Cactus struggles through 'odd' 4A-I baseball title game loss

Though the best year in Cactus baseball history ended in the worst possible way, Cobras players and coaches managed to maintain their perspective on the 2009 season.

"The coaches and the players talked about what a close-knit group this is after the game," Cactus coach Mike Tirella said. "I had a lot of kids say this is the best team they've been a part of and the most fun they've ever had in sports."

Indeed, the team's only regret may be the way Saturday's 4A-I championship game began. Cactus (26-6) gave Tucson Canyon del Oro (24-7) an early lead and the Dorados ran with it, jumping on the dazed Cobras for a 9-0 lead en route to a 15-5 victory.

Cactus senior James Fajardo took the mound after throwing a complete game Wednesday and tossing about 15 pitches in relief Friday night. He started with a strikeout and induced two routine grounders. On most days, he would be heading back to the dugout. Saturday, Fajardo found himself behind 2-0.

The Cobras' normally airtight defense committed two consecutive errors, with both grounders rolling under infielders' gloves. The second dribbler, by junior Ryan Retz, was catastrophic. Cactus' outfield lost track of the ball after the initial error and let it roll to the warning track. Junior Alan Drake and Retz rounded the bases rounded the bases while the ball rolled.

"I haven't seen a routine ball like that get through (our infield) like that all year," Tirella said. "And then our outfielder had trouble with the sun and didn't realize the ball had rolled past him. It just was an odd day."

Canyon del Oro did not score again in the first. However, as the Cobras defense settled down, the Dorados started hitting the ball all over Tempe Diablo Stadium. Drake, senior Doug Steele and junior Hayden Cotra-Robles, respectively, drove in a run in the second inning. Another error on a grounder by Retz allowed a fourth run to come in.

In the third inning, Canyon del Oro built its lead to 9-0. Fajardo left the game with the bases loaded and two outs — but the score was still 6-0.

Junior Matt Marino came in and Retz drove in a run on an infield hit. Steele knocked in two teammates with a single, and knocked out Marino. Senior Mark Winiker came in and struggled, before senior catcher Michael Vaughn and junior third baseman Eric Goetz caught a Dorado napping.

"Other than my 1 and 2 (pitchers), I didn't have a lot of kids that had a lot of innings and I had to try to get through it with younger guys," Tirella said.

Canyon del Oro junior David Metz, who has seen as much work as Fajardo this week, began to tire in the third inning. Senior Skylar Maestas and Winiker started the inning with singles.

Seniors Colton Vaughn and Ryan Wescott were hit by pitches, allowing Cactus to get on the scoreboard. Winiker took of for home on a pitch in the dirt, and slid in safely. Michael Vaughn chopped the ball to short, but the Dorado infielder slipped while trying to throw home, giving the Cobras their third and fourth runs of the inning.

Junior John Schott came in to pitch and stabilized things for Cactus, despite giving up a run in the top of the fourth. Freshman pinch runner Austin Mick got the run back, sliding in headfirst on a wild pitch.

Suddenly the teams had reversed roles. Cactus was getting strong pitching, while Canyon del Oro was making errors and running into bad luck behind a tired pitcher.

Improbably, the Cobras had a chance to get back into the game in the fifth inning. Retz relieved Metz and promptly gave up a double to junior Tate Headley. There were runners on third and second with one out, but base running mistakes and a groundout killed the rally hopes.

"You see a 0 up there in the fifth and sixth inning and that ended our hopes for a comeback," Tirella said.

The Dorados tacked on four runs against the exhausted Schott in the seventh inning. Three outs later, the careers of nine seniors were over.

They are: Andrew Walter, Chad Parks, Mark Winiker, Colton Vaughn, Austin Brunke, Michael Vaughn, Ryan Wescott, James Fajardo and Skylar Maestas.

Tirella said the senior class, and the underclassmen they led, were the best, and most enjoyable group he's ever coached.

"We wish it wasn't the end," Tirella said. "We wish we could keep coaching these kids forever."