Diamond Notes

The Arcadia Titans opened the Spring Break Tournament with 4-2 victory over Bradshaw Mountain on Saturday (3/6). The Titans got on the board first in the second innning when Soph. Brendan Satran singled, stole second and third on consecutive pitches, and was plated on an RBI single by Jr. Andrew Serna. Two more Titans scored later in the inning when Jr. Tim Janssen reached on an error. Bradshaw Mountain got two in the fifth when Justin King, aboard via a leadoff double, scored on a passed ball and Jim Jones, who drew a walk, scored on an RBI double by Isaiah Holguin. The Titans answered with one more in the bottom of the inning when Serna led off with a hit and later scored on an RBI single from Janssen. Jr. Colton Sanchez gave up two hits in 4 1/3 innings to earn his second victory of the season and was relieved by Jr. Thomas Schellhardt, who struck out four. Top hitters for the Titans were: Satran (3-3, 2B, 3 SB); Serna (2-3, RBI, R); and Janssen (1-3, RBI).

PERRY 5 runs, 6 hits, 2 errors

WILLIAMS FIELD 4 runs, 6 hits, 3 errors

WP: Tyler Lynch, 6 K’s, 2 BB’s

LP: Mitch Allred, 4 K’s, 2 BB’s

This was a very exciting and close game between the 2 Gilbert rival schools. With Perry’s move up to 5A-2, it may be awhile before these teams match up again in the future. Juniors Nic Martino from WF and Tyler Lynch for Perry started on the bump. Perry took the lead in the 2^nd. Senior CF Connor Jones led off with a double. One out later, Senior RF Tanner Gunkel traded places with Jones at 2B. Senior Scot Taggart then drove in Gunkel to make it 2-0. WF got a run back in the 3^rd on a single by relief pitcher Mitch Allred, a HBP, and then a single and throwing error by Perry. Perry countered in the next inning. Jones led off with a walk, stole 2^nd and Taggart drove him in with a single. Another run in the 5^th by Perry stretched the lead to 4-1 and Lynch looked very good on the hill. He may have started to wear down a little in the 5^th, when after a walk and single and 2 outs, WF Junior 3B Drew Wahlers crushed a 3 run opposite field missile to right field to tie the score at 4-4. The game remained tied till the 7^th. With 2 outs in the top of the 7^th, Pumas Junior David Walker jacked his own homer to put Perry up 5-4. The bottom of the 7^th had its own excitement. Perry made a pitching change bringing in Senior David Pederson. The Black Hawks got the first 2 runners on with a single and HBP. That’s when Perry was able to convert a very unusual double play that most people watching thought was a triple play. A great relay to the plate cut down the tying run for the 1^st out, then C Alex Burridge wheeled to 3^rd appearing to get the secondary runner. 3B JT Jobusch then fired to 1B Taggart to back pick the hitter for the 2^nd out. Pedersen was able to induce a groundout to save the game. Perry is now 5-1 while WF falls to 2-3.

Leading Hitters:

Perry: David Walker, 2-3, HR, 2 runs, SB

Scot Taggart, 2-3, 2 RBI’s, SB

Connor Jones, 1-2, 2B, BB, SB, 2 runs

Tanner Gunkel, 2B, RBI

Williams Field: Drew Wahlers, 3 run HR

JD Layton, 2-4

Tyler Lynch on the hill for Perry

Perry 11 runs, 14 hits, 0 errors

McClintock 6 runs, 9 hits, 5 errors

Previously undefeated McClintock dropped their first game of the year. Perry jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the 1^st highlighted by Alex Burridge’s bases clearing 3 run double. McClintock hurt themselves with 3 uncharacteristic errors in the inning. The Pumas tacked on 5 more runs in the 2^nd with Connor Jones’ 2 run homerun and Colin Braithwaite’s 2 run double. Perry Senior LHP starting pitcher Tanner Gunkel was very effective in his 2 innings of work with 4 strikeouts, only surrendering a solo HR to David Renteria. With a 10-1 lead, it looked like this one was going to be a short day for Perry. It didn’t turn out that way as Charger catcher Brent Davis connected for a 2 run jack in the 4^th, and then a 3 run tatter in the 6^th. Perry relievers Taylor Gunkel and Daniel Felix were able to finish off the Chargers. McClintock is now 5-1, while Perry improves to 4-1.

Hitting Leaders:

Perry: David Walker 4-5, 2 runs, RBI

Colin Braithwaite 3-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI’s

Connor Jones 2-2, 2 run HR, BB, 3 RBI’s

Alex Burridge 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI’s

JT Jobusch 2-4, RBI

McClintock: David Renteria 3-3, HR

Brent Davis, 2-3, 2 HR’s, 5 RBI’s

Ryan Peterson 2-3

Notre Dame 10

Cienega 0

Chris Watson pitched 5 innings allowing only an infield single and Aaron Slegers threw 2 perfect innings in relief to lead Notre Dame to the shutout. Steve Berry, Casey Scott, and Tayler Scott led the Saints offense with 2 hits a piece while Joe Luvisi,Greg Hopkins, and Joey Greco each added a hit to complete the Notre Dame offensive attack for the day.

Sophomore Reuben Rincon overcame his first inning jitters and won his first start for Millennium with an impressive outing against Deer Valley. In the top of the first Darian Ramage ripped the second pitch of the game into left-center for a solid single, then advanced to second on a balk. He scored the first run on Jacob Doyle's double down the right field line. Doyle then scored on a bloop single by DV pitcher, Kyle Herrington. Things were looking good for Deer Valley and not so good for Rincon. Well, that was the last hit for Deer Valley. They scored another run in the top of the fifth on 2 errors, and were cruising with a 3-1 lead behind Herrington.
Through the first 4 innings, Herrington had given up only 2 hits and 1 unearned run. The Tigers' bats came to life in the 5th. After Austin Hoffman's long drive to left came up about 5' short for a harmless F-7, Tatum Hendrix hit the next pitch about 20' further for his first home run of the year. Tyler Booth then ripped a double down the right field line and scored on Ty Johnson's double of the base of the fence in left-center. Tie ballgame! After working the count to 3-1, Anthony Davison ripped his second HR of the season for the Tiger's first lead of the game.

