NW Christian outpitches Safford, uses big 7th inning to win crown
In a pitchers’ duel between two unlikely semifinalists, No. 8 Northwest Christian (22-9) defeated No. 6 Safford (22-8) 6-2 to win the 3A baseball state championship on Saturday in Surprise.
With aces on the mound for both teams, the game reached the seventh inning tied 1-1.
Safford senior pitcher Gabe Ornelas came back out for the seventh inning before issuing a leadoff walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt to put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
The next batter hit what looked to be a routine, shallow fly ball into right-center field. But the outfielders collided and caused the ball to fall between them. The go-ahead run came in to score.
Northwest Christian coach JC McKee described the moment as “chaotic,” saying the dugout “erupted like a volcano.”
Ornelas looked dominant up until that seventh inning, but Safford coach Robert Abalos didn’t feel like his pitcher was running out of gas at the end.
“He was still around the zone, his velocity was still there,” Abalos said. “There were a couple close calls behind the plate that could have gone either way. That may have made a difference.”
He added, “Gabe did an excellent job, giving us the opportunity to win.”
Shortly after the go-ahead run scored, Ornelas was replaced by Curtis Bevens. Bevens walked the next batter, loading the bases for Northwest Christian junior Logan Ripple.
Northwest Christian needed insurance runs, and Ripple delivered.
Ripple drilled a shot down the leftfield line, clearing the bases and opening up a five-run lead.
“He was due,” McKee said. “That was his at-bat.”
The runs proved to be crucial, as Safford scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
But Tyler Worrell was able to close out the victory and state championship for Northwest Christian.
“All the yelling, all the running, all the little things ... it pays off at the end,” McKee said. “These guys deserve it.”
Junior pitcher Maverick Veres earned the victory after six strong innings of one-run ball. Worrell finished off the final three outs while only surrendering one unearned run.
“In a pitchers’ duel like that, it was going to take one timely hit,” Safford’s Abalos said. “That hit with the bases loaded was the difference in the game.”