The stage is set, we're down to the final two teams in the 6A-3A Divisions. And congratulations to Scottsdale Christian for bringing home the 2A Title, and Mogollon bringing home the 1A Title. It has been a very eventful couple weeks to say the least, packed with drama, upsets, and good baseball. Let's take a look at what we have in store for the remaining title games.

 

4A Championship

#4 Canyon Del Oro vs #3 Salpointe Catholic

5/16 7:30PM @ Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, Arizona

Can't get much better than two rivals going at it for the trophy. Two of the top ranked teams at the 4A level for the entire season. Canyon Del Oro finished the season as Arizona's top ranked 4A team, and got as high as #15 in our state rankings. On the other end, Salpointe Catholic spent half the season in the P25 Rankings, reaching #23, but slipping out of the rankings in the final week after taking some end of the season losses to high level opponents. The regular season series between the rivals was split 1-1, both teams taking wins on the road. This is anybodies game.. what we do know is this is going to be a very emotional baseball game. These players are very familiar with each other, and have been competing in each others back yards for years. Emotions will be high, adrenaline will be pumping, and we will be left with only one winner. 

Available Arms

(Since everyone is now intrigued by this topic)

All arms are available to throw in this one. Both teams last competition was on Wednesday 5/11, giving pitchers who went over the maximum pitch total 5 days rest. Blake Lehmbeck and Robert Lopez both went over 80 pitches on Wednesday, but will be available to throw in tonights matchup.

Name	School	Class	IP	ERA	K	BB
Marcus Delgado	Canyon Del Oro	2022	36.2	.76	54	17
Blake Lehmbeck	Canyon Del Oro	2022	57.1	1.83	82	17
Dom Felix	Canyon Del Oro	2022	31	.68	39	4
Robert Lopez	Salpointe Catholic	2022	68.1	2.36	103	26
Max Smith	Salpointe Catholic	2022	44.1	2.21	40	14
Diego Garcia	Salpointe Catholic	2023	42.1	2.65	47	19

 

Big Bats

Name	School	Class	AVG	2B	3B	HR	RBI
Austin Madsen	Canyon Del Oro	2022	.395	4	1	5	33
Dom Felix	Canyon Del Oro	2022	.346	9	1	7	26
Lucas Casey	Canyon Del Oro	2023	.354	7	3	6	29
Chris Humphreys	Canyon Del Oro	2024	.361	7	0	1	20
Mason White	Salpointe Catholic	2022	.446	13	2	8	34
Jose Simon-Aguirre	Salpointe Catholic	2024	.333	6	0	2	22
Omar Monreal	Salpointe Catholic	2022	.333	5	1	0	12
Joshua Burke	Salpointe Catholic	2023	.329	4	0	1	15

 

5a Championship

#3 Verrado vs #1 Nogales

5/17 4PM @ Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Verrado has put together an outstanding season, in a somewhat "under the radar" fashion. And they've proven that the "under the radar" label does not belong on them. They came out on top of what some would say is the most talented region at the 5A level, with Millennium and Canyon View, and find themselves one of two teams still standing in the state. They will go toe-to-toe with the top team at the 5A level, the Nogales Apaches. These two teams will be getting their first look at each other on Tuesday night, in a highly anticipated game with good arms on the mound, and competitive offenses. Nogales has pummeled their opponents this year, outscoring them by 200 runs, with a team ERA of 2.2. Verrado has gone undefeated to this point through the playoffs, as Nogales was beaten one time in the semis by Desert Mountain. Expect a clean baseball game to be played by both sides, with emotion from the players and their crowds. Both teams will travel very well to Diablo Stadium with a chance to go home with the crown.  

 

Available Arms

All pitchers should be cleared to throw for both sides in this one. Verrado has not taken the field since last Wednesday, giving their two horses plenty of rest and should be ready to compete. Nogales gave the ball to Sal Valenzuela on Thursday night, who went deep into the game, but will be cleared to throw if needed on Tuesday. Ace of the staff for Nogales Roman Bracamonte was removed from the game during his last outing with an apparent arm injury, we hope all is well with him, but seems as if he will nto be able to compete on Tuesday. 