Rincon retired the SkyHawks in order in the 6th, and for the game, finished with this line: 6 innings, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 BB, 1 HBP,
6 K's.
Tyler Booth closed out the game with a scoreless final frame.
Millennium is off to a solid start with a 5-2 record.

Cats feast on Sand Devil Pitching

Saguaro's Travis Steinheiser pitched a one hit complete game shutout against Page. Over 5 innings of work Steinheiser punched out 6 Sand Devils.

Nearly all 17 Sabercats reached base against the Sand Devils Hall & Cadelaria. Saguaro opened with 5 runs in the first off 4 hits and 2 walks. The Cats added 2 in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings stretching the lead to 11-0. Madsen singled in the bottom of the 5th inning driving in the final two runs for the Cats as the mercy rule was enacted.

SHS:

Anderson 2-3, 2B, RBI, 2R; Young 1-3, 2B, RBI, R; Akmon 1-2, 2B, RBI, 2E, BB

WP Steinheiser 5IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 6K

Page:

Worker 1-2, K

LP - Hall 3IP 6H, 7R, 7ER, 3BB, 2K, 2HP

Cadelaria 2IP 3H, 4R, 3ER, BB, 2WP

Saguaro sweeps doubleheader against Page

The Sabercats hit early and often again Page. The Cats sent 9 batters to the plate in the first inning, plating 5 runs on 3 hits, 3 BB, and a hit batsman. Saguaro added 3 more in the 2nd inning and blew the game open in the 3rd. Saguaro sent 15 batters to the plate, the scored 9 runs on 6 hits, 3 BB (including an intention walk to the DH Akmon) and 2 hit batsmen. The Cats scored again in the 4th inning.

Page scratched out 3 hits against McCaslin over three innings but to no avail. McCaslin, Madsen & Chapman held the Sand Devils scoreless again.

SHS:

Jahnke 1-1, HR, RBI, R, BB; Austin 2-3, 3R, 3RBI, SAC, K; McFarland 1-1, 3B, 2RBI

WP - McCaslin 3IP, 3H, 4K, HB

Madsen 1IP, 3K

Chapman 1IP, K

Page:

Cabdekaria 1-1, 2B, Redmondo 1-1, HBP; Yazzi 1-2, K

LP Shores 2-2/3IP, 9H, 14R, 10H, 5BB, K, 2HB, WP

Keisling <1/3IP, H, 3R, 3ER, BB, K, 3HB

Guerra 1-1/3IP H, R, 1r< 2K, WP

Marcos de Niza defeated Coronado Saturday 9 - 2 at Coronado HS. The Padres were first on the board in the 2nd inning. Pat Maloney started with a sharp single to LC, followed by a double by Cameron Larson. After Dylan Kahl (running for Maloney) was erased between 3rd and home on a ground out, Daniel Rodriquez hit a SF to center to score Larson. MdN added 3 more in the top of the 3rd on a double by Kendall Konopka and a walk to Zach Schira started the inning. A balk by Don's starter, Tony Smith moved up both runners where a single by Maloney chased them home. A double by Jesse Brooks plated Maloney. Coronado got their 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd on a leadoff walk to Zach Chavez, a single by Wyatt Richardson, a Padre error on a Justin Rodriquez ball, which saw Chavez score, and a double by Tim Stempkowski to drive in Rodriquez. The Padres got a single run in the 5th on a Schira single to left and an RBI single by Brooks. MdN tallied 4 more in their ½ of the 6th on a singles by Brad Allermang and Kendall Konopka, a BB to Donavon Evashenko, Schira reached on an error and a 3 run double by T.J. Garcia. On the day, Konopka was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles, Brooks was 2 for 4 with a double, Maloney was 2 for 4 and Kahl had a double.
MdN's pitchers, Garrett Taggart, Noel Rodriquez, and Henry Sanchez combined on a 5 hitter, striking out 6.

March 6, 2010

Pinnacle 14 Millenium 4
Pinnacle shook off a tough loss from the day before to hand the tigers a 14-4 six inning run rule loss. The Pioneers were powered by the Pitching of Jake Peevyhouse (6 IP, 2 hits, 2 ks, 4 bbs,) and a great team offensive effort led by Mike Vaughn (3/4, 3 rbi, 2 runs, HR) TC Mark (2/3 2 rbi, 2runs, HR) Steve Casey (2/3, 2 rbi, 2 runs, Hr) and Steve Morris (2/3 1 run, 1 rbi). The Tigers damage was done by a monster 3 run homer by Tyler Booth.

Mountain Ridge 13
Notre Dame 1

Joe Brinkman went 3-5 including a grand slam homer in 7 innings of dominating baseball against Notre Dame. Brett Wilkey also added a 2 run homer and Kyle Kenzior added 2 hits to the Mountain Ridge offense. Dan Will picked up the win with 6 innings of work on the mound giving up only 5 hits. Notre Dame pitcher Jon Cohn gave up 5 runs in 5 innings and took the loss. Ridge exploded for 6 runs in the 7th inning which put the game out of reach.

