Drawing nationally ranked Nevada Bishop Gorman and its potent lineup at Arcadia High isn’t exactly an ideal spring break.

But Mountain Ridge first-year coach/former major leaguer Eddie Bonine and his squad welcomed the challenge during their week off from school. The result—Bishop Gorman won 9-4—against a team with nine Division I commits wasn’t surprising.

But the experience Bonine’s squad will gain against Boras Baseball Classic competition is invaluable.

“I actually love it,” said Bonine after facing Bishop Gorman, Mountain Ridge’s first opponent in the Boras Classic. “I love our guys. Realistically those are the teams you want to play, especially early on in the year. You want to see where you are at as a team. There were a few big innings for them, but at the same time our guys made some adjustments, got some good at bats going and were one or two swings away from it being a different ballgame.”

The Boras Classic returned to Arizona this season after last year’s pandemic pause.

Sixteen teams will by vying for one of the premier regular season high school baseball titles in front of plenty of scouts and fans. On Wednesday morning, Demitri Diamant’s power and pitcher Payton Riskie’s velocity (4 K’s, 3 hits allowed in 3 2/3 innings) set the tone early for 10-0 Bishop Gorman.

His teammates call him ‘Big D,’ and Diamant proved why in his first at-bat, blasting an offering over the left field fence to also bring in leadoff hitter Justin Crawford.

Bishop Gorman's Demitri Diamant celebrates with teammates after his first inning homer. Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365.comCrawford (2-for-3, 2 RBI’s, reached base three times) committed to University of Arizona first, but when coach Jay Johnson left U of A for baseball power Louisiana State University, Crawford re-committed to Johnson.

Crawford’s dad, Carl, is a former four-time Major League Baseball All-Star. In his second at-bat, Diamant hit a single to score two more runners, including No. 9 hitter Tommy Rose (2-for-3).

Gunnar Myro (2-for-4 with 3 RBI’s and homer) followed with an RBI double to up Bishop Gorman’s lead to 5-0 in the second inning. The Georgia Tech-bound Diamant also picked up the save.

But the team from Nevada didn’t exactly run away.

Riskie hit three batters in the third inning to help load the bases twice, and Mountain Ridge took advantage. A.J. Singer cleared the bases the first time with a triple.

But Riskie got himself out of the second bases-loaded jam after getting a batter to ground out. Mountain Ridge (6-1-1) has been playing without its starting center fielder/leadoff hitter Carson McEntire, who is recovering from a surgery and is expected to return.

One of the other bright spots for Mountain Ridge was its defense. Current center fielder, Josh Wakefield, threw out a runner at third attempting to tag up, and right fielder Shaun Cottrell made a diving catch in foul territory.

At the plate, Cooper Neville and Singer each went 2-for-4.

“We are going to come out here and compete no matter who it is and what they are ranked,” Singer said.