down the saints in order. In the 8th after an RBI single by Peevyhouse, Steve Casey dealt the big blow to Notre Dame with a 3 run homerun, to give Pinnacle a 9-5 lead. Peevyhouse gave up a solo jack to Brian Poupour in the bottom of the 8th before shutting the door on any comeback hopes for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame's offense was led by David Wynn who collected 3 RBI's with a pair of hits. Brian Poupore also hit his first home run of the year in this tough loss. Unfortunately for Notre Dame, this was deja vu from last year when the Saints also needed only 1 more strike to defeat Pinnacle but came away with the same result.

Ayers 6 IP, 6hits, 5ks

Peevyhouse 2 IP, 1 hit(HR), 3ks

Hubbs 2/4 1rbi 1 run

Peevyhouse 3/5 3rbi HR

Casey 1/4 3rbi HR

Price 1/3 2rbi

MILLENNIUM 12 CIENEGA 2 (5 innings)

The Millennium Tigers posted their first win of the season behind an all-around great effort by Ruben Rincon. The junior right-hander tossed a 3-hitter, giving up only 1 earned run while recording 4 strike-outs along the way. He also was 2-3 at the plate, scoring twice and driving in 2 runs with a pair of doubles.

LEADING HITTERS

Ruben Rincon 2-3, 2-2Bs, 2 runs scored, 2 RBIs

Alex Gartner 2-3, 1-2B, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs

Austin Hoffman 2-3, 1-3B, 1-2B, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI

Anthony Davison 2-3, 1-2B, 1 run scored, 1 RBI

Ruben Rincon 2-4, 2 runs scored

Mountain Ridge Splits on Saturday

In the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, Mtn. Ridge took on Cienega and won 18-6 in a shortened 5 inning game.

Ridge's offense put up 13 hits coming from Joe 3/3, JC 2/2, Austin 1/3 (second homerun of the season) and Brandon 2/3(first homerun of the season to end the game). Other hits from Ben~double; Daniel, Jonathan and PJ each with a hit.

Houston Samuel, starting pitcher did a great job allowing only three hits and one run through 4 innings of work. Gavin would finish up the game in the 5th inning.

Game 2 ~ Ridge faced Liberty and lost 12-2.

Senior Jordan Scelfo was succesful in his pitching debut for the Salpointe Lancers as they beat the Sahuaro Cougars 11-3. The score was closer than the final as Scelfo was involved in a pitching duel with Junior Josh Boggie. With the score tied at 2-2 in the top of the 6th , Hunter Miller lead off the inning with a solo homer and Lancers scored 8 more runs the last 2 innings to secure the win.

Scelfo pitched 7 strong innings and also helped himself with 2 hits of his own.

Basha Bears 11 Desert Edge Scorpions 2

B Lambert for the Bears and T. Stokely for the Scorpions were the starting pitchers. Both pitchers started well retiring the opposition until the 3rd. Basha started scoring and didn’t look back. Lambert for the Bears had a 4 hitter through the 4th.

Hitting for the Bears

Devin Reed 3 for 4 1HR

Jamie Westbrook 3 for 4 1HR

Jason Parks 2 for 4

Sam Rector 2HR

Mountain Ridge hosted Millenium on Thursday in the first game of the Cleats 101 Tournament, recorded their first win of the 2011 season 14-3.

The offense was on fire today putting up 13 hits, in a shortened 5 inning game. PJ Valadez going 4/4, Jonathan Meyer 3/4, Austin Paschke 2/3 (first homerun of the season), Daniel Will 1/4, JC Garwick 1/2, Ben Todd 1/3, and JR Phillips 1/3.

Daniel Will, starting pitcher threw 4 innings and did a great job. He would then be followed by Chris Evanello in the 5th inning to record the final three outs in order.

Next game~Saturday, February 26 at 10am.

Verrado 15, La Joya 1

Verrado senior Brady Bowen pitched a complete game (5-innings shortened by mercy rule) while striking out 11 and allowing just three hits in the second day of pool play in the Universal Athletic Supply TUHSD Invitational.

The Vipers started the scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single from sophomore Wyatt Hull to take the 1-0 lead. La Joya capitalized on a dropped fly ball compliments of the afternoon sun in the bottom of the first to tie it up 1-1.

