Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: An “M” adorns the area immediately behind home plate on the nearly completed “Field of Dreams” in Morenci’s Francis Waldorf Stadium. The Wildcats host Willcox on Monday, March 18. The region game is being played on the junior varsity field.
East No. 4 hosts East No. 3 on Monday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
MORENCI – The Christopher Aguallo-coached Morenci Wildcats face the Willcox Cowboys on Monday, March 18. The baseball pairing is a region contest, pitting East No. 3 Willcox (6-6 overall, 2-3 seeding, 1-1 region) at East No. 4 Morenci (6-5, 4-3, 2-2). The Wildcats close out the week in the White Mountains, at Eagar Round Valley on Wednesday, March 20, and at Saint Johns on Friday, March 22.
The game with Willcox will not be held in Francis Waldorf Stadium as the artificial playing surface is not finished. Barring weather-related delays, the estimated completion date is nearer the last week of March, a project spokesman said.
Morenci’s initial April home game with Bisbee on the 5th, along with four other seeding games as well as the three-day local Lion’s tourney should be played on the new “Field of Dreams.”
2A East Region Standings
The region standings through March 16 are Tombstone (9-1 overall, 6-0 seeding, 3-0 region) first, Pima (8-3-1, 3-1, 3-1) second, Willcox (6-5, 2-2, 1-1) third, Morenci (6-5, 4-3, 2-2) fourth, Bisbee (10-3, 3-2, 2-2) fifth, Benson (4-8-1, 1-3, 0-2) sixth, and Tucson Santa Rita (0-4, 0-4, 0-3) seventh.
To date in region pairings, Tombstone (3-0) has region wins over Pima (4-2, March 5), Santa Rita (22-0, March 12), and Morenci (4-1, March 15). The Jamie Milligan-coached Yellow Jackets are averaging a 10-3 (95-34) score per game or a 7-run margin through 10 games.
Pima (3-1) has region wins over Benson (8-0, March 8), Bisbee (3-0, March 13), and Willcox (16-3, March 15). The Tim DeCrow-coached Roughriders are averaging a score of 7-2 (88-29) per game or a 5-run margin through 12 games.
Willcox (1-1) has a region win over Morenci (6-5, March 11). The Adrian Fuentes-coached Cowboys are averaging a score of 5-7 (63-84) per game or a 2-run deficit through 12 games.
Morenci (2-2) has region wins over Santa Rita (12-2, March 6) and Bisbee (6-5, March 8). The Christopher Aguallo-coached Wildcats are averaging a score of 8-4 (83-49) per game or a 4-run margin through 11 games.
Bisbee (2-2) has region wins over Santa Rita (43-0, Feb. 21) and Benson (6-3, March 5). The Todd Hammett-coached Pumas are averaging a score of 14-3 (185-36) per game or an 11-run margin through 13 games.
The Fred Trujillo-coached Benson Bobcats (0-2) are averaging a score of 6-7 (79-89) per game or a 1-run deficit through 13 games while the John Chandler-coached Santa Rita Eagles (0-3) are averaging a score of 1-26 (3-104) per game or a 25-run deficit through four games.
This week (March 18-23) in other region pairings, Bisbee hosts Willcox on March 21 and Benson hosts Willcox on March 23.
In non-region pairings, Benson visits Saint David on March 18; Empire visits Benson and Tombstone visits Tucson Tanque Verde on Wednesday, March 20; and Bisbee visits San Manuel and Round Valley visits Pima on March 23.
Willcox Cowboys (6-6 overall)
The Adrian Fuentes-coached Willcox Cowboys (6-6 overall, 2-3 seeding, 1-1 East Region for third) are averaging a score of 5-7 (63-84) per game or a 2-run deficit through 12 games.
Willcox has seeding wins over Phoenix Madison Highland Prep (5-2, Feb. 26) and Morenci (6-5, March 11). The losses are to Thatcher (4-5, March 6), Pima (3-16, March 15), and Round Valley (0-9, March 16).
The Cowboys also went a combined 4-3 during two tourneys, 1-2 in the Benjamin Franklin tourney on Feb. 22-24 and 3-1 in the 3-day Bisbee tourney on Feb. 29-March 2. The wins were over Winslow (9-6, Feb. 23), Tucson San Miguel Catholic (13-3, Feb. 29), Saint David (8-6, Feb. 29), and Tuba City (14-0, March 2). The losses were to Queen Creek Crimson (1-11, Feb. 22), Gilbert Christian (0-11, Feb. 24), and Bisbee (0-10, March 2).
Willcox has a team batting average of .165 (21-127) with 13 of 18 runs batted in, three doubles, and a home run through five seeding games. Additionally, the Cowboys struck out 31 times and were walked 13 times.
On the mound during the same five games, the Cowboys allowed 17 of 37 earned runs, three home runs, 28 walks, and beaned three. They limited opponents to a .213 (29-136) batting average in striking out 46 while facing 148 batters during 32 2/3 innings.
