Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Brennon Leslie (8) delivers a pitch to Christopher Carbajal. The Saint Johns junior yielded five earned runs, 10 hits, two walks, grazed one, and struck out seven while facing 26 batters during five innings against Morenci. The Wildcats host a pair of region games, with Tombstone on Tuesday, April 16, and with Benson on Friday, April 19.
Six East Region teams ranked in the Top 24
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The No. 3 Tombstone Yellow Jackets and No. 12 Benson Bobcats will be in Francis Waldorf Stadium on Tuesday, April 16, and Friday, April 19, respectively.
The No. 7 Morenci Wildcats began the week with a run-ruled win over the No. 31 Santa Rita Eagles in Tucson (17-2 in 5 inn, April 15). The three pairings are each for region play.
Earlier this season, Morenci run-ruled Santa Rita (12-2 in five inn, March 6) at home and posted road losses to both Tombstone (1-4, March 15) and Benson (1-10, March 25).
In other region pairings this week (April 15-20), Santa Rita visits Benson and Willcox visits Pima on Tuesday, April 16; Benson visits Tombstone on Thursday, April 18; and Willcox hosts Bisbee and Santa Rita hosts Pima for a doubleheader on Friday, April 19.
Non-region pairings include Willcox visiting Phoenix Horizon Honors on Wednesday, April 17; Bisbee hosting Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic and Pima hosting Miami on April 18; and Tombstone at Tucson San Miguel Catholic on Saturday, April 20.
No. 3 Tombstone Yellow Jackets (16-5 overall)
The Jamie Milligan-coached Yellow Jackets (16-5 overall, 11-3 seeding, 8-1 East Region for first) are averaging a score of 9-5 (188-104) score per game or a 4-run margin through 21 games.
Tombstone has seeding wins over Saint David (4-2, Feb. 27), Elfrida Valley Union (14-4 in 4 inn, March 1), Pima (4-2, March 5), Tucson Santa Rita (22-0 in 4 inn, March 12), Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (9-6, March 13), 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), and Willcox (10-0 in 5 inn, April 12). The losses are to Tucson Tanque Verde (3-13 in 5 inn, March 18), Valley Union (4-8, March 25), and Bisbee (0-7, March 26).
The Yellow Jackets also went a combined 5-2 during two tourneys, 3-1 in the Mica Mountain tourney and 2-1 in the New Mexico Bayard Cobre tourney. The wins were over Tucson Desert Christian (9-2, Feb. 21), Snowflake (13-4, Feb. 23), Texas El Paso Austin (13-3 in 6 inn, Feb. 24), New Mexico Silver (19-13 in 5 inn, March 7), and New Mexico Hatch Valley (10-3 in 5 inn, March 9). The losses were to Thatcher (3-10, Feb. 22) and Texas El Paso Jefferson (0-9, March 8).
At the plate, the team batting average is .340 (184-541) with 145 of 186 runs batted in, 32 doubles, 10 triples, and seven home runs. It also includes 110 strikeouts, 93 bases on balls, and being beaned 31 times.
The Yellow Jackets have used a pitching corps of eight, with a combined earned run average of 3.34, struck out 168, yielded 120 hits and 73 walks, and beaned 26 while facing 607 batters during 127 2/3 innings.
A 19-member roster includes seniors Maurice Alvarez (32), Gabe Garcia (27), Brody Franklin (1), and Miles McClain (14); juniors D.J. Elias (5), Andrew Escapule (8), Trey Franklin (3), Andrew Griesemer (22), Eric Koehler (13), and Miguel Rincon (9); sophomores Brendan Cabellero (10) and Ty Montgomery (4); and freshmen Kelly Bliss (2), Andrew Dorcy (77), Victor Flores (7), Hank Moody (6), Jacob Smith-Ames (28), Vlad Velasquez (12) and Sasha Webster (82).
No. 12 Benson Bobcats (9-14-1 overall)
The Fred Trujillo-coached Bobcats (9-14-1 overall, 6-9 seeding, 3-6 East Region for sixth) are averaging a score of 7-6 (163-145) per game or a 1-run margin through 24 games.
