Safford’s home opener is on Thursday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
FLORENCE — The date Feb. 27, 2025, will forever be etched in the memory of Safford Schools’ educator Robert Abalos.
The 1995 Safford High grad reached a milestone in his 22nd year as the Bulldogs’ head baseball coach. Win number 300 was earned via an 11-1 four-inning triumph over the Superior Panthers. It was announced following the time-limited game, and it was done with his wife Kristen present, “by my side since day one,” he said.
In his mind, the weekend’s particular date sits alongside March 25, 2017, and March 13, 2010. Win No. 200 was attained in 2017 with a 10-1 victory over the Bears in Coolidge, giving the Robert Abalos-coached Bulldogs a combined 200-149-2 overall record or a win percentage of 57 at the time. Win No. 100 came on an 11-3 road triumph over the Marana Tigers for a combined overall mark of 100-72-2 or a win percentage of 57.
Safford’s 2025 “Boys of Spring” team has a 16-member roster of five seniors, five juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen. The seniors include Carlos Arbizo (21), Dylan Broderick (20), Cole Goodman (24), Zayden Sanchez (22), and Cole Yentsch (8); juniors Damian Abril (6), Aiden Gutierrez (12), Darren Maldonado (22), Damian Nunez (9), and Dylan Stahl (5); sophomores Noah Cuencas (18), Osvaldo Estrada (34), Brady Phillips (16), and Andrew Trujillo (32); and freshmen Easton Ballejos (23) and Deagan Faunce (7).
Jeff Faunce and Bob Park are assisting Abalos with coaching duties.
Through Feb. 27, Safford has played 519 games (300-216-3) or a win percentage of 58 with Abalos as the head coach. It has posted 15 winning seasons, two of which were 20-plus in 2017 (22-8) and 2010 (24-5), and has finished below .500 six times.
Abalos was on the 1994 version, earning a state title as a junior, and on the 1995 finalist as a senior under Rich DeRidder, both decided with a lone run. He was also on the state champion in an abbreviated 10-run win as the head coach during the 2008 campaign. Safford finished 19-4 during his initial season in 2004, 15-10 last season, 3-1 during play-in round games, and 9-9 during the state playoffs.
Safford at the 38th Joe Padilla Invitational
The Bulldogs closed their part in the Florence-held 38th Joe Padilla Invitational with a 1-6 five-inning loss to Show Low on March 1. They also had a 9-0 four-innings win over Morenci (Feb. 27), a 10-0 four-innings win over San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (Feb. 28) to return with a 3-1 record and 521 (301-217-3) games completed under Abalos.
Safford’s 4-game season-opening outing resulted in a team batting average of .264 (19-72), an .823 (50-1-11) fielding average, and a 0.82 earned run average for a 5-man pitching corps. A total of 72 batters were faced during 17 innings, yielding a .129 (8-62) batting average and requiring a 292 pitch count.
The Bulldogs unveil their seeding game schedule in Globe on Tuesday, March 4, and the initial home game with Gilbert Classical on Thursday, March 6. The first pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
Safford is competing in the 7-team 3A South Region with Thatcher and Tucson schools Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.
Morenci at 38th Joe Padilla Invitational
Morenci played five games during the recent Florence-held 38th Joe Padilla Invitational, beginning with a 0-9 four innings loss to Safford (Feb. 27) and ending with a 1-2 four innings loss to San Manuel on March 1. In between, Morenci edged San Tan Foothills (4-3, 5 inns, Feb. 27), fell to Superior (1-7, 4 inns, Feb. 28), and slipped past Holbrook (3-2, 5 inns, March 1).
The five-game outing resulted in a team batting average of .144 (13-90) with 18 walks, 30 strikeouts, and eight grazed batters; a .911 (78-24-10) fielding average with two double plays, and a 4.31 earned run average with 16 of 25 runs earned for a 5-man pitching corps. A total of 130 batters were faced during 26 innings, yielding a .226 (24-106) batting average, 17 walks, 32 strikeouts, and seven grazed batters and requiring a 470 pitch count.
Morenci will be attending its own three-day tourney, the 45th Morenci Lions, beginning on Thursday, March 6. The Dust Devils will be participating in their 21st meet, opening against Elfrida Valley Union at 9 a.m.
The Wildcats unveil their seeding and initial home game schedule with Pima on March 11.
A 14-member team has eight seniors, three juniors, and two sophomores. The roster includes seniors include Peyton Basteen (25), Christopher Carbajal (8), Alejandro Gonzalez (24), Christopher Lopez (23), Jordan Romero (20), Shane Seballos (7), Marques Varela (23), and Jacob Verdugo (1); juniors Michael Chavez (6), Anthony Roybal (34), and Manuel Medina (12); and sophomores Matthew Aguilar (5) and Jaymz Guzzo (4).
Morenci is competing in the 9-member 2A South Region with Benson, Bisbee, Tombstone, Willcox, and Tucson schools Desert Christian, Saint Augustine Catholic, San Miguel Catholic, and Santa Rita.
Thatcher at the 38th Joe Padilla Invitational
Thatcher downed Kearny Ray 7-1 and San Manuel 1-0 during abbreviated pairings on Feb. 27 and fell 1-4 to host Florence on Feb. 28 in pool play during the 38th Joe Padilla Invitational.
The Jace Howard-coached Eagles open their seeding game schedule in Thatcher against Show Low on Tuesday, March 4 at 3:45 p.m.
An 18-member roster has Dee Allen (5), Kody Bingham (1), Brant Duncan (2), Erik Ebert (14), Boston Echols (7), Paxton Echols (11), Jaegen Hall (10), Jett Howard (3), Branson Hughes (16), Gunner Jacob (13), Traekon Kempton (15), Travis Larson (9), Hudson Lopeman (6), Kase Palmer (12), Noah Rasmussen (20), Brig Romney (18), Jax Shupe (17), and Ty Shupe (4).
Thatcher is competing in the 7-team 3A South Region with Safford and Tucson schools Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.
Safford – 11, Superior – 1 (4 inn)
The Bulldogs pulled away from a 1-1 deadlock with five second-inning runs and added five more in the third to complete their scoring.
Safford batted .222 (4-18), left five base runners on, and committed one error versus .214 (3-14), three stranded runners, and seven errors by Superior.
Arbizo batted 1.000 (1-1, double, RBI), Maldonado .667 (2-3, double, 3 RBIs), and Broderick .333 (1-3).
Three Bulldogs combined their mound skills for the milestone three-hitter. Senior starter Dylan Broderick struck out two and yielded three hits while facing nine batters during 2 1/3 innings requiring 45 pitches, junior reliever Aiden Gutierrez walked two while facing six batters during 1 1/3 innings requiring 27 pitches, and senior closer Cole Goodman faced one batter during 1/3 inning requiring two pitches. Superior allowed four walks and grazed three Bulldogs while facing 25 batters during four innings requiring 96 pitches.