Valley Vista defeated Marcos de Niza 3 - 1. Valley Vista got the scoring started as lead-off batter Nelson Benjamin homered on the 5th pitch of the game to right. In the second, walks to Freddie Jimenez and Bryce Stanage, a sac by Eric Correlson, and a single by Cesar Gonzalez produced 2 more runs. MdN got their only run on a double by Kendall Konopka and a single by Donovan Evashenko. Valley Vista was paced by Alex Gartner, who was 2 for 3, and Caleb Wood who had a double. Konopka was 3 for 3 with a walk for the Padres.
Both starting pitchers threw complete games. Ricky Jones gave up 1 earned run while spreading out 7 hits and 4 K's. T.J. Garcia gave up 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 4 K's.

Brophy defeated Horizon 8-5. The Broncos jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before the Huskies rallied to knot the score at 5. Brophy eventually pulled away for the win.

Brophy's Sean Maxon (L) Tommy Beeso snares one at the center field wall for Horizon

Desert Vista dropped Red Mountain 9 to 7. Red Mountain was up 7 to 4 going in to the top of the 7th. 3 RM errors and a bases clearing triple sealed the deal for DV. Dillon Elgin made a great over the shoulder catch in center field as he hit the fence for the Lions.

March 5, 2010

Centennial beat Deer Valley 2 to 1 on Wednesday. Reyes Murrilo pitched a complete game in the win.
Centennial scored enough to get past a 10 strikeout outing from Jacob Doyle.

Junior Brandon Jackson became the 3rd Queen Creek Bulldog, in as many days, to have an excellent outing on the bump. Jackson threw a complete-game 5-hitter to tame the visiting Rams of Maricopa. Queen Creek won the shortened contest 11-1. Brandon struck out five and walked only one on 77 pitches. The unearned run scored after 2 early miscues by the Dogs. The Bulldogs picked up 10 hits in the 5 inning game, led by Junior Julian Sandoval (2-2, 2 RBI, SAC, 3B) and Sophomore Nathan Flores (2-3, RBI). Jackson (1-1, 2 RBI, BB, HBP) also contributed with the bat getting a 2 run single in his only official at bat. The Bulldogs move to 7-1 on the year.

In a pitchers duel, Mingus holds on to get a 2-1 victory over Paradise Valley. Hunter Zwart pitched a strong 7 innings against a solid line up for PV, giving up only 4 hits, 1 BB, and 3k's. Mingus bats were quiet compared to their last game thanks to a solid performance by the PV pitcher Spalding. Spalding gave up 9 hits, 2K, 4 BB and kept Mingus off balance. Mingus left the bases loaded twice and stranded 10 total. PV has a solid group of players and should be a handful for most. PV is now 4-2 and Mingus goes to 3-0. Notables Sr. Hunter Zwart 2-3, 1B,2B,BB,1 rbi , Sr. Shaun Mc Carty 2-4, 1rbi, So. Cruz Chavez 2-2

Senior Jaron Long scattered 4 hits in 6 innings pitched and Sophomore Sean O'Grady pitched a perfect 7th for his first varsity save as Cactus Shadows won 2-0 over Kellis on Thursday night. Long was in command all night, striking out 5, and not allowing a runner past 2nd base. Senior Logan Davis put the Falcons on top in the 5th inning with a base hit scoring Charlie Dominick, who had reached on a hit-by-pitch. Davis also made several outstanding plays at shortstop as the Falcons evened their record at 3-3.

Arcadia suffered a tough 10-7 loss to a motivated Apache Junction team that was no-hit by Queen Creek on Wednesday. The Titans jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first when sophomore Gary Cornish lasered his first varsity home run to centerfield with two Titans aboard. A.J. answered with a run in the bottom of the first and tacked on three more in the bottom of the second for a 4-3 lead, chasing Arcadia starter Colton Sanchez. Arcadia tied the game in the third on Max Shuman's sacrifice fly, and seized the lead in the fourth on a home run by Tommy Berridge. The Prospectors stormed back for three runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by centerfielder Mike Davalos steal of home, for a 7-5 lead. A.J. added two more in the fifth for a 9-5 advantage. The Titans mounted a comeback in the sixth scoring two runs on back-to-back bases loaded walks, but went down quietly in the top of the seventh. Jr. Nick Saathoff went five innings and earned the win. Davalos and Soph. Johnathan Converse had multiple hits for the Prospectors. Leading hitters for Arcadia: Thomas Schellhardt (3-4, 2B, R); Cornish (1-4, HR(1), 3 RBI); Tim Janssen (1-2, 2 BB, RBI).

Chaparral Wins Important Rematch with Desert Ridge, 10-2

Three days after losing to Desert Ridge in the championship game of the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Invitational Tournament, the Chaparral Firebirds bounced back with a 10-2 victory Thursday in a game that counted toward power points, which determine seedings for the state tournaments.

In other words, this time it was for more than pride.

Senior pitcher Konner Wade was dominant for five innings and senior catcher Nate Sherman delivered a grand slam in the fifth off hard-throwing senior Taylor Kaczmarek to give visiting Chaparral all it would need to advance to 5-1 for the season. Wade and Sherman will play next year at the University of Arizona.

This was the final time these two teams will meet this season. Chaparral is in Division 5A II, and Desert Ridge, the defending 5A II state champion, has moved up to 5A I, where it is among the early favorites for the state title. The Jaguars are now 4-2.

The Desert Ridge players, who won Tuesday at Gilbert, played the game with heavy hearts. During the Monday victory over Chaparral, the father of center fielder Kyle Raidy died after a battle with cancer. Mr. Raidy’s wake was Thursday after the game and he was remembered with moving words and a moment of silence as his son stood with his teammates before the first pitch, ready to compete as always.

Wade faced difficulty at the start as D.W. Warner and Raidy reached on infield hits. But the Chaparral ace settled down by striking out Arizona State-bound Travis Flores and Kaczmarek in succession and cruised from there. The right-handed struck out six and did not allow another hit until Connor Daly managed a two-out single to right in the fifth. Desert Ridge got on the scoreboard in the sixth – after Wade had left – on another infield hit by Raidy, who led his team with two hits, and a long home run to left-center by Kaczmarek. But by then all the runs could do was leave the Jaguars still trailing, 9-2.

