Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Francis Waldorf Stadium will hold its final 2024 home game on Wednesday, April 24. It is a final chance for the Class of 2024 to finish above .500, having a 4-4 record thus far, and to still be in contention for the post-season. The Wildcats have wins over Pima (6-5, March 27), Bisbee (6-5, April 5), Saint Johns ()6-5, April 9), and Hayden (8-7 in 8 inn, April 11) as well as losses to Mogollon (1-8, April 12), Hayden (1-5, April 12), Tombstone (3-4, April 16), and Benson (5-9, April 19). Morenci welcomes Eloy Santa Cruz for a play-in round game at 4 p.m.
Six East Region teams still ranked in Top 24
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Christopher Aguallo-coached No. 11 Morenci Wildcats host the No. 22 Eloy Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils for a play-in round contest on Wednesday, April 24. There is no admission charge for the 4 p.m. start and seating is first come, first served.
Morenci was one of the top eight ranked teams at mid-month and appeared to not need a play-in game to advance into the post-season. However, three consecutive losses dropped the Wildcats from that status. It is the final home game for the Class of 2024 members and they would like to finish above .500 (4-4) on their recently completed playing surface, as well as be part of the final 16 teams still in contention. The 2019 Wildcats did it as No. 10, defeating No. 7 Benson 4-2 in the first round, No. 2 Phoenix Christian 3-2 in the quarterfinals, and No. 3 Bisbee 3-2 in the semifinals to reach the championship game. It was a 2-3 loss to No. 1 Scottsdale Christian.
Two common opponents each team met earlier in the season include the Show Low Cougars (15-12 overall) during the Florence tourney and the Eagar Round Valley Elks (18-7) in seeding games.
Morenci edged Round Valley 8-7 (March 20) while Santa Cruz fell 0-10 (April 3) to the Elks. In Florence, Slow Low defeated Santa Cruz 7-0 (Feb. 29) and Morenci 11-10 (March 2) in abbreviated games.
No. 22 Santa Cruz Valley Dust Devils (11-12 overall)
The Calvin Eleby Jr.-coached Dust Devils (11-12 overall, 8-9 seeding, 5-5 South Region for fourth) are averaging a score of 7-6 (163-145) per game or a 1-run margin through 24 games.
Santa Cruz had seeding wins over Gilbert Classical (6-1, Feb. 26), Coolidge (1-0 forfeit, March 11), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (21-6 in 5 inn, March 16), Chandler Prep (11-2, March 21), Maricopa Sequoia Pathway (1-0 forfeit, March 26), Sequoia Pathway (16-0 in 5 inn, March 29), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (11-0 in 5 inn, April 11) and Tempe Prep (8-4, April 19). The losses were to Florence (2-10, Feb. 23), Globe (4-15 in 5 inn, March 5), Chandler Prep (4-9, March 18), Chandler Prep (11-2, March 21), Phoenix Horizon Honors (4-10, April 2), Eagar Round Valley (0-10 in 5 inn, April 3), Horizon Honors (0-16 in 5 inn, April 5), Saint Augustine (8-9, April 8), Glendale Prep (0-10 in 5 inn, April 10), and Tempe Prep (2-6, April 16).
The Dust Devils also went 3-3 during the Florence tourney. The wins were over Coolidge (7-5 in 2 inn, March 1), Miami (8-0 in 5 inn, March 2), and Globe (8-6 in 5 inn, March 2) while the losses were to Show Low (0-7, Feb. 29), San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (4-8, Feb. 29), and Safford (3-4 in 5 inn, March 2).
At the plate, the team batting average is .196 (118-602) with 81 of 114 runs batted in, 81 doubles, four triples, and one home run. It also includes 152 strikeouts, 105 bases on balls, and being beaned 36 times.
The Dust Devils have used a pitching corps of 10, with a combined earned run average of 3.38, struck out 136, yielded 85 hits and 127 walks, and beaned 38 while facing 494 batters during 116 innings.
A 16-member roster includes seniors Mason Brown (4), Estevan Guillen-Xavier (14), and Emilio Mendoza (6); juniors Nathan Harris (2), Juan Juarez (3), Xzavier Montijo (42), Jonathan Ramos (00), and Larry Ramos (23); sophomores Carson Clark (25), Daniel Contreras (10), Andres Cosillos (15), Eric Gonzales (13), and Joaquin Ramos (19); and freshmen Shansan Gant (8), Richard Reyes (1), and Nathan Ruiz (7).
No. 11 Morenci Wildcats (13-12 overall)
The Christopher Aguallo-coached Morenci Wildcats (13-12 overall, 10-8 seeding, 5-7 East Region for sixth) are averaging a score of 6-6 (150-140) per game or a tie through 25 games.
