Queen Creek's baseball team has been red-hot over the last few weeks, but Alex Gamboa was an exception. The junior, who hit near .300 last year as a sophomore, had endured a bit of a slump as of recent, so coach Mikel Moreno made a lineup adjustment ahead of Saturday's game against Brophy. 

The move worked.

Gamboa ignited the Bulldogs offense Saturday, driving in five runs during a 7-5 victory over Brophy in a 6A non-region contest at Queen Creek.

Gamboa finished 2-4 with a three-run homer in the second inning, and followed it with a two-run single in the third inning which gave Queen Creek a 6-3 lead.

"Alex had been in a bit of a slump lately, so I dropped him down in the lineup," Moreno said of Gamboa.

"He really got us going today and I'm not all that surprised because he's been a great player for our program."

Saturday's game was rescheduled from week one, when Queen Creek was invited to a tournament in Dallas, TX. The timing worked out well, however, with both teams surging over the last month. Brophy entered Saturday's contest at No. 3 in the 6A power rankings, having won 14 of its last 15 games. No. 2 Queen Creek has now won 12 of 13.

"I'm proud of how our kids have worked and represented our school," Moreno added. "This was our fourth game in five days and there's a lot of great baseball teams in Arizona. Brophy is certainly one of them."

Sophomore Tait Reynolds helped Queen Creek to an early 1-0 lead by driving Jesse Aguirre home from third on a sacrifice grounder. But Brophy answered back in the second inning.

Matt Niezgodski drove a deep shot to right-center field that went for a triple, and scored two batters later on a passed ball to tie the score. Then with two outs and the bases loaded, Jack Ohman singled to right field to score Nico Lara and Willie Cornejo-Farmer, giving Brophy a 3-1 lead before Gamboa drove in Queen Creek's next five runs in the second and third innings.

Aguirre scored his second run of the game in the third inning off a base hit from Cayden Cooper, giving the Bulldogs their final run and a 7-3 lead.

Brophy picked up two runs in the fifth inning. A bunt from George Smith scored Brandon Wirtz from third base before Jack Meissner's sacrifice fly scored Jack Ohman to make it 7-5.

But Queen Creek relievers Mason Lizzaraga and Dylan Weekly took care of the last seven outs to secure win.
 

The Bulldogs (17-7) will host Highland Tuesday and try to avenge its only Central Region loss.

Brophy (18-5) will host Basha Tuesday in a Premiere Region contest.