Colby Targun beats the tag of Russ Vaughan

Chaparral got on the board in the second inning on a hit up the middle by junior second-baseman Colby Targun and a double to deep right-center by junior first baseman Joey Bielek. Both players accounted for two hits in Chaparral’s 10-hit attack against three Desert Ridge pitchers (Kaczmarek, Grant Kempton and Xavier Sotello.

Chaparral put the game away in the fifth inning. Senior Joel Hayden led off with a walk after falling behind in the count 1 and 2. Seniors Blake Spiekerman then singled to left and James McDonald drew a seven-pitch walk. That set the stage for Sherman, who drove the first pitch from Kaczmarek far over the left-field fence. Sherman finished with five RBIs. After a double by senior Aaron Levy, Kempton came in to pitch for Desert Ridge.

The Firebirds added four more in the sixth on another double by Bielek, a walk to sophomore Nick Diamond, an RBI single to left by senior Will Dyer and a critical error on a ball hit by McDonald. The Firebirds closed things out in the seventh with a single to center by Targun and an RBI single to center by Hayden.

Senior Will Abram closed on the mound for Chaparral by retiring Desert Ridge in order in the seventh.

Taylor Kaczmarek on the hill (L) Will Dyer lays one down for Chap

Millennium 15 – Pinnacle 13

As soon as you arrived at the ballpark, your first thought was “Man, I wouldn’t want to be a pitcher today!” The game featured two good-hitting teams and there was this awful wind. It was a swirling wind - the kind that makes every fly ball an adventure, and for the most part, the wind was strong and blowing straight out. True to form, after 28 runs, 32 hits and 12 errors - it wasn’t a good day to be a pitcher. All 4 pitchers (Steve Casey, Kevin Gillmore and Michael Vaughn for Pinnacle and Tatum Hendrix for Millennium) actually looked good and threw pretty well - there was just too much of an advantage for the hitters.

Before you could get settled in your seat, Pinnacle was up 7 – 0 after one inning, then 10 – 1 after two, and it looked like the rout was on. Then Millennium put a 7 on the scoreboard in the top of the third, and we had a game! Even though the Pioneers had roughed up starter Tatum Hendrix in those first 2 innings, once his teammates closed the gap, you couldn’t pry the ball out of his hands. He settled down and allowed only 3 more runs over the last 4 innings, and 7 of the last 9 outs were strikeouts. Hendrix is now 2-0 on the season with 2 complete games, and has 23 strikeouts in 13 innings.

There were lots of hitting stars on both sides. Each team hit 2 homers, Kevin Gillmore and TC Mark for Pinnacle and Anthony Davison and James Castro for Millennium. Six Pioneers had 2-hit games: Gillmore, Mark, Jake Peeveyhouse, Ryan Plantier, Alex Real and Justin Lindell. For Millennium, Davison, Castro and Tyler Booth each had 3 hits and Hendrix, Ty Johnson and Reuben Rincon chipped in a pair of hits each.
The same two teams square of again today in the semi-finals of the Cleats 101 Tournament. Game time is 4:00 at Pinnacle.

Tyler Boxwell connects for Verrado. The Vipers fell 10-5 to McClintock

In what seemed to be a game completely controlled by Junior LHP Tyler Crawford didn't turn out that way. Crawford threw 5 complete innings allowing only 3 hits and striking out 7 heading into the 6th inning with a 6-2 lead. But in the 6th the Apollo bats came alive and after a couple Sunrise Mtn miscues Crawford handed the ball over to RHP Steven Kane with a 6-5 lead and runners on the corners. Apollo managed two infields hits and another Sunrise Mtn error and going into the 7th the Hawks had the lead 7-6. But Austin Byler led off the 7th inning with his second HR of the game to tie the score at 7-7 with a monster shot to centerfield that was gone when it left the bat. Kane pitched well in the bottom of the 7th to keep the score tied going into the 8th. In the extra inning the Mustangs had a leadoff walk by Grady Oulton and then missed an attempted bunt but after a single by Kane, Tony Troftgruben came to the plate with the infield in and hit a single up the middle to score 2 runs and put the Mustangs up 9-7. Steven Kane retired the Hawks in order in the 7th to end the game.

Saguaro beat Coronado last night 8-5. Chris Salazar started for Saguaro and went 5 innings with Travis Steinheiser pitching the 6th and Josh Chapman closing the door.
Saguaro got 6 runs in the 3rd off starter Tim Stempkowski. Chris Akmon did the damage with his 3rd homerun of the season. Zach Gibbons went 3-5 with a double and Kyle Young went 2-2 with a walk.

March 4, 2010

Pitching was once again the story for Queen Creek, as junior lefty Dillon Freeman threw a 7 inning no-hitter (1st ever in school history) against Apache Junction. The 6-0 win was the Bulldogs' first in their new region (Desert Sky). Freeman was outstanding on the bump and remained in complete control to tally 14 strikeouts. The 6-3 lefty threw only 82 pitches and didn't allow a batted ball out of the infield. It proved to be a very touching performance this evening after the Bulldogs honored the passing of a former player's parent. With the thought fresh in Freeman's mind, Dillon went into the game dedicating his outing to his father who passed away a few years back. His outing was unforgettable in the eyes of many. Adam Brzeczek had a great day at the dish going 2-2 (BB, 2 3B), along with Jackson Wodiuk (2-2, SF, 3 RBI, 2B), Matt Schmit (2-4, 2 RBI) and Nathan Flores (2-3, 2B, RBI). The Bulldogs move to 6-1 overall.

