PREP BASEBALL: 13-seed Thunder shock Corona, face MP in second round

Desert Vista High School baseball coach Stan Luketich isn’t a fan of the double-elimination format being used in the state playoffs for the second time this season.

But he is known to pull for the underdogs, and that’s what his 13th seeded Thunder were going into the tournament last weekend at Tempe Corona del Sol.

Desert Vista had lost the three-game regular season series to the Aztecs already this season and if they were going to break that jinx, they had to do it April 28 at Corona’s home field.

“That’s one of the great things about this game, anything can happen,” Luketich said after the Thunder upset Corona, 13-0, under a five-inning mercy rule.

The victory sent Desert Vista into the second round against rival Mountain Pointe High School at Tempe Diablo Stadium Tuesday night. The results of that game were too late for the Ahwatukee Foothills News deadline, but the fifth seeded Pride had also swept the Thunder in their three-game Central Region series this season.

The winner stays under the lights for the third round at 7:30 Saturday night at Diablo, the spring training home of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The loser will take the field again two days earlier, at 7:30 Thursday evening again at Diablo.

Desert Vista has played one game under the lights at Phoenix Brophy this season, but they haven’t been in a ballpark with big league lights.

“If anything the kids like to play under the lights because it’s different from the rest of the season,” Luketich said. “Sometimes playing under the lights can come into play, but it’s usually not a determining factor in a game.”

Desert Vista, which landed one of the final three spots in the playoffs, surprised Corona with four runs in the third inning and put the game away with a nine-run fourth inning.

Meanwhile, senior pitcher Roy Metter limited the Aztecs (21-8, 10-2) to three-hits.

“Metter pitched very well and we played excellent defense behind him,” Luketich said. “When you get beat by a team three straight, and sometimes those loses were pretty one-sided, you don’t know how kids are going to respond. We played a good overall game and I’m proud of them.”

Desert Vista, a two-time state champion (1999-2001), went into the playoffs with a 15-16 overall record and a 5-7 mark in the Central Region.

“We haven’t been consistent through they year,” Luketich said, “but our kids have battled well. We had to fight just to get into the playoffs, but once you’re there that’s the most fun.”

Desert Vista has Drew Allen, who was sidelined with a bad knee most of he season, back in the lineup for the playoffs. He was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs against Corona. Sophomore Cole Pembroke was also 2-for-4 and sent home two more runs while senior Mike Delos was 2-for-3. He also drove in two runs while junior Derek Crone was 2-for-2.

The semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, May 10 at Diablo and Phoenix Municipal Stadium with the championship game set for 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 12 in Diablo.

“It’s a good situation to play in the playoffs and be in the whole atmosphere of a big stadium,” Luketich said. “Hopefully we’ll play well and get some more wins.”

--Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.