Photo: 29 Luke Tobin slides into third during the bottom of the first inning
It was a wild afternoon of baseball on the campus of Prescott High School as the Badgers dug a deep hole early, but were able to climb out and finished off the Coconino Panthers for a 10-8 win. The win gives Prescott a season sweep over the Panthers.
Coconino took advantage of a costly Badger error to score three to open the game. The Panthers would chase Tristan McKown in the second as the visitors took advantage of some more miscues. Pitcher Matt Hepperle was finally able to end the inning but not till the Panthers had scored three more runs and held a 7-0 lead.
Photo: 44 Parker Reed welcomes Ryan Elliot after the two scored on a hit by Luke Tobin
The Badgers trailed by seven going into the bottom of the second but their spirits would soon get a quick boost. Prescott took advantage of some gifts by Coconino to bat around and tie the game after just two innings.
The Badgers would get three of their five extra base hits in the second. Brendan Costes had an RBI double and would score. Jack Burton smashed a 0-2 pitch with a one hopper over the left centerfield fence to score a pair. Hepperle sliced the ball the opposite direction for a two RBI double. When the dust settled the game was deadlocked at seven.
Hepperle, who came in the second inning to relief McKown retired the Panthers 1-2-3 and the Badgers came up in the bottom of the inning.
Photo: 8 Brendan Costes comes home on a wild pitch as the Coconino pitcher looks on
Prescott took the lead for good in the bottom of the third with a run for an 8-7 lead. The Badgers would add two more to 10-7.
Coconino managed to get a run in the top of the sixth off of Travis Gates, but Gates shut the door in the seventh to close out the win.
The Badgers (2-0) in the GCR, and (9-3) overall, with host the Mohave Thunderbirds, on Tuesday at 4 pm. Coconino falls to (0-2) and (8-6).
PRESCOTT BADGERS 10, COCONINO PANTHERS 8
Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E
Coconino 340 001 0 – 8 7 3
Prescott 071 200 x – 10 12 3
WP:Hepperle
LP:Baca
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Prescott 2-0 9-3
Mingus 2-0 9-7
Flagstaff 1-0 10-4
Bradshaw Mountain 0-0 7-6
Lee Williams 0-0 1-10
Coconino 0-2 8-6
Mohave 0-3 2-12
SCOREBOARD
Prescott 10, Coconino 8
Flagstaff 11, Mohave 1
Mingus 19, Mohave 5
Varsity Softball
The Badgers fell 10-0 to the Coconino Panthers in five innings at Flagstaff.
Kennedy Carr and Mariah Smolnikar each had a hit with Carr getting a stolen base. Defensively, the Badgers allowed five unearned runs by committing three errors. RJ Parra threw the entire four innings and struck out six.
Coconino’s Kaitlyn Tso pitched all five innings and allowed just two hits while striking out 12. Seven different Panthers had RBIs.
Prescott will travel to Mohave on Tuesday. Game time is at 3:45 pm.
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Coconino 2-0 10-5
Bradshaw Mountain 2-0 7-4
Mingus 2-0 4-3
Flagstaff 0-0 9-5
Prescott 0-2 9-7
Lee Williams 0-2 3-5
Mohave 0-2 2-7
SCOREBOARD
Coconino 10, Prescott 0, 5 innings
Bradshaw Mountain 8, Lee Williams 3
Lee Williams 20, Dysart 1
Mingus 21, Mohave 16