O'Connor defeated Willow Canyon 12-4 in the first region game of the year. O'C Kyle (Boomer) Slattery went 5 innings allowing 1 earned run. Bryce Keffeler threw the last two innings giving up no runs. O'C was led offensively by Tyler Doolittle who went 4-4 with two doubles. Devon Turner,Bryce Keffeler, and Wes Sutton had two hits.

Verrado beat Independence today, 14-6 (6 innings).

For Verrado, Senior David Abney improved to 2-0 throwing four innings, struck out 8 (29 on the season), and didn't give up any earned runs lowering his season ERA to 1.26 (16.2 IP). Junior Cory Knight belted his 3rd Home Run of the season, a 2-run shot, and Junior Ryan Trieber was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI's.
For Independence, Senior Stephen Armenta was 3-for-3 with a double, home run, and 3 RBI's. Prayers and thoughts go out to Senior catcher Carlos Perez who was knocked unconscious by a ball in the top of the seventh inning. As daylight was running out, the game was halted for his aid to make way for paramedics. He regained consciousness shortly after the play, and was taken by ambulance.

Both teams turn around for another game Thursday. Verrado visits McClintock and Independence travels to Cortez.

Sunnyslope edged Saguaro 2-1 in a great pitching matchup between 'slopes Blake Freeman and the Sabercats' Kurt Jahnke. Jahnke allowed only 4 hits and Freeman 5.

An arms race at Saguaro: Blake Freeman v Kurt Jahnke. Ben Tingley hangs on to the pop up.

Phoenix Brophy Prep overpowered Laveen Cesar Chavez 11-1 in 5 innings on Wednesday. Senior Kasey Coffman gave up just 2 hits and 1 run in going the first 4 innings before giving way to Senior Trevor Stone, who threw a clean 5th. Brophy runs its record to 5-0 with the victory with Horizon up next at Horizon on Friday 3/5 @ 3:45 PM.
Sophomore centerfielder Chris Beall, Senior Kevin Kennedy, Junior Joe Maggi, and Sophomore Dave Graybill all had multiple hits as all the Broncos got involved offensively. Brophy's pitching has been rock solid, giving up just 7 total runs in 5 games so far.

Pinnacle 7 Goldwater 1

Ryan Buck threw 6 strong innings (6 hits, 1 run, 3k, 2bb) which allowed Pinnacle to take control of a close game with Goldwater. Jake Peevyhouse (4/4 1rbi, 2runs, intent. walk) and Mike Vaughn (2/4 w 2b, HR) led the Pioneers offensively.

Pinnacle 4-0, plays Millenium 3-1, Thursday at Pinnacle.

After a little more than 3 hours of agony, PV finally finished off a game Youngker team. PV scored 14 runs in the second inning and hung on to win 25-14. It got as close as 18-14. There may have been some errors in the game.

The Millennium Tigers improved their record to 3-1 with a 14-4 drubbing of visiting Willow Canyon. The Tigers scored 3 times in the first and put up runs in each frame to support Austin Hoffman’s one-hit effort on the mound. Austin allowed 1 earned run and recorded 5 strikeouts in the 5-inning contest.
The first five hitters in the Tiger line-up were a combined 12 for 16, scoring 12 runs and driving in 12. Leading the way was centerfielder Tyler Booth who had a monster 7 RBI day at the plate. He drove in the first 2 runs with a 2-run homer in the first and the last 3 with a 3-run blast in the fourth. In between the homers, he drove in 2-more runs with a triple.
Tyler had lots of help. Nyles Fowler was 3-3 with 2 singles and a double, driving in 4 runs. Tatum Hendrix chipped in 2 singles and a double from his leadoff position and continues to be the catalyst for the big innings the Tigers have had this year. Rounding out the offensive attack, Anthony Davison was 2-2 with two doubles and 1 RBI.

Boulder Creek finished the Tolleson Pre-Season Tournament 4-1 scoring 64 runs and hitting 7 Home Runs including 2 Grand Slams in 5 games. There were several highlights over the weekend and it all started in Game 1 with a 14-0 win vs Bradshaw Mountain with Bryce Eisenbart throwing a No-Hitter and Austin Trujillo going 3-4 with 4 RBI's with a 2 run opposite field blast. Game 2 vs LaJolla featured 5 Home Runs including 3 Home Runs and 7 RBI's from Austin Trujillo (a 2run HR and Grand Slam in the same inning), a solo shot from Bryce Eisenbart and also a Grand Slam from Jonny Pawling for a 22-5 win. Game 3 win 11-8 over Apollo saw an early Boulder Creek lead disappear as Apollo rallied to tie the score at 8 then Joseph Fant delivered a key 2RBI single (finished with 5RBI's on the night) in the top of the 7th to give BC the lead and also got 3 hits each from Cody Jones and Jonny Pawling. Chase Wagner pitched 3 solid innings of relief. Game 4 win 8-4 vs Verrado
saw Trevor Bonofasi pitch 3 2/3 innings of relief to hold off a late Verrado rally. Andy Felton was 2-4 1RBI, Braylon Cox 2-4 3RBI's, Austin Trujillo 2-5 with 2B and 1RBI, and Cody Jones added 3 hits. Game 5 loss 10-9 in 9 innings to Tolleson was a back and forth game all the way with Tolleson winning in the bottom of the 9th with a squeeze bunt. Good game from both teams. Joseph Fant added 3 hits for BC and a solid effort on the bump from Bryce Eisenbart as well as a solo blast to LF. Boulder Creek faces North Canyon, Tolleson and Desert Edge this week.

