There were only four teams left in the division II state playoffs and for Salpointe against Liberty, it was win or go home.
Back in 2007 Charlie Ragle took over a Chaparral football program that had seen great success under the direction of Ron Esterbrook. Fast forward to 2012 and under Ragle, the Firbirds are coming off three consecutive state championships.
For young up and coming athletes, the ultimate guidance and coaching comes from players who have had the opportunity to play at the highest level of competition.
Baseball fans have seen some monster home runs out at Phoenix Municipal Park over the years from players in the Oakland Athletics organization like Jason Giambi or from others around the major leagues.
The way this game started you would think it would have been a very quick afternoon for the Chaparral Firebirds against the Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles.
Going into Saturday’s matchup with Brophy, the Hamilton Huskies had been one of Division I’s top offensive teams in the playoffs thus far having put up big numbers against Corona del Sol and top seed Pinnacle.
The Mesquite Wildcats sure like to live on the edge. Earlier in the week the Wildcats escaped elimination by getting a walk-off win over the Red Mountain Mountain Lions.
Three of the four teams – River Valley, Blue Ridge and Estrella Foothills – were in the semifinals last year. Fountain Hills is the only one of the four who didn’t make it.
There’s plenty of good football coming in the fall from schools in the West Valley. I decided to visit two such schools, who are just a few miles apart from each other: Peoria and Centennial.
Mesquite baseball had a fantastic run this season. A senior led team that was resilient and competed toe to toe with the best team in Division I all season.