Pride need two wins to advance to championship

Brayden Falk is preparing for a double header tonight.

Because the Mountain Pointe shortstop knows that's the only way his team can reach Saturday's championship game in the Class 5A-Division I state baseball tournament.

"It's awesome that we're finally this far," Falk said after MP's 3-1 win that eliminated No. 7 Gilbert Highland Tuesday night. "I just can't wait until our next doubleheader Thursday, beat Mesquite twice."

The No. 14 Pride have a rematch with No. 15 Gilbert Mesquite on the docket starting today at 4 p.m. Mountain Pointe must win the first game to stay alive, then win a second game immediately following the first to advance to Saturday. Should the Wildcats win just one game, they would advance.

Mesquite beat Mountain Pointe 2-1 in a pitcher's dual last Saturday to knock the Pride into the loser's bracket. That came after MP had beaten the Wildcats twice during the regular season.

"We've beat them twice, we can beat them twice on Thursday," Falk said.

In reaching the semifinals for the first time since 1995, Mountain Pointe was one of three teams remaining with more than 10 losses. Mesquite is 18-14; No. 8 Desert Mountain is 23-11. No. 4 Hamilton, at 23-8, is the only team that doesn't.

"That's the way it's been all year, that's the way teams have been playing," said MP coach Brandon Buck.

When asked to describe the final four teams alive, Buck paused, then said, "Pretty crazy, a little unusual."

Ryan Klem, 1-1 in the postseason so far, is the scheduled starter for the Pride. He's gone the distance in both of his starts, striking out a total of 18 batters while not issuing a single walk.

Klem took the loss against the Wildcats last Saturday after giving up only one hit after the third inning.

Closer C.J. Cron is also expected to be available, should he be needed.

"We'll throw everybody we have to to get to that Saturday game," Buck said. "It'll be fun. They're a good ballclub. If it's anything like the last one, it'll be exciting."

Stay tuned to Ahwatukee.com following the conclusion the of the first game for an update.