Senior Matt Schmit continued his early season excellence for Queen Creek on Tuesday, getting his 3rd win on the bump (in 12 innings overall)in a route of Arcadia, 11-1. Schmitty needed only 56 pitches in 5 innings to shutdown the Titans. Matt surrendered only 2 hits (4 ks), one of which was a bunt single. With the only run coming in unearned, Schmitty now has 12 consecutive innings without giving up an earned run. No slouch with the bat as well, Matt launched a 400 ft. scud to conclude his 2-4 (3 RBI) day. Pierce Arnett hammered a 2B and a 3B to pick up 2 RBI. Also contributing for the Bulldogs, was catcher Jason Frost (3-4, RBI). Queen Creek moves to 5-1 overal.

Leading hitters for QC were: Pierce Arnett 2-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Schmit
2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Jason Frost 3-4, RBI; and Dillon Freeman 1-2, BB, 3B,
RBI.

After Higley scored twice in the first without a hit, PV held them scoreless the rest of the way. Malcolm Purdy went the distance giving up 3 hits and striking out 12. Omar Dominguez went 2 for 4 with a single and a two run homer in the seventh to give PV some breathing room. Purdy went 2 for 4 with a single and double and an RBI. Jose Leal also had an RBI. Greg Aguilar pitched well for Higley going six innings, striking out 4 and giving up 2 earned runs.

Deer Valley beat Ironwood Tuesday 11-1 in a 6 inning game. Deer Valley got off to a goodstart with 4 runs in the first. Jr. Darian Ramage, Sr. Jacob Doyle, Sr. Kyle Herrington, Sr. Jacob Hernandez, and Jr. Zach Richter all had hits in the first. Richter's single plated 2 runs. Darian Ramage had 2 sac flies, and 2 hits. Zach Richter had a 3 hit game.
2 hits each by Jacob Hernandez, Kyle Herrington, including a homerun in the 6th, Jacob Doyle, 2 doubles, and Jr. Nick Rubino. Ramage got the win pitching 5 innings, with Soph J R Rudder closing out the game.

Corona. 8
Tolleson 0

Strong defense behind Senior Greg Ryan held Tolleson scoreless as Corona rolled over Tolleson on Tuesday.
Ryan struck out 6, walked 6 and gave up only one hit in 5 innings of work.
For the second night, Corona had back-to-back homeruns. The first blast was delivered by Soph Kyle Jorgenson, and the second shot by Sr. Andy Nist put Corona up 5-0.

G.Ryan 1-hit 6-bb k-6
THS#2 O. Gonzales
8-hit 3-bb k-4.

North Canyon 2 Boulder Creek 1

Senior LHP Kevin Baumgartner was dominant on the hill, scattering 4 hits and striking out 11 as North Canyon edged Boulder Creek Tuesday at Boulder Creek 2-1. Baumgartner helped himself at the plate with a double in the top of the 7th to knock in the decisive run. Junior Cody Jones was outstanding for Boulder Creek, striking out 11 and allowing only 3 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Mingus destroyed Bradshaw Mountain 35-6 in an ugly contest. The Marauders stroked 28 hits in the win. BM helped the cause with 9 errors. Todd Scalf pitched all 5 innings and went 5-5 w/2 RBIs. Austin Rogers was 5-6 w/2 RBI ,Logan Stewart 3-4 w/3 RBI, Carlos Abrigo was 3-4. Lead off hitter Hunter Zwart went 2-3 w/3 RBI

Highland jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Matt Repp's one out single scored the first run. A two run single by James Farris and a 3 run HR by Xavier Corrales highlighted a big inning. Highland added three more in the bottom of the 3rd on a three run HR by Gentry Kinsella.
James Farris cruised through the first three, but started to wear down in the fourth. Chandler got two back on four walks and a hit by pitch. Highland's DJ Jones drove in another with a single in the 4th for a seemingly commanding 11-2 lead. Then Chandler put together a big inning of their own with a 6 spot. Kevin Carr and Albert Blanco each had two RBI singles around a few walks and three Highland errors. Nolan Whittlesey relieved Farris and restored order throwing the final 2 2/3 to earn the
save.
Farris got the win going 4 1/3 with 8Ks, surrendering 4 earned runs. Whittlesey had 4 K's with no runs against. Kevin Carr got the loss for Chandler. DJ Jones had three hits while Xavier Corrales and Matt Repp each chipped in with two. Dallas Lopez had two hits for Chandler.

Gilbert proved to be very gracious hosts for Desert Ridge, committing numerous defensive miscues to stake the Jags to an 8-0 lead, and eventually falling 10-3. The Jags broke it open in the 4th when Travis Flores hammered a line drive homer to left that is still rolling somewhere. Taylor Kaczmarek followed with a towering shot to go back to back. Austin Cain then cranked a shot off the top of the wall in left center that was inches from the trifecta. DJ Peterson put the Tigers on the board with a solo shot. Scott Hoffman got the win for the Jags on the hill and was never really threatened by the Tiger lineup.

Hunter Miller - 3/3, RBI

Harrison Graham - 2/2, 2BB, 2 run HR, 2RBI

Joseph Serrano - 1/1, 2BB, 2 Stolen Base, 3 Runs

AJ Alexander- 1 / 2, 3b, 2RBI

Jack Hale- 1 /2, Sac Fly, RBI

Copper Canyon improves to 6-1 as they got after it with the bats yesterday at Verrado. The Aztecs pounded out 16 hits while scoring 17 runs. SR. Ruben Hernandez continues to see the ball well gathering 3 hits including his 2nd homerun to go with 4RBIs. Dru Douglas contributed with his team leading 15th RBI with 3 hits. Alex Gutierrez earns his 2nd victory of the season on the bump with 9ks en route to a 17-5 victory.

March 2, 2010

We didn't get a game report on it, but we should note that Boulder Creek's Austin Trujillo homered 3 times in a game last week. Nice job AT.

