The high school baseball playoffs begin Monday, and there will be a new Class 5A state champion after an eventful season on and off the field. Here’s a preview.
Baseball
Las Vegas High’s baseball team, No. 1 in the Review-Journal’s Class 5A rankings, scored five runs in the first inning and held on for a home win over Palo Verde on Thursday.
Maddox Riske hit a two-run homer to ignite a four-run eighth inning as Bishop Gorman rallied past Palo Verde after blowing an early three-run lead.
Josiah Cromwick’s two-run single in the fifth inning Thursday broke a scoreless tie and lifted Palo Verde’s baseball team to a 3-1 win over Northwest Christian (Arizona) in the Wolves Classic in Goodyear, Arizona.
Austin Wells hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday to help Bishop Gorman’s baseball team to a 9-7 home win over Riverton (Utah) in the Desert Classic.
Rancho’s Layton Walls provided a two-run single, and the Rams’ baseball team added another run on a passed ball as part of a three-run eighth inning to defeat Liberty 4-1 on the road Tuesday.
Jake Rogers pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the seventh to help Centennial’s baseball team escape with a 7-6 victory over host Cimarron-Memorial on Wednesday and give head coach Charlie Cerrone his 400th career win at the school.
Boulder City scored four runs on just one hit in the top of the eighth inning Monday and the Eagles held off host Sierra Vista, 9-6.
The Aggies were the Northwest League”s No. 1 playoff seed last season but went 1-2, including a 21-7 loss to Palo Verde in the Sunset Region tournament that ended their season. Led by all-state shortstop Nick Quintana, Arbor View has high hopes for this season.