Benson has seeding wins over Saint Augustine (19-5, March 2), Saint David (11-7, March 18), Willcox (9-2, March 23), Morenci (10-1, March 25), Horizon Honors (4-3, April 10), and Santa Rita (20-2 in 5 inn, April 11).
The losses are to Tanque Verde (3-6, March 5), Bisbee (6-3, March 5), Pima (0-8, March 8), Tucson Empire (10-13, March 20), Eagar Round Valley (0-1/forfeit, March 27), Tombstone (5-7, March 28), Bisbee (2-3, April 2), Pima (0-2, April 5), and Willcox (13-15, April 10).
The Bobcats also went a combined 3-5-1 during two tourneys, 2-1-1 in the Mica Mountain tourney and 2-1 in the Salpointe Catholic tourney. The wins were over Tucson Rincon/University (12-3, Feb. 22), Texas El Paso Parkland (17-2 in 5 inn, Feb. 23), and Cottonwood Mingus (4-1 in 6 inn, March 13).
The losses were to Thatcher (6-9, Feb. 24), Tucson Desert View (1-10 in 6 inn, March 11), Waddell Canyon View (0-12 in 5 inn, March 12), Tuba City (22-0 in 4 inn, March 1), Yuma (2-12 in 6 inn, March 14), and Sahuarita Walden Grove (8-11 in 6 inn, March 15).
A 20-member roster includes seniors Colton Bellmore (2), Aiden Bowling (6), Dalton Crockett (11), Gabriel Montijo (34), Peter Ramirez (40), and D.J. Workman (1); juniors David Harris (10), Trent Manzo (14), Damian Nickens (16), Keelyn Payne (13), and Case Williams (8); sophomores Kellen Deskins (5), Mathew Evans (3), Sterling Fenn (15), Dawson Judd (9), and Kendall Miles (19); and freshmen Easton Adams (4), Koltin Deskins (21), Tyson Kilpatrick (23), Jason Santo (18), and Jace Matt (12).
No. 7 Morenci Wildcats (13-9 overall)
The Christopher Aguallo-coached Morenci Wildcats (13-9 overall, 10-5 seeding, 5-4 East Region for third) are averaging a score of 6-5 (143-117) per game or a 1-run margin through 22 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 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 East Region Standings
The region standings through April 14 are Tombstone (16-5 overall, 11-3 seeding, 8-1 region) first, Bisbee (17-5, 10-4, 7-3) second, Morenci (13-9, 10-5, 5-4) third, Pima (12-8-1, 7-6, 4-4) fourth, Willcox (9-12, 5-9, 4-5) fifth, Benson (9-14-1, 6-9, 3-6) sixth, and Tucson Santa Rita (0-9, 0-9, 0-8) seventh.
To date in region pairings, Tombstone (8-1) has 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), and Willcox (10-0 in 5 inn, April 12). The Jamie Milligan-coached No. 3 Yellow Jackets are averaging a 9-5 (188-104) score per game or a 4-run margin through 21 games.
Bisbee (7-3) has 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), and Pima (10-3, April 8). The Todd Hammett-coached No. 6 Pumas are averaging a score of 12-3 (272-71) per game or a 9-run margin through 22 games.
Morenci (5-4) has 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 are averaging a score of 6-5 (143-117) per game or a 1-run margin through 22 games.
Pima (4-4) has region wins over Benson (8-0, March 8), Bisbee (3-0, March 13), Willcox (16-3, March 15), and Benson (2-0, April 5). The Tim DeCrow-coached No. 8 Roughriders are averaging a score of 6-4 (137-78) per game or a 2-run margin through 21 games.
Willcox (4-5) has region wins over Morenci (6-5, March 11), Morenci (11-0, March 18), Santa Rita (16-3 in 5 inn., March 26), and Benson (15-13, April 8). The Adrian Fuentes-coached No. 15 Cowboys are averaging a score of 6-8 (120-164) per game or a 2-run deficit through 21 games.
