Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Teams lined up for the National Anthem prior to the 2023 championship game. Safford captured the three-day meet title with a 13-1 win over Hayden on April 22. The Bulldogs ended the season in the play-in round via a 2-13 loss to Tanque Verde. The Graham County team opens the 2024 meet against Hayden on Thursday, April 11 at 11 a.m.
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The 2023 Morenci Lion’s baseball tourney finalists, the runner-up Winkelman Hayden Lobos, and the winning Safford Bulldogs, open the 44th meet on Thursday, April 11 at 11 a.m. Florence meets Heber Mogollon at 1:30 p.m., and Morenci faces the Hayden – Safford winner at 4 p.m.
A total of eight games will be played. Three games will be held on Friday and two on Saturday with the championship game scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Four of the five teams are currently ranked in the top 10 of the statewide rankings. The 3A No. 17 Bulldogs are 8-5 seeding and a 4.7178 rating, the 1A No. 4 Lobos (12-4, 8.4530), the 3A No. 8 Gophers (9-5, 7.8608), the 1A No. 7 Mustangs (9-5, 4.8809), and the 2A No. 7 Wildcats (9-5, 3.4123).
Florence will be making its third appearance, Safford its seventh, Mogollon its 21st, Hayden its 22nd, and Morenci its 44th. A total of 23 individual 2023 post-season honorees are on the current rosters.
Hayden Lobos (12-4 overall)
The Robert Lorona-coached Lobos 1A No. 4 (12-4, 9-2, 8.4530, 5-0 East Region for 1st of 7) are averaging a 10-3 (160-45) score per game or a 7-run margin through 16 games.
A 27-member roster includes seniors Domonic Alvarado (17), Christopher Casillas (00), Deondre Collier (42), Jarin Cruz (35), Eric Fox (13), Rene Ochoa (8), and Ramon Ramirez (6); juniors Matthew Armenta (4), Paul Gaither (14), Jacob Manriquez (9), and Jordan Rodriguez (3); sophomores Manny Aguirre (99), Angelo Castillo (98), Tyler Garner (7), Mario Hong (21), Augustine Lorona (22), Angel Moreno (27), and Elijah Morrison (20); and freshmen Ryan Garner (10), Lucas Gonzalez (23), Eddie Jaramillo (24), Jonah Lopez (30), Marcos Oropeza (18), Javier Ortega (16), Darrin Smith (2), Alejandro Waddell (44), and Blake Vargas (56).
Safford Bulldogs (13-6 overall)
The Robert Abalos-coached Bulldogs (13-6 overall, 8-5 seeding, 4.7178 rating, 3-2 South Region for 3rd of 8) are averaging a 10-5 (183-90) score per game or a 5-run margin through 19 games.
At the plate, the team batting average is .306 (112-366) with 98 of 138 runs batted in, 19 doubles, five triples, and four home runs. It also includes 68 strikeouts, 68 bases on balls, and being beaned 21 times.
The Bulldogs have used a pitching corps of 10, with a combined earned run average of 4.54, struck out 109, yielded 71 hits and 62 walks, and beaned 20 while facing 394 batters during 78 2/3 innings.
A 14-member roster includes seniors Isaiah Alvarado (5), Michael Chavez (7), Juan Estrada (23), JoJo Ruelas (12), and Chris Shatto (8); juniors Carlos Arbizo (21), Cole Goodman (24), and Zayden Sanchez (31); sophomores Damian Abril (9), Dylan Broderick (20), Darren Maldonado (22), and Dylan Stahl (6); and freshmen Osvaldo Estrada (34) and Andrew Trujillo (33).
Florence Gophers (15-5 overall)
The J.T. Neal-coached Gophers (15-5 overall, 9-5 seeding, 7.8608 rating, 3-2 South Central Region for 3rd of 8) are averaging an 8-4 (169-82) score per game or a 4-run margin through 20 games.
At the plate, the team batting average is .336 (159-473) with 112 of 161 runs batted in, 14 doubles, and eight triples. It also includes 86 strikeouts, 87 bases on balls, and being beaned 36 times.
The Gophers have used a pitching corps of eight, with a combined earned run average of 3.82, struck out 154, yielded 86 hits and 90 walks, and beaned 24 while facing 524 batters during 111 2/3 innings.
A 16-member roster includes seniors Gabe Lizarraga (12), Noah Madueno (9), and Mikey Martling (16); juniors Tanner Gammons (7), Rylin Leopoldino (1), Cameron Lorefice (2), Zane O’Rourke (3), and Logan Stenson (8); sophomores Jayden Magill (11), Wyatt Stenson (4), and Bryce Tanner (22); and freshmen Jaryn Leopoldino (9), Ralin Moser (17), Jagger Navarro (10), Brody Ramirez (13), and Adrian Rodriguez (15).
Mogollon Mustangs (8-5 overall)
The Reed Porter-coached Mustangs 1A No. 7 (8-5, 8-5, 4.8809, 6-1 East Region for 2nd of 7) are averaging a 9-5 (114-58) score per game or a 4-run margin through 14 games.
At the plate, the team batting average is .298 (126-428) with 92 of 114 runs batted in, 32 doubles, seven triples, and one home run. It also includes 75 strikeouts, 48 bases on balls, and being beaned nine times.
The Mustangs have used a pitching corps of nine, with a combined earned run average of 2.40, struck out 85, yielded 78 hits and 31 walks, and beaned three while facing 352 batters during 78 2/3 innings.
