MP baseball falls just short in playoff pitchers duel

Never mind that Phoenix Mountain Pointe and Gilbert Mesquite were the No. 14 and 15 seeds, respectively, when they met for unbeaten status in Pool B of the 5A Division I state baseball tournament Saturday night at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The teams played and, in particular, pitched like 1 and 2 seeds. When all was said and done, Mesquite avenged a pair of regular-season defeats by edging Mountain Pointe 2-1.

Mesquite sophomore Rocky High, who just recently returned to full duty after suffering a broken hand in early March, had three hits and drove in both Wildcat runs with a single in the third inning.

Mesquite (18-14) is now off until Thursday, when it will play the winner of Tuesday's elimination game between Mountain Pointe and Gilbert Highland at 6 p.m. at Diablo Stadium.

Senior right-hander Chris Jensen, on his way to the University of San Diego this fall, threw 6 1/3 innings of five-hit, one-run ball for Mesquite. With two outs of relief from freshman Zack Davies to close it out, Mesquite now must win just one more game to reach the final next Saturday, also at Diablo Stadium.

Mountain Pointe junior Ryan Klem was the hard-luck loser. He went the distance for the Pride (19-14), allowing six hits. He struck out eight and didn't walk a batter. Klem gave up five of those hits in the second and third innings.

"Pitching came up big for us," Gilbert coach Jeff Holland said. "Chris was great tonight. That's the best game he's thrown in a long time."

Holland had no qualms calling on Davies, who despite his freshman status has been in tough games before.

"He's played for the (junior) national team, so he's been on the big stage before," Holland said.

Davies came on with one out in the bottom of the seventh to protect the Wildcats' 2-1 lead after Jensen walked Eric Klem. Davies fanned a pinch hitter, then struck out Pride leadoff hitter Jake Waldren on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.

"We had some chances, but not enough," Mountain Pointe coach Brandon Buck said. "Both pitchers were outstanding. We're still set up pretty good rotation-wise next week, but we have to win a few games.