E. Foothills needs 10 innings to knock off Fountain Hills

April 2, 2013 by Jose Garcia, AZPreps365


Estrella Foothills came close to re-opening its concession stand Tuesday.

That’s because Estrella Foothills and Fountain Hills were locked in a pitchers’ duel that left fans biting just their nails during the extra innings. But Estrella Foothills’ fans finally got the treat they were waiting for in the bottom of the 10th inning, when the only run of the game crossed home plate.

Estrella Foothills won this round 1-0, but if they continue to follow the script, expect another closely contested battle between the two Division III giants before this season ends. Estrella Foothills’ Josh Nelson scored the run after Fountain Hills’ infield failed to turn a grounder to second base into the third out in the bottom of the 10th.

Nelson hustled his way on base first after a one-out infield hit. Two batters and a pass ball later, Nelson was on second base when Zach Miller hit a grounder that Fountain Hills’ second baseman had to go after.

But the throw to first wasn’t on target, forcing the first baseman to come off the bag. Nelson was safe and so was Miller, who didn’t slow down after rounding third base.

“It was a great high school baseball game,” Fountain Hills coach Mike Briguglio said. “There’s no question. But I just would rather see (Estrella Foothills) win on a double or a base hit, not on an error. Both teams pitched tremendously.”

Each starter, Fountain Hills’ Nick Wojtysiak and Miller for Estrella Foothills, pitched seven innings and struck out a combined 21 batters.

Wojtysiak gave up just two hits and walked only one batter. A minor injury kept Miller from pitching in the previous two weeks.

“I was hungry,” said Miller, who is headed to Central Arizona next season. “I don’t know when was the last time I went two weeks without pitching.”

Miller threw 105 pitches (69 strikes) and scattered just four hits.

He was backed by a defense that made two outstanding grabs in the outfield in the sixth inning. Nelson, a right fielder, and center fielder Zach Ruiz came up with those plays.

The relievers, Estrella Foothills’ Baylor Giannini (six strikeouts, one hit allowed) and Fountain Hills’ Andrew Bryniarski (one hit allowed), also were stellar on the mound. Fountain Hills stranded seven runners during the final seven innings.

The loss to Estrella Foothills (11-3) was the first to a D-III team this season for Fountain Hills (19-2). The two teams met in the D-III state semifinals last year, with Estrella Foothills needing a walk off hit to win that game also. 

Estrella Foothills coach Patrick McCubbins believes his program has faced Fountain Hills about 20 times in the past six seasons, including seven times in the past two seasons.

“We have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Briguglio and his program,” McCubbins said.