Mingus Union High School’s baseball team opened an early lead, but could not subdue host Sunrise Mountain High School’s quickness and high-powered offense in a 12-2, six-inning loss on Saturday, April 28.
The loss ended the No. 12 Marauders’ season in the first round of the Conference 4A state tournament for a second consecutive year. After scoring in the first inning, they struggled to create threats, and when they did, could not capitalize.
“It’s the game of baseball, that’s literally how it is, you have your ups and your downs and unfortunately today was one of those days,” Mingus head coach Erick Quesada said. “We started out hot and we just kind of fizzled …. Other than that I’m still proud of my guys and very proud to be their coach.”
Sunrise Mountain extended its winning streak to 10 games and went undefeated at home. Mustangs senior starting pitcher Troy Balko hit Marauders senior catcher Tyre Kim to lead off the game — it would be one of his few mistakes.
Two batters later, Mingus junior third baseman Chris Mathe drove a double into left field. Two batters after that, Marauders senior starting pitcher Jordan Huey picked up two RBI on his single to center field, and Mingus led 2-0.
The lead would not last. No. 5 Sunrise Mountain [18-1, 10-0 West Valley Region] entered the game with 98 stolen bases, and picked up six more in the first inning alone. It was a recurring theme throughout the game; the Mustangs advanced into scoring position and continually generated runs as a result.
“Obviously there’s a couple times where I’m at [shortstop] and I’d be more towards second base just to cover second, and sure enough they would hit one through the 5-6 gap,” Mingus senior shortstop Skylar Waynick said.
The hosts tied it at 2 after the first, the second run of the frame coming on a steal of home. Balko drove in the first.
Then Balko, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas commit, began to find his rhythm on the mound, striking out all three Marauders batters in the top of the second inning and the first of the third. Balko struck out nine and walked none while giving up just three hits in four and two-thirds innings of work.
Mingus [13-7, 8-4 Grand Canyon Region] held Sunrise Mountain to one base runner in the second inning, but its deficit grew to 5-2 after the third. The first two runs scored on a base hit following consecutive singles and a wild pitch. The Mustangs executed a squeeze play to score the third.
The outcome of the top of the fourth inning was pivotal. Trailing 5-2, Mingus junior left fielder Justin Tanner reached on an error, and Huey singled to put runners on the corners with zero outs. The Marauders squandered their opportunity to keep things close, which could have changed the complexion of the game.
“You have to push a run across, then it’s a two-run ball game and then you have a runner in scoring position again, and then it can be a one-run ball game,” Quesada said. “But that’s kind of been our m.o. these past four games. We haven’t pushed any runs across in scoring position, and it’s come back to bite us ultimately in the end.”
The Mustangs scored four runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth to end the game. Waynick pitched the final inning. Huey gave up eight earned runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and three walks in four and two-thirds innings.
Mingus ended the season runner-up in the Grand Canyon Region and with a first-round exit from the state tournament. It lost a handful of key players for disciplinary reasons early on, and its coach resigned. It was a year that tested the players’ mettle. Nonetheless, the season was a positive one for reasons outside of hits, runs, strikeouts and victories.
“At first we were one of the better teams in the state, but losing some of our guys that really hurt us,” Waynick said. “But with Coach Quesada’s help and his great determination and skills, he worked us hard, and he made us a better team and better men and characters overall. I’d like to thank him personally for helping me out, I know he made me a better man.”
Quesada, who took over after spring break, shared that sentiment.
“It was a complete success, after everything that this team has gone through, everything that has been in the paper and all that,” Quesada said. “I could not be more proud of the guys, and I couldn’t be more proud to be their coach honestly. This group of seniors was absolutely incredible, and I told them that I owe my career to them. They got me and pushed me to be a better coach and a better person, and hopefully in the long run they’re better baseball players, but I know for a fact that they’re better men at the end of the day.”