Bowen found his form in the second inning striking out the side, and Verrado pushed across two go ahead runs in the top of the third on Corey Knight's RBI triple that bounced off the left-center wall. The Vipers plated another five runs in the fourth, and then put it out of reach in the fifth inning with seven more.

La Joya senior standout Jorge Perez had a quiet afternoon, walking his first two plate appearances, and grounded out to end the ball game in the fifth.

Top Performers:

Verrado (2-0 overall)
- P Brady Bowen: W, 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 11 K
- C Tyler Boxwell: 2-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 R, 3 RBI
- 3B Wyatt Hull: 3-for-3, 2B, BB, 1 R, 3 RBI
- RF Nolan Rozell: 2-for-4, 2B. 2 R, 2 RBI

La Joya (1-1 overall)
- SS Jorge Perez: 0-for-1, 2 BB
- P Antonio Lopez: 1-for-3, R, 1B

Pinnacle 11 Centennial 1

Pinnacle got solid pitching from Jake Winters (5 IP, 3 hits, 7Ks) and plenty of offense from Chris Ayers (4for4, Hr, 3rbi), Jake Peevyhouse (3for4, Hr, 2b, 3rbi, 3 runs) and Soph. M.J. Hubbs (2for3, 2runs, 1rbi) to down Centennial in a game shortened by the run rule. Pinnacle 2-0 will play Notre Dame on Saturday at 10am at Notre Dame in the final pool game of the cleats 101 classic to decide the number 1 seed for the next round to be played the following weekend.

Basha Bears 16 Chandler Wolves 6

K. Carr started for the Wolves and R. Soto for the Bears Both pitchers started the contest with rough starts. Both teams giving up runs early. The Game was taken over by the bullpen. C. Captain for the Bears slowed down Chandler and worked out of jams in the 3rd and the 4th. Basha’s offense rolled late. Many free passes by both teams.

Chandler had 9 hits
Aguilar for Chandler 3 for 3 1BB

Basha had 12 hits
J. Westbrook for Basha 3 for 5 1-2B 1HR
J. Parks for Basha 2 for 3 1HR
D. Reed for Basha 2 for 5

The Salpointe Lancers continued their winning ways with a 13-3 win over the Santa Rita Eagles.

It was a David and Goliath pitching match-up between Seniors Forest Redd ( 5'11"Lancers ) and Robert Parish ( 6'7" Eagle). Redd got the best of the 2 and had lots of run support to get his first win of the season.

The 2 opposing pitchers had multi hit games to help their causes.
The unbeaten pool "B" teams Lancers and Sahuaro Cougars will meet tomorrow at 4PM with the winner advancing to the 4 team Semifinal Round.

Mt. Pointe cleanup hitter Joey Curletta hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 8th with darkness falling at Mt. Pointe HS. Highland scored first when Troy Auelua lead off with a single in the top of the second. Weston Wiederhold followed with a single. Both were advanced on a Ryan Nielson sacrifice bunt. Garrett Klingsmith's single scored Auelua for an early lead. Mt. Pointe rallied for two in the 3rd when a pop-up was mishandled around the plate giving Justin Tibbitt new life. He grounded to second, but the Highland first baseman got off the bag and pitcher Cody Moffett failed to cover first. Kevin Cron homered a batter later to give the home team a 2-1 lead. Highland rallied in the 6th when Moffett singled and with two outs, Wiederhold hit a double down the right field line that eluded the right fielder, sending Wiederhold to third and Moffett home. Ryan Nielson then singled scoring Wiederhold. Another outfield misplay and an infield error scored Nielson to make the score 4-3 Highland.

Mt. Pointe tied the score in the 7th off Nolan Whittlesey when Bell scored Cron, who had been hit by a pitch. In the deciding 8th, Tibbitt walked with one out. Kipper doubled him to second and Cron was intentionally walked providing Curletta the chance to deposit a 2-1 offering deep into the night.

Moffett started for Highland and went the first 4, allowing only the Cron HR. Detwiller started for Mt. Pointe and went the first five, surrendering just one run. Anthony Balderama picked up the win in relief.

Bell had two hits for Mt. Pointe. Curletta was 1-4 with his HR and 5 RBI. Cron was 1-2 with 2 HBP and an intentional walk. Troy Auelua had the only multiple hit game for Highland.

