Photo: Adrian Sanderford delivers a pitch in the third inning
The Prescott Badgers won the fifth straight and remained on top of the Grand Canyon Region with an 11-1, 5 inning victory over the Coconino Panthers.
Adrian Sanderford pitched a gem allowing just one run while scattering four hits. The senior hurler was impressive with his control allowing only one walk while striking out nine.
Sanderford said, “I felt good out there today. After my last performance I knew I just had to go out and do what I can do. Have confidence in myself, and the guys behind me.” About going up eight after one inning, Sanderford said, “It was really nice. It kind of put them to sleep for a bit and makes them feel like there is no hope.”
Photo: Cooper Magnett singled in a pair in the first inning.
Prescott came out swinging, batting around in the bottom of the first and slapping an eight spot on the scoreboard. A one out single by Nick Martin set the wheels in motion followed by a single by Luke Tobin. Sanderford walked to load the bases. Cooper Magnett sharply singled to left scoring Martin and Sanderford and it was 2-0. Travis Gates singled to load the bases again. Jacob Patterson singled in two more and it was 4-0. Aston Whitwell was hit by a pitch to load the bases for a third time. Colton Champion came up and ripped a ball that bounced over the left centerfield fence for ground ruled double, scoring two more. Up 6-0, the Badgers added two more to close out the inning on passed ball and a wild pitch by the Panthers.
Coconino’s lone run came in the fourth inning when Fitz Guinan singled in Junior Stone to make the score 8-1.
Photo: Nick Martin rounds third base eventually scoring one of the Badgers eight runs
The Badgers finished off the Panthers in the bottom of the fifth when Ivan Shuster doubled in two, followed by Martin’s walk-off single ending the game with the ten run rule.
Four different players had two RBIs. Colton Champion was perfect at the plate, going three for three scoring twice with a double and two RBIs. Cooper Magnett had a pair of hits and two 2 RBIs. Ivan Schuster had a two RBI double and Jake Patterson had a single and two RBIs.
Nick Martin said about his walk-off hit, “I just had to do something. My first three at bats I was struggling a little. I pulled everything I got and strung up a hit.”
Badger manager Jason Hutchens said, “The boys are in a good head space right now. They are playing with confidence, but they are not overly confident. Not cocky either, they just know what they need to do and they are executing. We told them they played a great game. They are hitting the ball and making very few errors. About the next game at Coconino, “These guys are going to be ready for us on Thursday and they are going to want a little revenge. We will just need to bring the same energy as we did today.”
The Badgers have scored 61 runs during their current five game winning streak, while the pitchers have also shined, allowing just 7 runs over the same games, with three shutouts.
Prescott will make the trip to Flagstaff, and face the Panthers today for the second meeting between the two teams. First pitch is at 4 pm.
PRESCOTT BADGERS 11, COCONINO PANTHERS 1, 5 innings
Innings- 123 45 – R H E
Coconino 000 10 – 1 4 0
Prescott 800 03 – 11 11 2
WP:Sanderford (1-1)
LP:Merrell
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Prescott 3-0 6-3
Bradshaw Mountain 1-0 6-3
Flagstaff 0-0 7-5
Lee Williams 1-1 4-7
Coconino 1-2 4-8
Mingus 0-1 4-8
Mohave 0-2 5-9
SCOREBOARD
Prescott 11, Coconino 1, 5 innings
Trinity Christian 12, Flagstaff Christian 0
River Valley 8, Chino Valley 2
Bagdad 12, Anthem Prep 5
Cactus 10, Agua Fria 8
Crismon 7, Eastmark 2
Deer Valley 23, Westview 0
Kingman 2, Williams 1
Monday’s Game Recap
The Badgers dominated an opponent for the third straight game in a 15-0, four inning, no-no over the Agua Fria Owls. Prescott scored in all four innings while the Owls only number came in the error department.
Cooper Magnett belted his first home run of the season that included a four RBI performance on two hits. Magnett smacked a three run blast in the first inning.
Ivan Shuster had a triple along with a single by Nick Martin, who went three for three, and one of two doubles by Adrian Sanderford, to add four more in the third inning for a 9-0 lead.
Parker Reed completely blanked the Owls through three innings to pick up the win. Sebashtyn Vanderploeg kept the shutout and the no hitter in fact to close the game out in the bottom of the fourth.
The Badgers improved to (5-3), while Agua Fria fell to (1-9).
PRESCOTT BADGERS 15, AGUA FRIA OWLS 0
Innings- 123 4 – R H E
Prescott 414 6 – 15 14 0
Agua Fria 000 0 – 0 0 4
HR:Magnett (1)
WP:Reed
LP:N/A