Name	School	Class	IP	ERA	K	BB
Roman Bracamonte	Nogales	2022	66.1	1.16	102	13
Saul Soto	Nogales	2022	45.2	1.53	85	25
Sal Valenzuela	Nogales	2024	45.2	.59	63	19
Santiago DiBene	Nogales	2022	26	5.38	27	6
Joseph Perez	Verrado	2022	59.2	2.82	79	24
Garrett Hicks	Verrado	2022	50	1.54	73	24

 

Big Bats

Name	School	Class	AVG	2B	3B	HR	RBI
Larry Haskins JR	Verrado	2022	.515	19	8	4	29
Brenden Killeen	Verrado	2022	.484	14	7	1	32
Ty Acton	Verrado	2023	.391	9	2	2	29
Garrett Hicks	Verrado	2022	.382	8	1	2	25
Demetrio Crisantes	Nogales	2022	.485	15	4	7	26
Luis Romero	Nogales	2023	.456	3	0	0	20
Sergio Valverde	Nogales	2023	.427	7	2	0	39
Derek Montijo	Nogales	2023	.418	5	2	1	18

 

6A Championship

#6 Chandler vs #1 Hamilton

5/17 7PM @ Diablo Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

The 6A title is on the line under the lights on Tuesday night in Tempe. There will be no shortage of talent/prospects on the field in this one. Two of the most exciting offenses in the state will be squaring off with the season on the line. Hamilton was been the beneficiary of a DQ of Queen Creek for using an ineligible pitcher (if you haven't heard...), but the Huskies have done all they can do and seized an opportunity that was put in front of them. Although Hamilton came back and beat Chaparral two times to advance to the state finals, their luck was not running so high on Saturday night. The 6A Premier Region Player of the Year Josh Tiedemann started the game on the mound vs Chaparral on Saturday, and like he does, he was off to a great start on the mound. In a 4th inning at bat, Tiedemann was ejected from the ball game, making him ineligible to play in this state finals matchup (pending his appeal). For Tiedemann and the Huskies sake, we hope for the best for him in his appeal, as we never want to see a player miss an opportunity to be with his teammates in a moment like this. On the other end, Chandler has gone through some of the toughest teams in the 6A division during their road to the championship game. The Wolves have gone through Perry, Brophy, and Mountain Ridge, and have won some of these games very handily. The Chandler Wolves offense is high powered and relentless. They take team at bats, and are a veteran led group. They had their backs against the wall on Saturday against Perry, and showed they can play with that pressure, as the game ended in nearly run-rule fashion 11-2. Very exciting matchup in our future with this one.

 

Available Arms

All arms for the Huskies should be available, outside of Tiedemann. This leaves Kole Klecker and Logan Saloman available to pitch, which has to make the Huskies like their chances. Sr RHP Aiden Shumaker just about went the distance for the Wolves on Saturday, making him ineligible to pitch in the championship game. Sr Daniel Hutchison took the mound on Friday for Chandler vs Perry, no stats are posted on the Chandler end of this one, but if Hutchison went over 81 pitches in this outing, he will not be eligible to pitch.

Name	School	Class	IP	ERA	K	BB
Logan Saloman	Hamilton	2022	61.2	1.7	52	5
Kole Klecker	Hamilton	2022	53.2	3.13	47	15
Jackson Smith	Hamilton	2022	19.2	3.92	17	4
Jeremy Jones	Hamilton	2022	22	.64	22	5
Will Shelor	Hamilton	2023	13.2	4.61	17	8
Kyle Sleconich	Chandler	2022	30.1	1.85	37	18
Zane Burns	Chandler	2025	-	-	-	-

 

Big Bats

Name	School	Class	AVG	2B	3B	HR	RBI
Daniel Hutchison	Chandler	2022	.495	9	1	1	32
Tate Scott	Chandler	2022	.475	13	1	10	39
Brodie Sexton	Chandler	2022	.427	5	2	3	17
Kyle Sleconich	Chandler	2022	.392	8	0	1	19
Roch Cholowsky	Hamilton	2023	.370	7	1	2	15
Ryan Kucherak	Hamilton	2023	.345	6	2	7	28
Prince DeBoksie	Hamilton	2022	.330	5	2	3	30
Gavin Turley	Hamilton	2022	.312	7	0	14	29

 

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