Arizona schools prevail at Boras Classic

March 14, 2020 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Hamilton's baseball team gathers after its 5-2 win over Copper Hills UT on Saturday at the Boras Classic. Will they get the chance to gather again after a game this season? (AzPreps365 photo)

Hamilton sophomore Logan Saloman took his regular turn in the rotation on Saturday as rain let up to afford the Huskies to play their first game in a week.

When will their next game or anyone else's be? Nobody knows for sure.

With the COVID-19 virus putting a crimp in every kind of event imaginable, one sunny, normal-feeling day at the diamond left everyone wondering if there will be more.

Hamilton rallied to beat Copper Hills (UT), 5-2, on the last and only day of the 2020 water-logged Boras Classic at Corona del Sol High School.

Saloman worked 6 2/3 innings, without his best stuff according to coach Mike Woods, and was able with key hits late from the bottom of the order to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the fifth.

Saloman surrendered a two-run homer to Copper Hills' shortstop Brayden Taylor in the top of the fifth. Hamilton tied it at 2 in the bottom of the inning on two Copper Hills errors and a fielder's choice RBI from Tyler Wilson.

A three-run rally with two out in the bottom of the sixth paved the way for Saloman's third win in as many starts. Pinch-hitter Ty Corcoran drove in the tie-breaking run and Will Maxey singled in two more to cap the rally.

Host school Corona del Sol, Hamilton, Mountain Ridge, Chandler, Nogales Arcadia, Copper Hills and Cottonwood (UT) were able to play one or two games each on Saturday as weather finally allowed. Other schools couldn't stick around due to travel restrictions imposed by their school districts related directly to .

Woods was asked if he thinks there will be more baseball now that the virus crisis is all-consuming.

"We don't know," Woods said. "I don't want to speak out of turn. "I'm concerned. It makes me sick to my stomach. First, the rain and that dogs on you, but now rain is the least of our worries....

"I hope the powers that be make wise decisions not just bang things out. Take it week by week and see what happens."

Hamilton is part of the Chandler district and at this point has the luxury of not making a determination on whether or not to close their schools, halt athletics, etc. Chandler schools get a two-week spring break as part of their modified, year-round school. Chandler schools aren't scheduled to return to classes until March 24. More districts in the Valley than not thus far have moved to closing schools at least through March 27.

"I do think if we return to the classroom, we should also be on the ballfield," Woods said. "The classroom seems more risky than the outdoors. Baseball, softball and track aren't the kind of sports that have a lot of contact. 

"There are other things maybe I'm not thinking about. I'm being very selfish about it. I know how hard the kids work, and how much work we put into it."

Other results from Saturday's Boras Classic games at Corona del Sol:

CHANDLER 9, ARCADIA 5:  Efrain Manzo and Austin Vega collected a pair of hits and three RBI each as the Wolves built an early lead and beat the Titans. Manzo hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Vega's biggest hit wa a two-run single in a three-run sixth inning that gave Chandler a cushion after its lead was sliced to 6-5 an inning earlier. Kellen Slade had two RBI for Arcadia.

CORONA DEL SOL 6, COTTONWOOD UT 0: Tyler Smith (five innings) and Justin Corless (two) combined on a two-hitter as the Aztecs beat the Colts' in the teams first game of two on Saturday. Corona del Sol's Quade Swearingen had two hits and drove in a run in a four-run, first-inning that put the Aztecs on the road to victory. Corona's Marcus Harrison added a two-run double in the sixth inning.

MOUNTAIN RIDGE 3, COPPER HILLS UT 2: The Mountain Lions scored twice in the top of the seventh to pull out the win over the Grizzilies.  Brock Arnold's one-out, two-run single provided the tying and go-ahead runs for Mountain Ridge. Mountain Ridge pitchers Gray Bailey and winner Brock Peery combined to allow five hits and strike out 11.

MOUNTAIN RIDGE 6, COTTONWOOD UT 2: The Mountain Lions made it 2-for-2 on the day, getting home runs for Garrett Olsen (three-run shot) and Ryan Ellis (solo) in beating the Colts. Josh Martinez added three hits and two RBI for the Mountain Lions. 

NOGALES 2, CORONA DEL SOL 1: The Apaches wrapped up the day's games using four pitchers to stymie the Aztes' offense. Matt Bachelier, Jesus Miranda, Saul Soto and Albert Dominguez teamed up  on a two-hitter for Nogales. Brayan Espinoza singed in a run for Nogales in the first and what proved the decisive run was balked home in he fifth inning.