A 15-member roster includes seniors Oren Allsup (22), Ayden Fimbres (24), Alec Fuentes (7), Kash Macumber (8), and Ed Tingle (44); juniors Andres Correa (15) and Severo Torres (4); sophomores Rilee Brooks (10), Joseph Sanchez, Ty Schull (2), Christian Teeters (36), and Logan Wise (11); and freshmen Kaleb Cooke (9), Anthony Morales (5), and Jerry Reyes (9).
Round Valley Elks (5-4 overall)
The Adrian Mather-coached Round Valley Elks (5-4 overall, 3-2 seeding, 0-0 North Region for second of seven) are averaging a score of 8-4 (72-36) per game or a 4-run margin through nine games.
Round Valley has seeding wins over Holbrook (26-1, Feb. 24), Phoenix Veritas Prep (8-2, March 5), and Willcox (9-0, March 16). The losses are to Saint Johns (3-4, Feb. 22) and Whiteriver Alchesay (3-6, Feb. 26).
The Elks also went 2-2 during the 3-day Florence tourney on Feb. 29-March 2. The wins were over Kearny Ray (8-1, Feb. 29) and Winkelman Hayden (7-6, March 1) while the losses were to Safford (2-4, Feb. 29) and Florence (6-12, March 2).
Round Valley has a team batting average of .314 (70-223) with 58 of 72 runs batted in, 14 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. Additionally, the Cowboys struck out 55 times, walked 37 times, and beaned 14 times.
On the mound, the Elks have a 2.33 earned run average, allowed 16 of 36 earned runs, one home run, 30 walks, and beaned nine. They have limited opponents to a .213 (38-201) batting average in striking out 43 while facing 240 batters during 48 innings.
A 15-member roster includes seniors Noah Dana (44), Derrick Gilliam (27), Lane Hill (7), Ryker Marble (3), Rico Morales (8), Aaron Rogers (6), and Knell Ruvulcaba (99); junior Brandon Pena (23); sophomores Camden Austin (22), Jeffrey Cochran (14), Koby Kelepolo (32), and Brenton Walker (5); and freshmen Brody Crick (12) and J.J. Logan (9).
Saint Johns Redskins (7-1 overall)
The Kenneth Blank-coached Saint Johns Redskins (7-1 overall, 5-0 seeding, 1-0 North Region for first of seven) are averaging a score of 11-3 (85-26) per game or an 8-run margin through eight games.
Saint Johns has seeding wins over Round Valley (4-3, Feb. 22), Sedona Red Rock (19-1, Feb. 23), Joseph City (12-0, Feb. 27), Sanders Valley (10-0, Feb. 28), and Holbrook (14-2, March 4).
The Elks also went a 2-1 during the Joseph City tourney on March 7-9, with wins over Ganado (12-3, March 7) and Duncan (10-3, March 9) along with a loss to Holbrook (4-18, March 8).
Saint Johns has a team batting average of .369 (79-214) with 52 of 85 runs batted in, 23 doubles, three triples, and a home run. Additionally, the Redskins struck out 48 times, were walked 28 times, and beaned 10 times.
On the mound, the Elks have a 3.53 earned run average, allowed 21 of 26 earned runs, yielded 19 walks, and beaned seven. They limited opponents to a .231 (36-156) batting average in striking out 78 while facing 182 batters during 41 2/3 innings.
A 13-member roster includes seniors Michael Bushman (3), Jackson Greer (5), Preston Lindsey (16), and Clance Wiltbank (12); juniors McKray Johnson (14), Brennon Leslie (8), Cy Lindsey (4), Everett McFee (2), and Ethan Skousen (11); sophomores Boulder Brundage (9), Juan Calderon (13), and T Platt (1); and freshman Kaden White (6).
Morenci Wildcats (6-5 overall)
The Christopher Aguallo-coached Morenci Wildcats (6-5 overall, 4-3 seeding, 2-2 East Region for fourth) are averaging a score of 8-4 (83-49) per game or a 4-run margin through 11 games.
Morenci has seeding wins over Miami (14-3, March 4), Santa Rita (March 5), Bisbee (6-5, March 8), and San Carlos (18-2, March 14). The losses are to Willcox (5-6, March 11), Winkelman Hayden (9-10, March 13), and Tombstone (1-4, March 15).
The Wildcats also went 2-2 during the 3-day Benjamin Franklin tourney on Feb. 22-24, with wins over Miami (6-1, Feb. 29) and Superior (2-1, March 1) along with losses to Thatcher (0-4, Feb. 29) and Show Low (10-11, March 2).
At the plate, the team batting average is .327 (88-269) with 68 of 82 runs batted in, 15 doubles, four triples, and five home runs. It also includes 82 strikeouts, 41 bases on balls, and being beaned 19 times.
The Wildcats have used a pitching corps of eight, with a combined earned run average of 3.25, struck out 72, yielded 55 hits, walked 51, and beaned four while facing 297 batters during 60 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).
