The spring state tournaments are in full swing with the remainder of the tennis titles to be determined by this weekend.
The double elimination formats in 5A baseball and softball have helped highly seeded teams avoid early exits.
Among the surprising early losers: No . 2 seed Mesquite (Gilbert, Ariz.) (5A-I baseball); No. 2 Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) (5A-Ii baseball); No.2 Red Mountain (Mesa, Ariz.) and No. 3 Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) (5A-I softball); and No. 2 Cibola (Yuma, Ariz.) (5A-II softball). All are alive in the loser’s bracket.
Other Top Storylines
2. Go west, young men: The west side continues to siphon state championship games from the East Valley and Phoenix metro areas. The Arizona Interscholastic Association announced last week (what took you so long?) that Camelback Ranch in Glendale, the spring-training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, will host the 5A-I and 4A-I baseball tournaments, including the championship games on May 15. Both championships were held at Tempe Diablo Stadium last year.
3. Coaching changes: John Burns, who led Highland (Gilbert, Ariz.) boys basketball team to the state championship game in 2001-02, is returning to Arizona to coach Mesquite (Gilbert, Ariz.) boys basketball program. Burns led Highland to the state semifinals in 2002-03 and to a 27 wins in 2003-04. He won 70 games and three region championships in three years at Highland. He was the head coach at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas for three year. ... Kevin Allen, an assistant on last season's Class 2A championship team, has been named head football coach at Valley Christian (Chandler, Ariz.), following Bill Morgan’s abrupt resignation last month…
Harold Coleman is the new football coach at Santa Rita (Tucson, Ariz.), taking over for Jeff Scurran, who resigned after leading the Falcons to the 4A-II state title game each of the past two seasons
The Fab 5
1. Christine Napodano, Gilbert Highland, Sr., P: Tossed a no-hitter to help the No. 14 seed Hawks upset No. 3 Chandler Basha, 9-0, in the first round of the 5A Division I state softball tournament, despite a pinched nerve in her back.
2. Chelsea Rodriguez, Gilbert Highland, Sr., 3B: Had a grand slam, a triple, a double and six RBIs, in the Hawks’ state tournament win over Basha.
3. Dallas Escobedo, Phoenix St. Mary’s, Sr., P: Threw a perfect game with 23 strikeouts and hit a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead the top-seeded Knights over No. 16 Buena, 2-0.
4. Dimitri Jones, Higley (Gilbert, Ariz.), Jr.: Set a meet record in the high jump (6 feet, 6 inches) at the 4A-II East Sky Region meet.
5. Kelsey Lawson and Ahmad Saleem,Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) and Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.), Srs.:Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.) Mitch McDaniels for three sets before prevailing 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. Lawson captured her second straight 5A-I tennis title in straight sets while Saleem battled
Recruiting news
The Arizona Republic reports that Gilbert junior catcher Nathaniel Causey has given Arizona State a commitment to play there. Causey was hitting .353 with 28 walks and 22 RBIs…
In basketball, Phoenix Brophy senior point guard RYAN MILNE (5-10, 150) has signed with Division III Colorado College in Colorado Springs…
Buckeye Verrado senior swingman Joey Rardin (6-2) will sign Friday with NAIA Sterling (Kansas) College…
Scottsdale Saguaro junior Dj Foster (5-10, 180) got an early offer from Arizona State. He plays receiver, slot back, running back, quarterback in the Wildcat, cornerback and safety.
On deck
State championship Saturday approaches. May 15 marks the end of the 2009-2010 prep season, with championships in baseball, softball, track and field and boys volleyball.
Craig’s cranium
Next week, I’ll examine how the upcoming vote (May 18) on Proposition 100 could impact funding, and by extension, the athletic programs at schools across the state.
The Arizona Legislature is asking voters to temporarily raise the sales tax by 1 percent, until May 31, 2013, to help combat a statewide budget shortfall.
The possible range of effects at the prep level include: the elimination of JV and freshmen teams, a ban on out-of-district travel, and even an outright cancellation of interscholastic athletics.
Craig Morgan is a freelance writer who has covered professional, college and high school sports in the Phoenix area for the past 18 years. He currently serves as the Phoenix correspondent for CBSSports.com, covering the Arizona Cardinals and other local teams. He also writes a weekly column and other features for The Arizona Republic. You can reach him at craig@thewordsmithonline.com.