Benson (3-6) has region wins over Willcox (9-2, March 23), Morenci (10-1, March 25), and Santa Rita (20-2 in 5 inn, April 11). The Fred Trujillo-coached No. 12 Bobcats are averaging a score of 7-6 (163-145) per game or a 1-run margin through 24 games.
The John Chandler-coached No. 31 Santa Rita Eagles (0-8) are averaging a score of 1-22 (11-199) per game or a 22-run deficit through nine games.
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 Region, 3-6 (.500) from the West Region, 2-4 (.500) from both the Central and Valley Regions, and 3-7 (.429) from the North Region.
Phoenix Christian (10-1 seeding, 9.7467 rating) was No. 1, Phoenix Arizona Lutheran (11-2, 7.0926) No. 2, Tombstone (10-3, 6.9247) No. 3, Phoenix Horizon Honors (13-2, 6.5608) No. 4, Kingman Academy (10-4, 6.0885) No. 5, Bisbee (9-4, 5.5290) No. 6, Morenci (9-5, 4.0250) No. 7, and Pima (6-6, 3.3137) No. 8.
Gilbert San Tan Charter (9-3, 3.0164) was No. 9, Eagar Round Valley (10-4, 2.5103) No. 10, Saint Johns (10-4, 1.9328) No. 11, Benson (6-8, 1.3073) No. 12, Chandler Prep (10-5, 0.7686) No. 13, Tucson Saint Augustine Catholic (9-6, 0.0553) No. 14, Willcox (5-8, minus 0.2369) No. 15, and Phoenix Veritas Prep (7-5, minus 0.3375) No. 16.
Sanders Valley (6-3, minus 1.6578) was No. 17, Glendale Prep (6-7, minus 1.7308) No. 18, Gilbert Classical (8-7, minus 2.2078) No. 19, Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (8-7, minus 2.7666) No. 20, Eloy Santa Cruz (5-8, minus 3.1658) No. 21, Scottsdale Prep (6-7, minus 3.6462) No. 22, Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic (8-9, minus 4.1227) No. 23, and Phoenix Country Day School (6-7, minus 4.2356) 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.
No. 11 Morenci – 6, No. 9 Saint Johns – 1
The visiting Redskins mustered a lone run in the third inning while the Wildcats countered with two in the bottom of the frame plus two more in both the fourth and sixth. It resulted in Morenci posting three straight seeding wins on its recently completed artificial playing surface.
Saint Johns went three up and three down twice before six batters stepped to the plate in the third. A one-out fielding error allowed a runner on, a fielder’s choice did not get an out, and a throwing error had the first runner score before two flyouts ended the scoring threat.
The Redskins went three up and three down twice more, in the fourth and fifth, and sent four up in both the sixth and seventh. The sixth had a one-out single followed by a flyout and strikeout, while the seventh had a one-out walk, a fielder’s choice for a second out, and a groundout.
Morenci lead-off batter Emilio Roybal singled on with two outs, Lopez singled in Roybal to tie at 1-1, and Ballesteros singled in Lopez to give the Wildcats the lead for good before a strikeout notched the third out.
For the game, Morenci batted .214 (6-28), stranded five runners, and committed two errors compared to .120 (3-25), four left on base, and six errors by Saint Johns. Morenci posted a .929 (21-5-2) fielding average versus .769 (18-2-6) for Saint Johns.Â
Andrew Chavez (4 RBIs), Ballesteros (RBI), Carbajal, and Basteen each batted .333 (1-3), and both Roybal and Lopez (RBI) .125 (1-4).
On the mound, Nelson struck out five and allowed one hit and no earned runs while facing 18 batters during five innings. Reliever Figueroa struck out three, walked one, and yielded a hit and no earned runs while facing eight batters during two innings.
For Saint Johns, senior Michael Bushman (RBI) and sophomore T Platt both batted .333 (1-3).
On the mound, senior Clance Wiltbank struck out five and yielded five hits and two earned runs while facing 18 batters during 3 2/3 innings. Junior reliever Ethan Skousen struck out four and yielded a hit and no earned runs while facing 11 batters during 2 1/3 innings.