An 18-member roster includes seniors Kyson Owens (3), Kadon Porter (53), Keagan Porter (15), and Adrian Suarez (5); juniors Cort Porter (23), Hadley Porter (4), and Chancy Worsley (14); sophomores Stetson Owens (16), Brody Porter (24), Kaleb Porter (19), Rocky Porter (22), Richard Reidhead (32), Slade Reynolds (30), Yoyo Suarez (7), Quinn Tenney (31), and Johnny McKeever (44); and freshmen Alejandro Pimental (12) and Anthony Pimental (42).
Morenci Wildcats (11-7 overall)
The Christopher Aguallo-coached Wildcats 2A No. 7 (11-7, 10-5, 3.4123, 4-4 East Region for 5th of 7) are averaging a 6-5 (115-95) score per game or a 4-run margin through 18 games.
At the plate, the team batting average is .294 (126-428) with 85 of 108 runs batted in, 20 doubles, five triples, and seven home runs. It also includes 128 strikeouts, 65 bases on balls, and being beaned 21 times.
The Wildcats have used a pitching corps of eight, with a combined earned run average of 3.11, struck out 105, yielded 91 hits and 76 walks, and beaned 10 while facing 503 batters during 101 1/3 innings.
A 17-member roster includes seniors Anthony Ballesteros (6), Andrew Chavez (5), Austin Hudman (24), Aaron Mason (23), Austyn Nelson (10), Emilio Roybal (1), and Tristan Sanchez (22); juniors Peyton Basteen (16), Christopher Carbajal (8), Christopher Lopez (3), Jordan Romero (20), Shane Seballos (7), Raymond Segobia (12), and Jacob Verdugo (13); and sophomores Bryant Figueroa (2), Jaymz Guzzo (4), and Anthony Roybal (34).
Tourney History
Last season, 22-time participant and 10-time state champion Hayden (25-4 overall, 14-2 seeding, 10-0 region) went 4-0 to earn the 1A state title as the top seed, 44-time participant and 2-time state champion Morenci (14-13-1, 10-7, 6-6) wound up a 2A semifinalist as No. 10, 21-time participant and 3-time state champion Mogollon (10-12, 7-6, 5-5) was a quarterfinalist as No. 10, 3-time participant and 4-time state champion 3A No. 11 Florence (19-9, 12-5, 4-4) bowed out in the first round, and 7-time participant and 4-time state champion Safford (12-10-1, 7-8, 4-4) succumbed in the play-in round as 3A No. 21.
A global health crisis caused cancelation in both 2020 and 2021 and delayed the tourney until 2022. Mogollon went 4-0 to end as a state champion; Hayden went 2-1 to end as a semifinalist; Morenci went 1-1 to end as a quarterfinalist; 42-time participant Thatcher went 1-1 to end as a quarterfinalist; 36-time participant and 1-time state champion Pima fell in the play-in round; 21-time participant and 2-time state champion Saint Johns fell in the play-in round; Florence was bumped out by No. 25 and North Region champion Page; Safford was bumped out by No. 29 and North Region runner-up Fort Defiance Window Rock; and 33-time participant and 2-time state champion Duncan did not qualify.
In 2023, one team bowed out during the play-in round, five teams went a combined 7-4 in the Round of 16 state tourneys, and Hayden emerged as the 1A state champion.
Individually at season’s end, seven players were named all-conference (all-state) first team, six were second team, and seven were honorable mention along with a coach of the year; 25 players were selected all-region first team, 19 second team, and 26 honorable mention along with two coaches of the year. Additionally, there were two defensive players of the year, two offensive players of the year, two players of the year, and a co-player of the year.
Previously, Mogollon (2001, 2006) and Safford (2022, 2023) have twice been finalists with the Bulldogs the team champion in 2023 (13-1 over Hayden); Hayden a finalist nine times (1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1999, 2023) and champion in 1979 (5-4 over Morenci), 1987 (12-8 over Willcox), and 1990 (16-8 over Willcox); and Morenci a finalist 21 times (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019) and champion in 1980 (4-2 over Miami), in 1981 (2-1 over Thatcher), 1982 (8-1 over Thatcher), 1985 (6-5 in 12 inn. over Hayden), 1989 (14-10 over Thatcher), 1992 (15-10 over Willcox), 1994 (9-7 over Clifton), 1997 (5-0 over Willcox), 1999 (8-3 over Hayden), 2003 (9-1 over Thatcher), 2007 (4-2 over Thatcher), 2014 (3-0 in 5 inn. over Willcox), and 2016 (12-2 in 5 inn. over Miami).
The Sooner State (1), the Evergreen State (1), the Golden State (7), and the Land of Enchantment (11) have been represented in previous meets, as well as Grand Canyon State participants. The previous out-of-state team came for the 41st (2019) meet.
Over the previous 43 tourneys, the Morenci Lions Club has hosted 39 school teams with 30 different mascots ranging from insects to big game as well as Apaches to Vikings. Visitors have included Cougars, Tigers, Wildcats, and Wildkats plus Bearcats, Bulldogs, Cobras, Eagles, Elks, Falcons, Lobos, Mavericks, Mustangs, Rams, Roadrunners, and Yellow Jackets.
Others in town have been the Champions and Stampede along with Apaches, Braves, Cowboys, Redskins, Sultans, Roughriders, Trojans, Warriors, Vandals, Vikings, and Blue Devils.
Kangaroos made an appearance in Francis Waldorf Stadium for the 41st tourney (2019) and Gophers made an initial visit in 2022.
Through the previous 43 tourneys, 29 state finalists have prepared for the post-season in Morenci, with 18 finishing as state champions. Three of the 41st (2019) tourney participants ended as state finalists, two as state champions.
