Aztecs looking to shake off slump in time for playoffs
By Brian Gomez
The Tempe Corona del Sol High School varsity baseball team couldn’t have picked a worse time to fall into its biggest slump of the year.
With the state tournament looming on the horizon, the Aztecs dropped their final three games to close out the regular season, marking their longest losing streak thus far. But Corona head coach Ron Davini is confident his team can turn things around in crunch time.
“There’s always a period in the season where you ride a roller coaster,” Davini said. “Right now that roller coaster ride is down, so we’re hoping we just turn that baby right back up again.”
Despite falling to Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista within the course of a single week, the Aztecs managed to garner the Central Region’s No. 2 seed, assuring them of a state tournament berth. They faced top-seeded Mountain Pointe this past week in the Regionals at Tempe Diablo Stadium to determine state seedings.
The winner in the best-of-three series will play Tuesday at 4 p.m. after receiving a bye in the first round of the state playoffs. The Central Region runner-up will play host to the Northwest Region’s third-seeded team Monday at 4 p.m.
Desert Mountain and Desert Vista met earlier this week for the right to advance to the state tournament. The winner in that series is slated to travel to the Northwest Region’s second-seeded team for a game also held Monday at 4 p.m.
“You sit comfortably when you have a No. 1 or No. 2 seed because you know you’re going to make the state tournament,” Davini said. “The Nos. 3 and 4 seeds are hard because you have to fight to get in.”
Although there is not a definite favorite among the 26 teams in the state tournament, Mountain Pointe has been tabbed as a club that could go all the way. Also in contention is Mesa Dobson, Yuma Cibola, Chandler Hamilton, Glendale Mountain Ridge and Phoenix Horizon.
“Everyone is equal. Any team that gets hot at the right time is going to run away and win the state championship,” Davini said. “It doesn’t make a difference who we have to face. We just want to be there and play our best.”
Corona has not made an appearance in the title game since 1993 when winning the state championship. The Aztecs were knocked out in the state quarterfinals last year by Tucson Sabino.
“I don’t think this team has scratched the surface of the ability it has,” Davini said. “I don’t think we’ve fired on all eight cylinders yet. I’m hoping this eight-cylinder car can get in gear.”
The Aztecs had their eyes set on the Central Region’s No. 1 seed, before undergoing a brutal stretch run. They dropped an 11-10 barn-burner April 19 when Desert Mountain tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior outfielder Craig Fugate went 2-for-3 from the plate in the loss, while junior first baseman Mike Pollak was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Corona stumbled upon the same misfortune April 23 when suffering a 2-1 setback at Mountain Pointe. A run in the bottom of the seventh inning was all the Pride needed to muster two wins over the Aztecs in four meetings on the season.
“We need a little better execution defensively. That’s where we’ve hurt ourselves,” Davini said. “When we get a chance to score some runs, we need to take advantage of it.”
Corona’s season finale turned ugly when Desert Vista posted five runs in both the first and fourth innings en route to a 13-1 triumph. Senior left-hander Matt Michael sustained the loss, dropping his record to 6-4. Davini is looking to his entire team for a spark now that the postseason has rolled around.
“We’re going to rely on the 22 kids who suit up,” he said. “We’re going to hope someone gets hot and stays hot.”
Reach the reporter at brian.gomez@wranglernews.com.
