BASEBALL: Pitching, defense propelled Pride deep in tourney

Philosophers had debated for ages about which came first, the chicken or the egg. In the 2008 state baseball tournament, Mountain Pointe baseball has created it own debate: Which came first, the stellar pitching or the stellar defense?

As the No. 14 seed in the tournament, the Pride (20-14) weren't expected to go far. But the wins kept piling up and they are set to play No. 15 Gilbert Mesquite Thursday night in the semifinals. Results will be available online at Ahwatukee.com Thursday night.

MP did go deep, and it was all thanks to pitching and defense.

Pride pitchers have combined to go 3-1 with three complete games. In 30 innings, they've punched out 31 batters against only five walks and have an ERA of 1.87.

Ryan Klem alone has 18 strikeouts with no walks. Jordan Madison has given up two runs in 13 innings.

The defense behind those pitchers has committed just three errors in the four games, but it's the plays that they've been making - and when - that are cause for note.

In MP's second-round game against No. 6 Glendale Mountain Ridge, first it was left fielder Nick Lira's diving catch to prevent an extra-base hit in the third inning, then shortstop Brayden Falk took over.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, closer C.J. Cron threw a pitch in the dirt that catcher Matt Gibson couldn't block.

As Mountain Ridge runner Brad Williams broke from third base, Gibson threw to Cron covering at home, but it was high, allowing Williams to score. Mike Reynolds, who had advanced from second to third on the wild pitch, then turned toward home. Falk scooped up the ball, fired to Cron covering, and saved the run. Tied, the game went to extra innings.

An inning later, Mountain Ridge loaded the bases again and Stephan Brown lined a pitch that looked to be headed for the gap - but Falk snagged it, tossed to second baseman Eric Klem for the double play and MP was out of the inning. They'd score two runs in the next inning and go on to win, 4-2.

Then Tuesday night against No. 7 Gilbert Highland, where a loss would mean the end to their season, Falk came up big again.

In the third, a good stop prevented a 1-0 deficit from growing larger, but it was a sixth-inning dribbler to second where Falk came across from deep in the hole to scoop it up and get the final out that opened the eyes.

"I thought Eric (Klem) was going to get to it," Falk said, "but he ran into the runner so I just ran over there, got it and made the play."

MP would go on to win, 3-1.

"Brayden stepped it up big making every play at short," Madison said after the win. "He made at least 50 ground ball outs over there."

Madison said the defense behind him builds his confidence on the mound.

"If I'm down in the count or something," he said, "I know I can throw right down the middle and one of my fielders will make a play for me."

But the pitchers have been pulling their weight, too.

Against No. 3 Chandler Basha in the first round, with three runs already across that cut a 5-0 lead to 5-3 and only one out, Ryan Klem collected himself and got the Bears' No. 2 and No. 3 hitters to pop out and ground out, respectively.

In the Mountain Ridge game, Madison struck out the Mountain Lions' No. 3 and No. 4 batters in the first inning to strand a runner at third.

Then against Highland Tuesday, with runners on first and third and no outs in the first inning, Madison picked off the runner on first, then struck out the No. 3 and No. 4 hitters once again.

"His whole attitude when he pitches is really great," Pride third baseman Jake Waldren said of Madison. "He's been doing really well as a pitcher, throwing strikes and getting ground balls."

"Jordan has been doing great the last few games," Falk added. "His confidence level has gotten so high. He is where he needs to be right now."

MP coach Brandon Buck said the fact that Madison is such a quick worker when he's on the mound is beneficial to the defense behind him.

"He has good tempo, good rhythm, so it doesn't give the guys time to sit back on their heels," Buck said. "And, also, there's a difference between Jordan and Ryan. Ryan is by far a strikeout guy. Jordan, there's always going to be a place for guys on their toes ready to go."