Walks, Chris Beall grand slam in 6th inning put Brophy on top
Brophy 9
Mesquite 3
By George A. Liddy `14
THE ROUNDUP
Brophy scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Mesquite High School Saturday night at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Broncos had trailed the entire game entering the sixth inning.
“We preach to the guys every game to play every pitch, and we did that tonight and I’m proud of them,” said assistant coach Mr. Patrick Higgins.
Mesquite scored two runs in the top of the first. The first came on a pass ball. On the next pitch runner Cole Valletta scored on a close play at the plate off of a single by teammate Brad Holland.
“Michael Westra ’13 had a rough patch early throwing 32 pitches, but he was able to play pitch-by-pitch the rest of the game,” Mr. Higgins said.
The game remained 2-0 until the top of the fourth when Mesquite picked up another run on a pass ball making the score 3-0.
Brophy responded in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs of their own.
After hitting a single Chris Beall ’12 scored on a pass ball. Jeff Clausen ’12 also scored on a pass ball after a single of his own. At the end of the fourth the score was 3-2 Mesquite.
The score held until the bottom of the sixth inning. Without recording an out eight straight batters reached base with two outs.
Mesquite pitcher Garrett Jeffries walked two batters and then hit Ryan Castellani ’14 loading the bases. He then walked Connor Moore ’12 scoring Nick Jewitt ’12 to tie the game.
Mesquite then changed pitchers putting in Jon Ferrendelli. He had Dave Graybill ’12 in a 0-2 count when Graybill beat out an infield ground ball giving the Broncos their first lead of the game, 4-3.
After Castellani scored on a walk, Beall came to the plate and hit a grand slam far over the right field wall making the score 9-3 Broncos.
Graybill was able to hold Mesquite scoreless in the seventh.
This win advances Brophy to the state championship where they will play Scottsdale Chaparral Tuesday, May 15 at Glendale Camelback Ranch.
“They (Chaparral) have beaten us twice and we have beaten them once … they are a great opponent and we are excited to be in the state championship with them,” Mr. Higgins said.
