(Sunrise Mountain's Austin Thomason improved to 6-0 Thursday. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.com)

Sunrise Mountain’s Austin Thomason’s stomach was churning, but Cactus Shadows is the team that left Chase Field feeling upset.

Thomason was nervous as soon as Thursday’s game started and for good reason. The senior was pitching from the same mound where former pitching giants Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling earned their stripes for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“It was awesome looking down, thinking that All-Stars pitched on this mound,” Thomason said.

But the All-Star on Thursday was Thomason, who was on his game as soon as the game started despite the butterflies.

The righty allowed just four hits, including just one extra base hit, in 6 1/3 innings during his team’s 8-0 victory over highly ranked Cactus Shadows.

“Talk about a kid showing up in a big scene,” Sunrise Mountain coach Eric Gardner said.

Thomason was the team’s closer last year but is the leader of a deep starting rotation this season.

Sunrise Mountain’s lineup and Thomason put pressure on Cactus Shadows early, scoring four first inning runs. They didn't hit the bard hard, but Sunrise Mountain’s bats found open spots thanks in part to timely hitting.

Gardner’s team scored its first five runs with two outs on the board. The RBI singles of the No. 5, 6 and 7 hitters (David Macias, Lucas Wall, Hunter Lessard) brought home the first five runs for Sunrise Mountain.

Thomason’s change up and location were outstanding during his win, allowing him to improve to 6-0 and the team to rebound after its 4-1 section loss to Centennial four days ago. Cactus Shadows was ranked No. 2 just before the start of Thursday’s game in the Division II power rankings, Sunrise Mountain was eighth.

The loss dropped Cactus Shadows to 15-3-1 but still has a good chance to reach the 20-win mark for the second consecutive year under coach Guy Gianni. Sunrise Mountain improved to  17-3-2.