Mountain Pointe 13 Chandler 0 (5 inning run rule)
Mountain Pointe's bats were alive Monday afternoon against Chandler High. Senior JT Moreno started for the Pride going 3 hitless innings. The Pride put up seven runs to start the game culminated by a 3 run bomb by Senior Joey Rocha. Josh Alexander followed up in the 2nd by putting one over the wall bringing in three. Kevin Cron then went deep in the third also bringing in three.

MP Hitters
Josh Alexander 3-4 HR
Kevin Cron 3-4 HR
Jordan Kipper 2-3 2B

Notre Dame 10
Tempe 0

Joe Luvisi belted a long 2 run homer while going 3 for 4 at the plate with 4 RBI's to help Notre Dame run rule Tempe in their opening conference game. Tayler Scott picked up the win on the mound pitching 4 strong innings striking out 7 and giving up only 2 hits before giving way to Schaefer Whiteaker who completed the shutout with 1 scoreless inning of relief. Brian Poupore was also a perfect 3-3 at the plate and Casey Scott continued his hot bat with a 2-3 effort for the Notre Dame offense.

Pinnacle 7
Notre Dame 6

Notre Dame lead this thriller 6-4 in the bottom of the 7th with 2 outs and 2 strikes on the batter which only set the stage for one of their most crushing defeats in recent memory. Pinnacle capitalized on a critical outfield error that brought home the tie run, and 2 wild pitches including one that brought home the game winning run in Pinnacles walk off victory.
The Saints jumped all over Jake Peevyhouse scoring 4 runs in the top of the first inning but Peevyhouse took out a little of his frustration to lead off the Pinnacle bottom of the first inning with an opposite field line drive home run to cut the Saints lead to 4-1.

The Pioneers added a couple runs in the second courtesy of Alex Real's(2-3 w/2rbi) double driving in a pair. They scored again in the third against Notre Dame starting pitcher Jon Cohn to tie the score at 4. Notre Dame regained the lead in the 5th when
Bobby Kohnen singled with 2 out. Peevyhouse ,who had not given up a hit since the first inning, was replaced on the mound by Jake Winters who was promptly greeted by a line drive single by Joe Luvisi(3-4 on base w/2 runs scored). Joey Greco(2-3 w/ 4 rbi's) then followed with a double to the gap driving in 2 runs to give the Saints a 6-4 lead. Cohn left with the lead in hand after 5 innings giving up 8 hits but wiggling out of numerous jams striking out 7 along the way. Kevin Ryan held the Pioneers scoreless in the 6th but gave up a one out single in the 7th and was replaced with Sam Napp who was unable to shut the door on the Pinnacle comeback. After a walk and a pop out, Napp, who appeared to throw strike 3 on 2 different pitches, gave up a huge 2 out hit to Justin Lindell (2-4 w/2 runs scored). The tie run scored and Lindell took second when Saints centerfielder Bobby Kohnen couldn't pick up the ball cleanly. Lindell proceeded to advance to third and home on a couple of balls in the dirt that went to the backstop and completed Pinnacle's second walk off win in 3 games during the Cleats Baseball Tournament bracket play.

Xavier Sotello and three other Desert Ridge pitchers limited Chaparral to three hits Monday, and left-handed hitting catcher Russell Vaughan homered deep to right to give the Jaguars all the margin they would need in an 8-0 victory to win the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Tournament championship.

Sotello, in fact, no-hit Chaparral through four innings, before he gave way to Austin Cain. Corey Doser and D.W. Warner (who was outstanding at shortstop) also pitched for Desert Ridge. The game was played at Desert Ridge after a hard Sunday night rain rendered Chaparral’s field unplayable.

Vaughn staked the Jaguars to a 1-0 lead with his blast in the second inning. In the third, center fielder Kyle Raidy tripled to right center and scored on a single to right by Taylor Kaczmarek to extend the lead to 2-0. That is where it would stay until the sixth.

Chaparral, which stranded seven base runners, had an outstanding opportunity in the fifth. Joey Bielek led off with the first hit for the Firebirds and Konner Wade walked. A balk then sent the runners to second and third with no outs. But Cain settled down to strike out seniors Joel Hayden and Will Dyer in succession and third baseman Travis Flores snared a hard line drive by Blake Spiekerman to end the threat.

The Firebirds also threatened – briefly – in the sixth. James McDonald reached on an infield single to the deep hole at short, but Desert Ridge then turned the second of three 5-4-3 double plays. The Jaguars did it again in the seventh after a single past first by Wade.

DR's Conner Daly flips one to first (L) A.J. Schillinger drops one down for Chap

In the sixth, Desert Ridge ended all suspense. Cain and Vaughan singled and were sacrificed over by Conner Daly. Riley Unroe then brought in a run with a single to left, and Warner drove in two more with a double to right-center. After Flores was walked intentionally (he walked all four times he batted), Kaczmarek hit a three-run home run far over the left field fence for the final margin.

In all, Desert Ridge had nine hits. Vaughn, Warner and Kaczmarek all had two hits for the Jaguars. Kaczmarek drove in four runs. Nonetheless, three of Chaparral’s four pitchers – Wade, Will Abram and Nick Diamond – were mostly successful in allowing two runs and four hits.

5A II Chaparral and 5A I Desert Ridge, the defending 5A II state champion, meet again on Thursday at Desert Ridge in a game that will carry with it power points that are important in determining playoff teams at the end of the season.

Note: Pat Raidy, the father of DR center fielder Kyle Raidy, lost his battle with cancer yesterday and passed away during the game. Please join me in sending thoughts and prayers to Kyle and his family. RB

Tucson High Badgers-15
Corona Del Sol- 9

Host Corona never found a pitching groove, using 4 pitchers while giving up 13 hits. The Badgers of Tucson had a 7 run 5th inning and put away Corona.
One offensive highlight for Corona was the back-to-back HR in the 3rd. Greg Ryan had a 2 run blast and Chris Gammon added a solo shot that put CDS ahead 6-3. It was not enough as Tucson came on strong in the 5th and 6th inning to thwart any CDS comeback attempt.
Corona faces Tolleson at home on Tuesday.