Morenci has seeding wins over Miami (14-3, March 4), Santa Rita (March 5), Bisbee (6-5, March 8), San Carlos (18-2, March 14), Round Valley (8-7, March 20), Saint Johns (6-3, March 22), and Pima (6-5, March 27). The losses are to Willcox (5-6, March 11), Winkelman Hayden (9-10, March 13), Tombstone (1-4, March 15), Willcox (0-11, March 18), Benson (1-10, March 25), Pima (6-5, March 27), Bisbee (6-5, April 5), Saint Johns (6-5, April 9), and Santa Rita (17-2 in 5 inn, April 15).
The Wildcats also went a combined 3-4 during two 3-day tourneys, 2-2 in the Benjamin Franklin tourney on Feb. 22-24 and 1-2 during its own meet on April 11-13. The wins were over Miami (6-1 in 4 inn, Feb. 29), Superior (2-1 in 5 inn, March 1), and Hayden (8-7 in 8 inn, April 11). The losses were to Thatcher (0-4 in 5 inn, Feb. 29), Show Low (10-11 in 5 inn, March 2), Mogollon (1-8, April 12), and Hayden (2-5, April 13).
At the plate, the team’s batting average is .282 (151-536) with 96 of 125 runs batted in, 126 doubles, six triples, and seven home runs. It also includes 154 strikeouts, 95 bases on balls, and being beaned 27 times.
The Wildcats have used a pitching corps of 10, with a combined earned run average of 3.01, struck out 132, yielded 119 hits and 95 walks, and beaned 13 while facing 647 batters during 130 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).
2A State Play-in Round
The 2A Top 9-24 teams meet for the play-in round at the higher seed with a 4 p.m. start on April 24. The top eight teams await the results of Round One pairings at Goodyear Baseball Complex on May 3.
Game One has No. 24 Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (8-12 seeding) at No. 9 Gilbert San Tan Charter (12-3), Game Two: No. 17 Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (9-6) versus No. 16 Glendale Prep (10-7) at Glendale Dream City Christian, Game Three: No. 18 Gilbert Classical (10-8) at No. 15 Willcox (7-11), Game Four: No. 21 Scottsdale Prep (7-10) vs. No. 12 Chandler Prep (12-5) at Tempe Diablo Complex, Game Five: No. 22 Eloy Santa Cruz (6-9) at No. 11 Morenci (10-8), Game Six: No. 20 Phoenix Country Day School (8-9) at No. 13 Saint Johns (12-6), Game Seven: No. 19 Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (10-9) vs. No. 14 Phoenix Veritas Prep (11-6) at Phoenix Indian School Park, and Game Eight: No. 23 Laveen Heritage (5-9) at No. 10 Benson (9-8).
2A State Rankings
The 2A Top 24 rankings for the 39 teams, on April 14, numbered 6-7 (.857) from the East Region, 4-5 (.800) from the Metro Region, 4-6 (.667) from the South and West Regions, 2-4 (.500) from both the Central and Valley Regions, and 2-7 (.286) from the North Region.
The Top eight teams, not in ranking order, are Phoenix Christian (15-2 seeding), Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (14-2), Tombstone (13-5), Phoenix Horizon Honors (15-3), Kingman Academy (13-5), Bisbee (12-5), Eagar Round Valley (13-4), and Pima (11-6).
Gilbert San Tan Charter (12-3, 4.0597) was No. 9, Benson (9-8, 3.0495) No. 10, Morenci (10-8, 2.7745) No. 11, Chandler Prep (12-5, 2.2280) No. 12, Saint Johns (12-6, 1.3595) No. 13, Phoenix Veritas Prep (11-6, 0.5352) No. 14, Willcox (7-11, 0.4904) No. 15, and Glendale Prep (10-7, minus 0.5108) No. 16.
Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (9-6, minus 1.1668) was No. 17, Gilbert Classical (10-8, minus 1.6728) No. 18, Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (10-9, minus 2.2111) No. 19, Phoenix Country Day School (8-9, minus 3.3827) No. 20, Scottsdale Prep (7-10, minus 3.4584) No. 21, Eloy Santa Cruz (6-9, minus 3.8906) No. 22,
Laveen Heritage (5-9, minus 5.4661) No. 23, and Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (8-12, minus 5.6585) No. 24.
The initial 2A Top 24 rankings, released at noon on March 26, had 6-7 (.857) from the East Region, 4-5 (.800) from the Metro Region, 3-4 from the Valley Region, 4-6 (.667) from both the South and West Regions, 2-7 (.286) from the North Region, and 1-4 (.125) from the Central Region.
