Photo: Josh Adler
The Deer Valley Skyhawks used a walk and a pair of hits in the bottom of the seventh to knock off the Prescott Badgers 4-3 in an error free game in Glendale.
It was the second time this year the Skyhawks have eliminated the Badgers from the 4A playoffs. First basketball, and now baseball.
The Badgers took a 1-0 lead on a pair of hits in the first when Jack Burton knocked in leadoff hitter Ryan Elliot.
Photo: Brendan Costes
Deer Valley took a 2-1 in the bottom of third, but Brendan Costes tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the fourth. The Skyhawks responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 3-2.
Down a run still in the top of the seventh, the Badgers scored a run to tie the game at three on back to back doubles by Elliot and Luke Tobin.
Deer Valley (19-5), pushed the game winning run across with a two out single off of Ryan Elliot to send the Skyhawks to the next round. Josh Adler started and threw four innings allowing three runs on five hits. Travis Gates took over in the fifth and was solid by not giving up any runs or hits in his two innings of work.
Elliot smacked a pair of doubles in a three hit performance and scored two of the three runs in the game. Jack Burton finished his senior season leading Prescott with four home runs and 29 RBIs. Costes ended the year batting .400.
The Badgers pitching staff allowed just three home runs the entire season. Junior Adrian Sanderford led the staff in three categories. Innings with 44, strikeouts with 31, and also led the team with five wins. Sophomore relievers Matt Heppelre and Travis Gates tied with the most appearances on the hill with 12.
The Badgers end their exciting season at (17-7), and had a lot of great moments on the field. Looking back when they put up 28 runs on rival Bradshaw Mountain, to coming up with the ultimate comeback, with a seven rally in their final at bat to beat Mingus. PHS has a lot to be proud of as these athletes competed and won on and off the field. Coach Barry Tolli and his staff continue to raise the bar for Badger Baseball and now Badger fans look forward to the next season.
DEER VALLEY SKYHAWKS 4, PRESCOTT BADGERS 3
Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E
Prescott 100 100 1 – 3 8 0
Deer Valley 002 100 1 – 4 7 0
WP:Theall
LP:Elliott
PLAYOFF SCOREBOARD
Round 1
Deer Valley 4, Prescott 3
Bradshaw Mountain 4, Seton Catholic Prep 2
Flagstaff 5, Poston Butte 4
Saguaro 4, Sahuaro 0
Salpointe Catholic 3, Walden Grove 1
Estrella Foothills 7, Arcadia 6
ALA-Queen Creek 13, Mica Mountain 3
Canyon Del Oro 10, Douglas 0, 5 innings
Round 2
Winners Bracket
Saguaro 8, Bradshaw Mountain 2
Salpointe Catholic 13, Flagstaff 1, 5 innings
Estrella Foothills 13, Deer Valley 0, 5 innings
Canyon Del Oro 10, ALA-Queen Creek 6
Losers Bracket
Flagstaff 16, Bradshaw Mountain 6, 5 innings
ALA-Queen Creek 8, Deer Valley 1
Round 3
Winners Bracket
Saguaro 2, Salpointe Catholic 1
Canyon Del Oro 7, Estrella Foothills 4
Losers Bracket
Flagstaff 3, Salpointe Catholic 1
Estrella Foothills 9, ALA-Queen Creek 6
SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE, Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium
#3 Estrella Foothills (26-4) vs #2 Canyon Del Oro (23-6), 4pm
#5 Flagstaff (23-6) vs #1 Saguaro (25-3), 6:30pm
