6A baseball: Corona clinches region title, likely top-8 finish

April 22, 2019 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Corona del Sol catcher Ben Click lines an RBI single as part of a 9-run rally in the fourth inning propelling the Aztecs to a 13-3 victory over Queen Creek. (AzPreps365 photo).

Corona del Sol put the finishing touch to its regular season on Monday with virtually every starter figuring in a 13-3, run-rule triumph over Queen Creek in a 6A game at Corona del Sol. 

The added benefits for Corona del Sol - the 6A Central Region title outright and more than likely hanging on in the top 8 of the power rankings and possibly moving up. Corona entered play No. 6.

 The final power rankings for the regular season will be posted Tuesday. The top 8 bypass play-in games on Wednesday and earn the right to host first-round state tournament games on Saturday. 

Corona finished the regular season 18-8 overall and 8-2 in region -- a game better than Desert Vista and Mountain Pointe both 7-3. Queen Creek is 11-11 for the season and began the day No. 21 in the power-rankings. The Bulldogs should qualify for Wednesday's play-in round and will be on the road.

Monday's game took a turn in Corona's direction in the bottom of the fourth. The Aztecs led 2-1 at that point. A nine-run, eight hit rally ensued against four Queen Creek pitchers.

Five players contributed an RBI or two in the inning and the other three runs crossed home on wild pitches. RBI went to Wyatt Berry (two), Ben Click, Bryan Webb Brian Kalmer and Kaiden Frees. Kalmer stroked two hits in the inning and scored twice.

Verdusco, Webb and Hunter Haas joined Kalmer with two hits each for the day. The winning pitcher working the first four innings for Corona was senior Jack Schobinger. Schobinger gave up three hits, a walk and earned run and fanned two.