When Hamilton (Chandler) suffered just its third loss of the season to Brophy College Prep (Phoenix) last week, the No. 16 team in MaxPreps’ national rankings found itself in a tie with Red Mountain (Mesa) for the Class 5A Division I Fiesta Region title with one week to play. 
Jake Andrews, Hamilton
File photo by Mitchell B. Reibel
That’s life in the Fiesta, where three teams (the two already mentioned and Phoenix Brophy) all are ranked in MaxPreps’ top eight in the state.
Hamilton righted the ship by sweeping a two-game series from Red Mountain this week to secure the region title.
There’s no doubting Hamilton’s pedigree. The Huskies have been in the state championship game the past two years, winning it two years ago and falling to Tempe Corona del Sol in extra innings last season. Red Mountain has ridden a power-packed lineup that features two of the state’s top home run hitters, junior Cole Gleason and Tj Bennett. Gleason is currently tied for the state lead with 14 four-baggers, while Bennett has 13.
Brophy has been a powerhouse outside the region, but has struggled within it. The Broncos are 13-4 against non-Fiesta teams, 4-5 against the region. When the state tournament begins this weekend, the Fiesta should play a prominent role.
Other top storylines
Broncos repeat: Phoenix Brophy’s No. 3-6 singles players all posted victories, forcing the Broncos to win just one doubles match over Tempe Corona del Sol for their second consecutive boys Class 5A-I state tennis title. Scottsdale Chaparral beat two-time defending champ Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge, 5-2, for the 5A-II title.
Lancers perfect again: Tucson Salpointe's girls tennis team completed it second straight undefeated season with a 5-2 win over Phoenix Xavier for the Class 5A Division I title. Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) beat No. 3 seed Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), 5-1, for the 5A-II title.
Hawks soar: Highland (Gilbert, Ariz.) captured the elite-level Red Mountain boys volleyball tournament with a championship-match win over Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.). Aside from the Hawks and Lancers, the tournament also boasted state-title contender Mesa Mountain View.
The 600 club: Phoenix Brophy baseball coach Tom Succow notched his 600th win in style, beating Chandler Hamilton, No. 16 in MaxPreps’ national rankings.
The Fab 5
Matt Gabrielson, Phoenix Valley Lutheran, Sr., OF: Has hits in 20 of his last 21 at-bats to raise his state-leading batting average to .659. He also had eight RBI in the Flames’ win over Glendale Joy Christian.
Rae Ball, Scottsdale Chaparral, Sr., P: Threw her first perfect game of the season, allowing no hits or walks while striking out nine in the Firebirds’ 5-0 win over Phoenix Pinnacle.
Cody Sutton, Gilbert Williams Field, Sr., Lib.: The state’s leader in digs (142 total, 3.6 per game) had a whopping 29 in a recent match against Gilbert Higley.
Dallas Escobedo, Phoenix St. Mary’s, Sr., P: The nation’s top prep player struck out 14 and allowed just three hits in a 1-0 win over Mesa Red Mountain in what could be a preview of the 5A-I state championship game.
David Clare, Phoenix Christian, Jr., P: Threw a no-hitter in a win over Wellton Antelope. Clare had seven strikeouts and only one walk. It was just the second no-hitter in Phoenix Christian’s 60-year history
Recruiting news
The Arizona Republic reports that Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.) sophomore quarterback Connor Brewer has scholarship offers from Nebraska and Arizona State. … Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.) junior point guard Collin Woods has a basketball scholarship offer from ASU. It’s his fourth, along with San Diego, Colorado State and Weber State. … Gilbert High's 6-foot-4, 205-pound guard Shawn King signed a National Letter of Intent with Illinois-Chicago. … Former Gilbert Highland basketball standout Matt Carlino has committed to UCLA, according to the Los Angeles Daily News and Indianapolis Star. Carlino was committed to Indiana, but pulled that offer recently.
On deck
The 4A, 3A/2A and 1A boys and girls state tennis titles wrap up over the next week and a half. The 5A-I and 5A-II state baseball and softball tournaments also open this weekend at the site of the higher seeds.
Craig’s cranium
Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) pitcher Brett Butler was named the Comeback Student Athlete of the Year by the Phoenix Children's Hospital this week, and there’s no arguing with the choice.
Butler overcame a brain tumor and
paralysis to play for the Aztecs this season, after being diagnosed two years ago with a disease that caused severe and debilitating seizures. He had the growth removed but the operation left him paralyzed on his right side. After a lengthy rehabilitation, Butler started running for Corona's cross country team and eventually climbed back on the pitcher’s mound although he still had trouble catching. Butler received a $2,500 scholarship and a $1,000 cash prize for Corona's athletic department.
There were six other finalists: Brooke Alden of Sunrise Mountain High School; Carter Bennett of Scottsdale Christian Academy, Junior High; Zack Hubbard of Phoenix Desert Vista; Derek Owens of Tempe McClintock; Jeffrey Petznick of Scottsdale Chaparral; and Nathan Riech of Chandler Basha.
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.