Tombstone (6-2 seeding, 7.2646 rating) was No. 1, Arizona Lutheran (6-0, 7.1968) No. 2, Horizon Honors (6-1, 6.6858) No. 3, Phoenix Christian (4-1, 6.6542) No. 4, San Tan Charter (7-1, 5.1376) No. 5, Saint Johns (7-1, 4.3401) No. 6, Pima (3-2, 4.2091) No. 7, and Kingman Academy (5-2, 4.0814) No. 8.
Bisbee (5-2, 3.9109) was No. 9, Round Valley (6-3, 3.0212) No. 10, Benson (4-4, 2.2872) No. 11, Morenci (6-5, 1.4563) No. 12, Saint Augustine (4-4, 0.3579) No. 13, Chandler Prep (5-3, minus 0.7186) No. 14, Willcox (3-5, minus 0.8944) No. 15, and Gilbert Classical (5-4, minus 1.1758) No. 16.
Veritas Prep (4-3, minus 1.5039) was No. 17, Santa Cruz (3-4, minus 2.2056) No. 18, Saint John Paul II (7-6, minus 2.6792) No. 19, Madison Highland Prep (4-4, minus 2.9997) No. 20, Phoenix Country Day School (2-4, minus 3.7281) No. 21, Scottsdale Prep (3-4, minus 3.9674) No. 22, Trivium Prep (1-3, minus 5.0780) No. 23, and Miami (2-7, minus 5.1383) No. 24.
2A East Region Standings
The East Region final standings were Tombstone (16-5 overall, 11-3 seeding, 8-1 region) first, Bisbee (17-5, 10-4, 7-3) second, Pima (12-8-1, 7-6, 4-4) third, Benson (9-14-1, 6-9, 3-6) fourth, Willcox (9-12, 5-9, 4-5) fifth, Morenci (13-9, 10-5, 5-4) sixth, and Tucson Santa Rita (0-9, 0-9, 0-8) seventh.
Tombstone (9-3) had region wins over Pima (4-2, March 5), Santa Rita (22-0, March 12), Morenci (4-1, March 15), Benson (7-5, March 28), Pima (6-5, April 2), Willcox (11-5, April 5), Santa Rita (23-1 in 4 inn, April 8), Willcox (10-0 in 5 inn, April 12), and Morenci (4-3, April 19). The Jamie Milligan-coached No. 3 Yellow Jackets averaged a 9-5 (213-122) score per game or a 4-run margin through 25 games.
Bisbee (8-4) had region wins over Santa Rita (43-0, Feb. 21), Benson (6-3, March 5), Willcox (13-6, March 21), Tombstone (7-0, March 26), Benson (3-2, April 2), Santa Rita (19-0 in 5 inn, April 4), Pima (10-3, April 8), and Tombstone (6-3, April; 19). The Todd Hammett-coached No. 6 Pumas averaged a score of 12-3 (297-80) per game or a 9-run margin through 25 games.
Pima (8-4) had region wins over Benson (8-0, March 8), Bisbee (3-0, March 13), Willcox (16-3, March 15), Benson (2-0, April 5), Willcox (16-2 in 5 inn, April 16), Santa Rita (32-0 in 4 inn, April 22), Santa Rita (18-2 in 5 inn, April 19), and Morenci (10-0, April 22). The Tim DeCrow-coached No. 8 Roughriders averaged a score of 9-3 (213-82) per game or a 6-run margin through 25 games.
Benson (6-6) had region wins over Willcox (9-2, March 23), Morenci (10-1, March 25), Santa Rita (20-2 in 5 inn, April 11), Santa Rita (18-0 in 5 inn, April 16), Tombstone (6-4, April 18), and Morenci (9-5, April 19). The Fred Trujillo-coached No. 12 Bobcats averaged a score of 7-6 (196-154) per game or a 1-run margin through 27 games.
Willcox (6-6) had region wins over Morenci (6-5, March 11), Morenci (11-0, March 18), Santa Rita (16-3 in 5 inn., March 26), Benson (15-13, April 8), Bisbee (6-5, April 19), and Santa Rita (15-0 in 5 inn, April 22). The Adrian Fuentes-coached No. 15 Cowboys averaged a score of 6-8 (149-195) per game or a 2-run deficit through 25 games.
Morenci (5-7) had region wins over Santa Rita (12-2, March 6), Bisbee (6-5, March 8), Pima (6-5, March 27), Bisbee (6-5, April 5), and Santa Rita (17-2 in 5 inn, April 15). The Christopher Aguallo-coached No. 7 Wildcats averaged a score of 6-6 (150-140) per game or a tie through 25 games.
The John Chandler-coached No. 31 Santa Rita Eagles (0-8) averaged a score of 1-43 (15-281) per game or a 42-run deficit through 13 games.