Damian Aguilar picked up two wins on the mound coming in relief. Jackie Samora totaled 3 homeruns for the weekend one being a walk off, as his little brother Jacob tried to one up him with a walk-off ground rule double vs. Dobson. The Hawks now have a tough stretch as they play Cactus, T-bird and Sunrise Mtn this week.

Feb 26
Saguaro 5
Mtn Pointe 4

Austin Anderson robbed Joe Curletta of a HR at the LF wall to lead off the top of the 5th inning. Austin did it again it the 7th inning when he caught Kevin Cron's deep fly ball at the wall.

Austin Anderson 1-4, HR, 2RBI, R; Kyle Young 1-3, 2B, 2RBI
WP - Josh Chapman 3.1 IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 3K
Alan Madsen 2.2 IP, 1H, 2K
SV- Kane McCaslin 1IP, HB

Feb. 27
Saguaro 10
Mesquite 3
Saguaro beat Mesquite 10-3 on Saturday. Winning pitcher Travis Steinheiser gave up 2 runs in the first after a shaky start but looked great after settling down and going 5 strong innings against a good lineup. Brad McFarland and Kurt Jahnke looked good closing out the game giving up only 1 hit each.
Offensively Saguaro sophomores dominated with Chris Akmon hitting a grand slam in the 2nd inning , Zach Gibbons going 3-4 with a triple and Austin Anderson scoring 3 times.
Zach Gibbons 3-4. 3B, RBI; Chris Akmon 1-2, GS-HR, 4RBI, R, BB, K;
Austin Anderson 1-1, 2HBP, 3R, RBI, Sac Fly
WP - Travis Steinheiser, 5IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 0BB, K
Brad McFarland 1IP, 1BB,
Kurt Jahnke 1IP, 1H

Here are the results of this weekend's Laveen Baseball Classic hosted by
Cesar Chavez and Betty Fairfax High School.

Final Results:
1.Coronado 4-1 Tournament Champion( beat Trevor Browne 12-7 in
championship game)
2.Trevor Browne 4-1 Tournament Runner-Up

Chavez 3-1

Douglas 3-1

Buckeye 2-2

San Luis 2-2

South 2-2

Maricopa 2-2

Younker 2-2

St. Mary's 1-3

Chaparral Outlasts Gilbert, 14-13

Adam Charnin-Aker has outstanding baseball bloodlines. His father, Jack Aker, pitched for 10 years in the Major Leagues in the late 1960s and early 1970s and then spent a quarter-century coaching and managing in the professional ranks. But Adam is only a sophomore. He has lots of talent and much in front of him to experience.

Saturday, Charnin-Aker experienced what could be called a baptism by fire in his first varsity appearance ever in a thriller that saw Chaparral hang on for a 14-13 victory over Gilbert in the semifinals of the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Invitational Tournament.

Charnin-Aker was called upon in the seventh inning after Colton Thomson had just homered for the second time to center field to cut the Gilbert deficit to 14-10. Aker quickly got two outs before Erick Gonzalez-Molina hit a flare to right. It appeared that the game was over when senior catcher Nate Sherman quickly pounced on a ball that bounced in the dirt and fired to second to beat Gonzalez by several feet. But before the Chaparral players could run off the field with a victory in hand, the umpired ruled Gonzales safe. It was just one of at least three highly controversial calls alternately benefitting each team in this three-hour-ten-minute instant classic.

After a walk to Jason Parks put runners on first and second, Gilbert leadoff hitter Drew Stankiewicz homered to straight-away center to make it 14-13 with the heart of Gilbert’s potent lineup coming up to take aim yet again at the unusually short fences on their home field. The home run was the fourth hit in five at bats for Stankiewicz, who also scored four runs and stole three bases. Three of the four hitters coming up after him had already homered four times between them (the two for Thomson and one each for D.J. Peterson and Nathaniel Causey – both three-run shots).

If Charnin-Aker was nervous, he did not let it show. With remarkable poise, he struck out senior all star Tyler Kamtz on a 2 and 2 fast ball that appeared to catch Kamtz by surprise. The ball was tipped, but Sherman held on the end the game. A year ago, Kamtz had hit a walk-off homer against Chaparral.

The Firebirds also got clutch performances from reliever Chris Pleiter, pinch-hitter and second baseman Colby Targun and shortstop James McDonald.

Pleiter, who gave up the three-run opposite field shot by Causey, nonetheless, got through the heart of the Gilbert order with no damage in the sixth – the only time that group was held in check. Targun entered the game in the fifth and delivered an RBI single up the middle. In the seventh, he hit a ball high off the center field fence for a double that drove in Joel Hayden for what turned out to be the winning run. McDonald drove in three runs in the fifth with a home run high off the batter’s eye in center to give Chaparral a 13-9 lead that even then everyone knew would remain tenuous until the end.

Blake Spiekerman was perfect for Chaparral with two hits, two walks and was hit by a pitch. Aaron Levy drove in three runs. For Gilbert, Causey drove in four runs and Thomson three, along with Peterson and Stankiewicz. In all, Chaparral had 10 hits and Gilbert 11.

Chaparral, 4-0, plays Monday against Desert Ridge for the tournament championship. Gilbert, 3-1, faces Sunrise Mountain for third place. Both teams will end the tournament as they began – in the top five in the state in 5A II and 5A I, repectively.

Chaparral's Chris Pleiter

March 8, 2010

March 6, 2010

March 5, 2010

March 4, 2010

March 2, 2010