Photo: 44 Gino Lowe gets congratulated by coach Jason Hutchens after his two run homer in the second inning
Varsity Baseball
The Prescott Badgers found themselves on the short end of an 8-5 battle with their Prescott Valley rivals the Bradshaw Mountain Bears.
Photo: 34 Nitesh Patel went 6.2 innings and picked up the win
Winning pitcher Nitesh Patel came one out away from tossing a complete game before being pulled for reliever Dylan Lockwood. Patel helped his cause at the plate with 3 hits, which included a double and 2 RBIs. Sammy Villafana came up with a big single and 2 RBIs, and Braydin Golden had a pair of hits attributing to an RBI.
Prescott starter Matt Hepperle got nickeled and dimed for 5 runs in the top of the 2nd as the Bears took advantage of Badger miscues and small ball to get the lead.
Trailing 5-0, the Badgers got on the board in the bottom of the second. Gino Lowe hit a two run homer over the left centerfield fence to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Photo: 33 Kaison Ellis slides into home for the Bears in the third inning
Bradshaw Mountain got those runs right back in the top of the third as Braydin Golden and Kaison Ellis scored as the Bears continued to make the right moves.
In the bottom of the third, Hepperle picked up one of his two hits to knock in Nick Martin with a single to make it 7-3.
The Bears loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and Prescott coach Jason Hutchens made the move to the bullpen for another lefty and it paid off. Andrew Jolly came in and did a masterful job of leaving every Bear right where he found them to keep the score 7-3.
Bradshaw Mountain picked up a gift in the sixth from a bases loaded wild pitch that scored a run to make it 8-3.
The Badgers had one final chance in the last of the seventh. As Patel began to tire his command began to fade resulting in back to back walks to Gino Lowe and Alex Lough to open the inning. That ended the day for the starter who was then relieved by Dylan Lockwood.
Photo: Nick Martin slides back safely into first base before the tag by 18 Ty Young
Nick Martin came to bat and picked up an RBI on a grounder to the second baseman. Prescott scored a second run on a bobble of a ground ball by the shortstop. The Badgers would then load the bases a second time, but Lockwood knuckled down to get the final out.
The win improves Bradshaw Mountain (4-11) and (2-0) in the Grand Canyon Region. Prescott dropped to 3rd place at (4-1) in the region, (11-6) overall, and will get another shot at the Bears in Prescott Valley tonight at 7pm.
BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN BEARS 8, PRESCOTT BADGERS 5
Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E
Bradshaw Mountain 052 001 0 – 8 7 2
Prescott 021 000 2 – 5 6 3
WP:Patel
LP:Hepperle
HR:Lowe
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Flagstaff 3-0 8-4
Bradshaw Mountain 2-0 4-11
Prescott 4-1 11-6
Mingus 2-2 9-8
Lee Williams 1-3 6-9
Coconino 1-3 5-12
Mohave 0-4 0-12
SCOREBOARD
Bradshaw Mountain 8, Prescott 5
Flagstaff 14, Mingus 1, 5 innings
Lake Havasu 10, Lee Williams 0, 6 Innings
Trinity Christian 9, Heritage Academy 1
Chino Valley 4, Odyssey Institute 3
Varsity Softball
The Bradshaw Mountain Bears beat the Prescott Badgers 14-6 in Prescott Valley.
Jaslene Valentine was a perfect 4 for 4 on the day with 4 RBIs. A pair of triples and a double.
Raquel Astorga had 3 hits, a pair of doubles and 4 RBIs. Laila Silva also had 3 hits and a pair of RBIs.
Mariah Smolnikar had a solo home run for the Badgers. Kaylin Pinarelli had two hits including an RBI double.
Alexa Corey picked up the win allowing only 3 earned runs and striking out 11. Madison Ballou took the loss with the fielding miscues accounting for 5 unearned runs. Kaylin Pinarelli pitched the final three innings allowing only one earned run.
The two teams will meet again today in Prescott at 4pm.
BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN BEARS 14, PRESCOTT BADGERS 6
Innings- 123 456 7 – R H E
Prescott 202 200 0 – 6 6 6
Bradshaw Mountain 813 020 x – 14 12 3
WP:Corey
LP:Ballou
HR:Smolinkar
GRAND CANYON REGION STANDINGS
School- W-L W-L
Flagstaff 3-0 14-4
Bradshaw Mountain 3-1 7-4
Prescott 3-1 9-4
Coconino 3-2 12-6
Lee Williams 2-2 5-7
Mohave 1-4 7-11
Mingus 0-5 2-11
SCOREBOARD
Bradshaw Mountain 14, Prescott 6
Coconino 14, Mohave 7
Flagstaff 21, Mingus 3, 5 innings
