Big rivalry matchup for 6A baseball title
It might not feature the individual showdown that everybody was waiting for, but the 6A baseball state championship between Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor and Glendale Mountain Ridge should still bring both scouts and fans out to Tempe Diablo Stadium on Tuesday.
This is one of the greatest all-time high school baseball rivalries in Arizona, featuring two of the nation's marquee players.
But because Mountain Ridge lefthander Matthew Liberatore pitched to his pitch-count limit in Saturday's semifinal win, he won't be facing O'Connor third baseman Nolan Gorman again.
Liberatore struck out 10 en route to a 9-1 victory over Mesa Mountain View that put the Lions back in the state final for the second time in three years.
Both Liberatore and Gorman are being projected as first-round MLB draft picks in June. But on only two days of rest after throwing more than 100 pitches against Mountain View, there is too much at risk for Liberatore to take the mound on Tuesday.
The rivalry games between Mountain Ridge and O'Connor are so popular that when the teams faced each other last month, they played their two games at Grand Canyon University's renovated stadium.
Liberatore struck Gorman out once, sending him to an 0-for-3 performance in Mountain Ridge's 2-1 win.
Gorman went 3-for-3 and scored three runs Saturday in a 9-4 comeback victory over Mesa Skyline that sent the Eagles back to the state final for only the second time. O'Connor lost to Scottsdale Chaparral 8-6 in the 2008 state championship game.
"All these boys have come up playing together since Little League," O'Connor coach Jeff Baumgartner said. "We are excited to face them again with our team splitting the series 1-1 so far and tied for region championship."
Mountain Ridge first-year head coach Artie Cox knows O'Connor is more than just Gorman in the lineup. He feels there is no easy out in O'Connor's batting order.
"All these boys have grown up together and played with and against
Baseball championships
Bagdad vs. Superior, Monday, 4 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium
Tucson Sabino vs. Sahuarita, 4 p.m., Hi Corbett Field, Tucson
San Tan Foothills vs. Phoenix Christian, 7 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium
Tucson Catalina Foothills vs. Nogales, Monday, 7 p.m., Hi Corbett Field, Tucson Buckeye Verrado vs. Peoria Liberty, 4 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium
Glendale Mountain Ridge vs. Sandra Day O'Connor, 7 p.m., Tempe Diablo Stadium
Softball championships
Oro Valley Ironwood Ridge vs. Vail Cienega, 5:30 p.m., ASU Farrington
Chandler Hamilton vs. Phoenix Pinnacle, 7:45 p.m., ASU Farrington Tucson Salpointe Catholic vs. Glendale Cactus, 6:30 p.m., ASU Farrington Sahuarita 10, Winslow 4 Benson 7, Camp Verde 3 Superior 13, Bagdad 7
azcentral Sports Awards
The azcentral Sports Awards recognizes and honors the top athletic accomplishments in Arizona high school sports. This event is hosted by azcentral and will take place June 10 at ASU Gammage. The show features various awards, contests and a special appearance from celebrity guest, Luis Gonzalez. each other for years," Cox said. "To have two schools that border each other playing for a state title is great for the community."