Arcadia ran their record to 2-0 in the Skyline Tournament with an 8-3 victory over the visiting Nogales Apaches on Thursday. The Titans were paced by Junior leadoff hitter Brendan Satran who was 4-4 with a 2-run HR, a stolen base and three runs scored. Junior Andrew Naderer tossed four solid innings for the Titans just a week removed from the state basketball playoffs. Senior reliever Alan Frank spelled Naderer for the final three innings, giving up only one hit, to secure the victory. Satran put the Titans on top in the bottom of the first when he reached on a bunt single and later scored on Thomas Schellhardt's sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the second, catcher Eddie Lyon singled and Satran followed with a towering shot over the left field foul pole for a 3-0 lead. Nogales answered in third when Josh Renteria led off with a HR and back-to-back Titan errors set the table for an RBI single from Jose Figueroa, closing the gap to 3-2. Arcadia got a run back in the bottom of the third on a solo HR from Schellhardt and added a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Drew Butler, plating Lyon. In the sixth Nogales Soph. Gabriel Mada had a solo HR, but the Titans put the game away in the bottom of the inning when Schellhardt doubled to the gap in left-center scoring Satran and Caleb McKinnon. Arcadia will face Cardinal Newman H.S. from Santa Rosa, CA. Friday at Arcadia (4:00 p.m.).

Arcadia top hitters:
Brendan Satran 4-4, 2-run HR, 2 RBI, 3R, SB
Thomas Schellhardt 2-3, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 2R
Caleb McKinnon 3-4, 2B, R
Alex Reynolds 2-3
Eddie Lyon 1-1, 2 BB, 2R

Drew MacLaughlin hit a two out, two run walkoff home run in the bottom of the 7th inning as Desert Mountain came from behind for the third time in the game to beat neighborhood rival Saguaro, 9-7. MacLaughlin's home run followed a pinch hit triple by Tim Willittes and a game tying two out triple by Austin Mill as the Wolves rallied for the win. Shane Taylor homered and singled for the Wolves, and David Greer and Jake McAdams also had two hits each. Saguaro's Austin Anderson had a double and two singles, and Zach Gibbons and Andrew Valdez had two hits each for the Sabercats. Keaton Boysen picked up the win in relief for the Wolves, holding Saguaro to one unearned run and three hits over the final 2-2/3 innings of the game.

Thurs Feb 24th Laveen Classic Tournament games played at Fairfax HS.

Final Scores (1-1)Fairfax 14 (1-1)Maricopa 7 (2-0) Westwood 14 (0-2)Poston Butte 6

(1-0)San Luis (Yuma)15 (0-2)Campo Verde 5

At the Laveen Classic Betty Fairfax evened their record at 1-1 with a 14-7 victory over Maricopa.
Fairfax was led by Jr. Marky Corrales who was 4-5 including a solo HR in the 6th, and a run scoring Double in the 7th, while scoring 3 runs w/ 4RBI. Soph Tre Andazola picked up the win giving up 2 runs over 3 1/3 inng.

Other top hitters for The Stampede included:
Jr. Mikey Lambard 2-3 3Runs 1RBI 2SB
Tre Andazola 2-4 2Runs 1RBI
Sr. Sammy Baca 2-2 2Runs 2RBI 1SB
Sr. Esteban Hernandez 2-3 1SB

Julian Sandoval went 3-4 with a double, triple and homer as Queen Creek dropped Kofa 13-5. Chad Leonard and Spencer Kottcamp each added 3 hits for the 'dogs, who pounded out 14 knocks in the game. Collin Bonngard earned the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work.

Sandra Day O’Connor 9 – Corona 8
Wild one that went back and forth after the 4th inning when Corona’s starter, who had held OC in check, appeared to tire. Once bullpens got involved, it was anyone’s game. OC took the lead in the top of the 7th and despite a threat in the bottom of the frame, managed to hold on for the win.

Brophy defeated Kofa yesterday 6-0. David Graybill went 5 strong innings and helped himself with a mammoth solo shot into the canal behind the left field fence. Connor Messman went the final 2 innings and also chipped in with a 2-run double. Brophy will play again tonight vs Tucson High @ 7PM.

Above left to right: Brophy's David Graybill and Emo Torrez, Kofa's Matthew Valdez

Seton Catholic Preparatory overwhelmed the Central High Bobcats Wednesday afternoon in the inaugural game of the 2011 baseball season for both teams. This game is part of the Brophy sponsored Adam Donnenfield early season tournament. Seton collected 33 runs on 23 hits in a game ended after 5 innings by run rule. The game was broken open in the 3^rd inning when junior A. J. Ciferno cleared the bases with a grand slam home run. Later in the 5^th, sophomore M. J. Villegas also went yard for a two run dinger in his varsity debut. Seton also benefitted from outstanding pitching by senior Ethan Springston who threw 4 innings of no-hit ball followed by junior Tim Bowen in the 5^th, who completed the no-hitter.

