Sandra Day O’Connor is accustomed to reaching the playoffs under coach Jeff Baumgartner.

But producing a top-10 nationally ranked team? Unheard of — until this season.

Baumgartner’s squad recently sneaked into MaxPreps’ top-10 without much fanfare in Arizona. Sandra Day O’Connor is a perennial playoff participant, but it hasn’t won a state title and isn’t one of the big Arizona programs you’d expect to attract national attention.

But the highly-ranked, well-balanced and experienced team is off to a 21-0 start and making a name for itself this season without a nationally known player. Baumgartner didn't believe he had a highly-ranked team when this season started.

His No. 3 pitcher, Nicko Ortega, and best reliever, Jake Harner, were expected to miss this season with injuries. But the Phoenix team wasn’t entirely bereft of pitching.

With 16 players who helped Sandra Day O’Connor win two playoff games last season returning this season, the Phoenix squad had a lot of depth to deal with this season’s challenges. What put Sandra Day O’Connor on the national map this season was a 11-10 victory over a former ranked team, Nevada Bishop Gorman, in the Coach Bob Invite.

Baumgartner’s team went into that game with a lot of confidence after beating California Quartz Hill’s ace and his 90-plus fastball a day prior to meeting Bishop Gorman, Baumgartner said. But with eight 1-run victories, Baumgartner’s team isn’t exactly dominating opponents, so the coach isn’t allowing his team to look too much into the rankings.

“I think we have a good perspective in our program of just enjoying it and blessed to play every day,” he said. “We stick with the process.”

SDO notes

Sandray Day O’Connor’s leaders just happen to be its best pitchers and hitters, Cameron Ming (.429 ave, 4-0, .90 ERA) and Jade Bilbrey (.435 ave, 3-0, 1.65 ERA) .… Despite their injuries, Ortega and Harner are expected to start pitching soon, Baumgartner said. … Freshmen pitcher Tanner Baker (3-0, 1.65 ERA) and Colby Wyatt (1-0, 2.15 ERA) have stepped in and performed well this season. … SDO’s outfield defense has been “phenomenal” this season. The outfield is anchored by center fielder Brandon Leboeuf. Left fielder Noah Kelly, right fielder Cooper Gray and defensive replacement Nate Easley round out the team’s formidable outfield. … Easley is the son of former major leaguer Damion Easley, a SDO assistant coach. … Senior Stan Gawelko has delivered several clutch hits this year, including the game-winner against Bishop Gorman. … SDO won its 200^th varsity game last week. The team has averaged 20 wins each season during Baumgartner’s 10-year tenure. … SDO is the only undefeated team in Division I and has 11 regular season games remaining on its schedule. … The last time an Arizona big school baseball team finished a season undefeated was in 1972, when Tucson went 25-0.