Morenci Lions tourney update

Lake Washington takes championship over Morenci while Thatcher knocks off previously unbeaten Phoenix Christian

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Thatcher starting pitcher Jason Carrasco recorded 10 strikeouts and yielded six hits while facing 24 Phoenix Christian batters. Thatcher upset the previously unbeaten

By Raymundo Frasquillo

Day three of the 41st annual Morenci Lions Club Invitational baseball tournament had Pima 7-3 over Duncan, Willcox 11-2 over Elfrida Valley Union, Phoenix Christian 10-1 over Safford, Heber Mogollon 9-3 over Saint Johns, Miami 9-3 over Mogollon, Lake Washington 17-1 over Thatcher, and Lake Washington 15-1 over Morenci for the championship.

Results of day two pairings were Saint Johns 8-5 in five innings over Duncan, Mogollon 13-5 (5 inn.) over Pima, Miami 16-4 (5 inn.) over Valley Union, Thatcher 2-1 over Phoenix Christian, Lake Washington 7-0 (6 inn.) over Safford, and Morenci 10-2 (6 inn.) over Willcox on April 12.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Lake Washington supports teammates at the plate. Leading 1-0, Kangaroos’ senior outfielder Nation Wood dispatched a 2-2, 2-out pitch over the right-centerfield fence to double the score on Safford. Wood scored the games’ final run from second base on a passed ball with two outs. He was named player of the game.

Thatcher starting pitcher Jason Carrasco recorded 10 strikeouts and yielded six hits while facing 24 Phoenix Christian batters. Reliever Seth Lunt struck out one, walked one, and allowed a hit while facing five batters. At the plate, Javan Montoya tripled in a doubled Micheal McBride to break the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with no outs. The Cougars had two runners on with two outs and grounded out in the seventh inning to drop from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Morenci broke a 2-2 deadlock with Willcox in the sixth inning to win the semifinal game 10-2. The Wildcats notched eight singles in scoring eight runs with 11 batters. The 10th run was doubled in by sophomore Lance Morey, prompting officials to call the game after the 8-run margin with two outs. Senior Brandon Blair was beaned with the bases loaded to drive in the go-ahead run and was named player of the game.

Players of the game for day two were Saint Johns senior Kyren Ulibarri, Mogollon sophomore Caden Owens, Miami freshman Gabe Escobedo, Thatcher senior Javan Montoya, Lake Washington senior Nation Wood, and Morenci junior Brandon Blair.