Seton continues tournament play against Desert Edge on Thursday, Feb. 24^th, Gila Ridge on Friday & Queen Creek on Saturday.

St. Mary’s 5
Youngker 4

Mesa 8
Coronado 7

Maricopa 14
Poston Butte 3

South 9
Campo Verde 7

Chavez 11
Youngker 6

Trevor Browne 16
Buckeye 2

Westwood 13
Fairfax 1

Arcadia topped Paradise Valley 5-1 in the opening game of the Skyline Tournament at Paradise Valley. Senior Thomas Schellhardt allowed only two hits in six innings of work while striking out six. Junior Gary Cornish took over in the seventh striking out two of the five hitters he faced. Schellhardt helped his cause with a first inning double and Andrew Naderer (running for Schellhardt) was later plated on a double by Junior Drew Butler to give the Titans an early lead. The Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Jordan Spaulding led off with a double and advanced to third when Titan centerfielder Brendan Satran made a spectacular diving catch to rob Manuel Arellano of an extra base hit. Spaulding then scored on a Titan error. In the fifth, Satran gave the Titans the lead when reached on an infield single, stole second by outrunning the pickoff throw from first, advanced to third on a balk, and then scored on a passed ball. Arcadia cushioned their lead in sixth when Junior Michael Roberts drove in two on a double to leftfield. The Titans added an insurance run in the seventh on an errant throw to first that went out of play. The Titans face Nogales H.S. tomorrow and will have Junior ace Naderer, fresh off the hardwood, on the hill.

Arcadia leading hitters:

Drew Butler 2-4, 2 2B, RBI
Caleb McKinnon 2-4
Michael Roberts 1-3, 2 RBI

In the opener for both teams, the defending 4A1 champion Saguaro Sabercats hosted the 5AII champion Huskies. Saguaro came out on top 9-3 as Matt Morris lead a balanced attack with 3 hits, driving in 2. Seven differnt Sabercats had hits as Saguaro scored 4 in the 3rd, 4 in the 4th and one in the 6th. Travis Steinheiser worked 4 innings, giving up no earned runs to earned the victory. Kane McCaslin threw three shutout innings to get the save. Saguaro travels to Desert Mountain to play the Wolves Thursday at 4.

Sophomore Logan Meadors struck out 7 over four innings to lead Verrado to a pool play victory over Willow Canyon in the Universal Athletic TUHSD Invitational in the West Valley.
Verrado took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when leadoff batter Gian Mendoza walked, and then senior Corey Knight doubled down the left field line. Mendoza advanced to third on the hit, and then stole home after Willow Canyon's catcher left the plate unoccupied without calling timeout.
Willow Canyon sophomore Brandon Glasser responded in the top of the second with a solo home run to tie it 1-1, but Verrado answered right back in the bottom of the inning scoring 5 runs, capped off by Knight's 2-run blast.
Another Willow Canyon sophomore, Joe Meyers, hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth, but that would be the end of the Wildcats' scoring.
After the field's lights shut off in the middle of the fifth inning causing a 15-minute game delay, Verrado pushed across another six runs to enact the mercy rule in the sixth inning.

Top Performers:
Verrado (1-0 Overall)
- P Logan Meadors: W, 4 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 K
- 1B Corey Knight: 3-for-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
- SS PJ Garcia: 2-for-4, 2B, 3B, 4 RBI
- LF Gian Mendoza: 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 SB, 2 BB, RBI

Willow Canyon (0-2 Overall)
- P Joe Meyers: L, 1.2 IP; 1-for-3, HR
- C Brandon Glasser: 1-for-3, HR
- 3B McKnight: 1-for-1, 1B, BB

Game Highlights:
Top of 1st :
Warriors drew 1st blood with a single RBI by their Clean up hitter.
Warriors 1 - Lancers 0

Bottom of 1st :
Lancers evened the game with a solo HR over LF wall by Joe Serrano.
Warriors1 - Lancers 1

