In a thrilling 4A state quarterfinal match-up on Wednesday, the No. 3-ranked Canyon del Oro Dorados triumphed over the No. 2-ranked Goodyear Estrella Foothills, 7-4, securing their spot in the semifinal round set for next Wednesday at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The two-time defending state champions demonstrated their strength with 11 hits, including four from leadoff hitter Ernie Alvarez, and solid pitching performances from Grant Young and Tarrell Reid.
Canyon del Oro (24-6) showed why they’re a force to be reckoned with, as Young pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing just six hits, three earned runs, and two walks while striking out four. His efforts improved his record to 9-0 and lowered his ERA to a remarkable 0.98. Reid closed the game, earning his first save of the season with 1 1/3 hitless innings, striking out one and walking none.
Alvarez had a standout game, going 4-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs. He set the tone early, leading off with a triple and scoring on a triple by Michael Jones. The Dorados extended their lead to 7-1 by adding two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Alvarez drove in a run with a single in the fifth, and Alan Becker contributed an RBI single in the sixth. Chris Humphreys and Grant Young also added RBIs.
Estrella Foothills (27-4) will have a chance to stay in the hunt when they face ALA-Queen Creek in an elimination-bracket game on Saturday. The winner will then take on Canyon del Oro in the semifinal round next Wednesday.
In another quarterfinal game, top-seeded Scottsdale Saguaro edged out No. 4 Salpointe 2-1, with LSU-bound Cam Caminiti dominating on the mound. The left-handed ace struck out 17 batters, allowing no walks and just two hits, one of which was an inside-the-park home run by Salpointe’s Aciel Guillen in the fourth inning to tie the game.
Saguaro regained the lead in the fifth with an RBI single from Caminiti, who is a cousin of the late MLB All-Star Ken Caminiti. Salpointe’s junior right-hander Izaiah Moraga pitched well, scattering seven hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Caminiti’s performance.
Salpointe (21-7-1) will face Flagstaff in an elimination-bracket game on Saturday, hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive and earn a rematch with Saguaro in the semifinal round at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
