Photo: Travis Gates slams his bases clearing double
The Prescott Badgers won their play-in playoff game 18-16 over the Coconino Panthers at Prescott High School. The Badgers used six pitchers in getting the win.
Prescott coach Barry Tolli said, “Yeah, we used about everybody to get those 21 outs today. Good thing is that each of them did not throw a lot of pitches so they will be ready for our next game.”
Coconino jumped on top with a pair of runs to start the game. Prescott responded when Luke Tobin and Jack Burton homered. Tobin said, “It was great to get things started for us offensively. I was seeing the ball well and once I hit it, it took off.” Burton said, “It was big for us to get right back at them, especially a playoff game. We have a lot of good bats on this team and know we can score some runs.”
Adrian Sanderford started on the hill for Prescott, and was the victim of some poor fielding, that resulted in three unearned runs in the top of the second. Trailing 5-2, the Badgers put up four runs to take their first lead of the game. Capped off by a Brendan Costes single with the bases loaded gave the home team a 6-5 lead. A sacrifice fly by Coconino would tie the game at six in the top of the third. The only goose egg inning for the Badgers came in the bottom of the inning.
The teams each scored three in the fourth inning. The Panthers scored three runs to take a 9-6 lead, but Prescott got an RBI single by Costes, and a two run single by Matt Hepperle to tie the game at nine.
Coconino added two more to take the lead again at 11-9 in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, the Badgers came back to regain the lead. Nick Martin started things off with a single and scored when Ryan Elliot singled to make it 11-10. Luke Tobin was hit by the pitch. Costes walked to load the bases, then Colton Champion was hit by the pitch to tie the game at eleven. Travis Gates who was pitching at the time, came up and belted a bases clearing double to give Prescott a 14-11 lead. Gates said, “I just knew I wanted to get up there and drive the ball. I got a good pitch and went with it. It felt really good to come through for our team like that.”
Photo: Jack Burton makes a tough throw to first in the fifth inning to get a crucial out
Coconino came back again to score two and close the gap to 14-13. The Badgers got another big inning to go up 18-13. Ivan Schuster smashed a double half way up the left field fence. Martin laid down a perfect bunt to beat out an infield single. A passed ball scored Schuster. Tobin walked and Burton came up with a two RBI single. A scary moment occurred when Champion hit a shallow fly ball to the first baseman. As the first baseman came in, the two collided just before the bag as the ball tipped off the fielder’s glove. Burton scored on the play, but Champion suffered an injury and had to leave the game. He was replaced by Andrew Lyon, who said, ”That is unfortunate for Champ. What a season he has had. Hopefully it won’t be anything serious and we can get him back out here.”
The Panthers came right back in the top of the seventh. Ryker Patten hit a pitch that bounced over the left field fence for a ground ruled double. Gavin Woodruff beat out an infield single. The throw got past the first baseman and Patten scored. Corbin Derr hit a single for an RBI and it was 18-15.Trey parker singled in a run to make it 18-16. The Badgers were able to get the last out when Ryan Elliot came in to strike out the final batter with the bases loaded.
Coach Tolli said, “I was proud of our team and the way we continue to battle. Giving up runs the way we did is not the way we need or want to play. We are fortunate that we are able to hit the ball and had a lot of really good quality at bats. We were very sloppy in the field and if we want to keep playing we are going to have to clean that up. You can’t give other teams runs and expect to win. We were fortunate today for sure.” Burton added, “We were great at the plate but in the field it was really ugly. We have to clean it up. Just way too many mistakes.”
Prescott will travel for a first round playoff game.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 18, COCONINO PANTHERS 16
Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E
Coconino 231 322 3 – 16 17 6
Prescott 240 354 x – 18 14 5
WP:Sanderford
LP:Parker
PLAY-IN PLAYOFF SCORES
Prescott 18, Coconino 16
ALA-Queen Creek 5, Vista Grande 3
Arcadia 10, Sahuarita 0, 5 innings
Bradshaw Mountain 7, Yuma 4
Douglas 7, AZ College Prep 6, 8 innings
Poston Butte 6, Mesquite 5
Walden Grove 6, ALA-Gilbert North 5
FIRST ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE-SATURDAY at 11am
#10 Prescott (17-6) at #7 Deer Valley (17-5)
#9 Bradshaw Mountain (16-9) at #8 Seton Catholic Prep (17-9)
#16 Sahuaro (16-15) at #1 Saguaro (22-3)
#12 Poston Butte (20-6) at #5 Flagstaff (21-5)
#13 Walden Grove (16-10) at #4 Salpointe Catholic (18-6)
#15 Arcadia (14-10) at #2 Estrella Foothills(24-3)
#11 ALA-Queen Creek (15-6) at #6 Mica Mountain (21-5)
#14 Douglas (18-9) at #3 Canyon Del Oro (20-6)