Bottom of 2nd:
Alexander doubled to LF wall, Penaflor deposited a hanging curve to RF, Kimbrough brought Alexander in with a Sac Fly.
Warriors 1- Lancers 2

Top of 3rd:
Senior Brian Ortega launched a 2R HR over RF wall.
Warriors 3 - Lancers 2

Bottom 4th:
Lancers batted around starting with 3 consecutive singles by Chapman, Miller, Moore.
They eventually scored 3 runs including 2RBI singles by Moore and Brice.
Warriors 3 - Lancers 5

Top 5th:
Warriors scored 1 run and with bases loaded and 2 outs, Penaflor fielded a hard grounder for a 5-3 ending the threat and the inning.
Warriors 4 - Lancers 5

Bottom 5th:
After 2 consecutive Lancer walks, Alexander brought in a run with a sac fly and Penaflor singled and brought in the insurance run.
Warriors 4 - Lancers 7.

Top 6th:
Warriors threatened again scoring 2 runs on RBI doubles by their 3rd and 4th hitters. Ortega who was pitching in relief ended the game by striking out the last warrior batter.

Warriors 6 - Lancers 7 ( TIME LIMIT)

TOP Offensive perfomers
Lancers:
Serrano - HR
Penaflor - 2/2
Alexander - 1/2 (2b)
Chapman -1/2
Miller - 1/2

Warriors
Ortega - 2R HR

Pinnacle opened the Cleats 101 classic with a 18-3 win over Deer Valley in a game shortened by darkness. Steve Casey led Pinnacle both on the mound (5 IP with 11 Ks) and at the dish (3 for 4 with 2 HRs, 5 RBI, 4 Runs). Pinnacle broke open a competitive game with an 11 Run inning in the top of the 6th, Deer Valley was unable to complete the inning due to darkness.
Jake Peevyhouse added 4 hits in 5 attempts, w/ 3 rbi, and 3 runs scored.

In the Adam Donnenfield tourney opener, Brophy held off a determined Desert Edge team 5-3. Senior RHP Peter Fletcher took the hill for Brophy and was very strong, going 5 complete innings and giving up just 2 hits while punching out 5 Desert edge hitters and getting the "W". The Scorpions got 2 in the 6th off of the Brophy bullpen on a 2R homer, but Sr. RHP Nick Jones closed the 7th in 1-2-3- order. Fletcher was backed offensively by Sr. Joe Maggi (3B, 2B), Jr. Emelio Torrez (solo HR), Sr. Matt Mittlestaedt (2B, 1B) and Jr. John Rapisarda (1B, 1B).

Dominic Portocarrero went 3-3 with an intentional walk, 2 doubles and a grand slam to lead North Canyon to a 9-1 win over Corona Del Sol. Coley Bruns got the win for the Rattlers. Heath Dwyer took the loss.

Evan Williams and Josh Tubbs tossed 3 strong innings each and Zach Davies closed with a dominant 7th as Mesquite dropped Desert Mountain 8-3. Matthew Poterson had a mammoth 2 run blast for the Wildcats.

Above from left: Evan Williams delivers, Ryan Sandry throws on the run, and Matt Poterson squares one up

Gilbert's junior lefty Justin McCallister took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before losing the no-no in a 7-1 win over Boulder Creek. Ty Neenan and Zach Regier had a pair of hits for Gilbert

The Mountain Pointe Pride spoke briefly as a team Tuesday afternoon about garnering a No. 6 ranking in the National High School Baseball Coaches Association/Baseball America Preseason poll. On Wednesday, they allowed their play to provide bulletin board material for future opponents. Lead by All American Kevin Cron, the Pride kicked off the 2011 season with a convincing 8-3 win over perennial 4A powerhouse, Chaparral.

Tony Balderrama started on the mound for the Pride and turned in a solid performance surrendering only two runs, on two hits while striking out a pair and only walking one over five innings of work. The pride offense struck in the top of the first as senior third baseman Jordan Kipper got things started with a one out double to right and scored three pitches later when Kevin Cron drove him in with a double to left center. Chaparral continuously threatened with men in scoring position, but with two huge inning ending double plays the pride defense managed to keep the Firebirds at bay.

The Pride tacked on one more run in the third, three in the sixth and three in the seventh behind RBI’s from Joey Cruletta, Justin Tibbitt, Tony Balderrama and Brantley Bell.

Kevin Cron picked up his first save of the season throwing two innings of hitless baseball while striking out three.