Boulder Creek offense revs up as state tourney nears
Marc Buckhout ~ Managing Editor ~ 4/28/2010

Boulder Creek coach Joe McDonald doesn’t mince words when describing his team’s offense.
“It’s the best lineup we’ve had in the history of the program,” the sixth year coach said following his team’s 10-0 win on Friday.
In improving to 21-13 on the season, with a win over Goldwater, the Jaguars scored at least nine runs for the seventh time in the
last 10 games.
On Monday the offensive fireworks continued as the team closed out its regular season home schedule with an 18-2 win over Kingman, in moving to 22-13.
With the 5A Div-II state playoffs set to start on Saturday the Jaguars were jockeying to secure an opening round playoff home game for the first time in the program’s history as the regular season
closed Tuesday.
“That would be good for us, good for the kids, good for the community,”
McDonald said.
Friday’s offensive onslaught got started early as the visiting Jaguars posted three runs in each of the first two innings.
In the opening frame center fielder Braylon Cox and first baseman Andy Felton came up with back-to-back RBI singles in an inning that saw Boulder Creek post four hits. A wild pitch brought home the third run of the inning.
In the second inning Boulder Creek’s Benji Ruton drew a walk from Matt Gustafson to open the inning only to be doubled off first when a line drive by Joseph Fant was snagged by Goldwater third baseman Ben Mueller. When Mueller threw on to first for the double play the inning appeared as though it might end quietly as Boulder Creek had nobody on and two out.
Instead the double play was simply a minor glitch in the Jaguars 16-hit attack for the game.
“We’ve got a bunch of smart hitters and a never say die group,” McDonald said. “It doesn’t matter what the situation is they continue battling, believing they can get something done.”
Leadoff hitter Jonny Pawling reached on an infield hit bringing shortstop Bryce Eisenbart to the plate.
The senior, who finished 2-for-4, made the most of his opportunity drilling a hanging breaking ball over the left field fence to make the score 5-0. Eisenbart’s bomb tied him for the team lead in home runs at 10, with Austin Trujillo. Trujillo kept the inning going with a single and Cody Jones made it four consecutive two-out hits with a double to center to make the score 6-0.
In helping himself, with a 3-for-4 effort that included three RBIs, Jones, the starting pitcher threw six innings of shutout ball in which he induced ground ball after ground ball against the Bulldogs attack. Allowing only three hits against Goldwater, Jones only had to work out of real trouble once, in the second.
In that inning Jones had runners on first and second with one out following a hit batter and a walk.
On a chopper toward third Trujillo threw the ball to second baseman Andrew Parrott. Parrott got the force at second, but instead of trying to throw on to first he threw back toward third, where the Bulldogs lead runner had rounded the bag.
From there the Jaguars ended up executing a run down for the less than traditional 5-4-5-2
double play.
Jones, who homered in the fifth, said his effort on the mound, where he started for just the fifth time, trumped his offensive output.
“Yeah, it was my best outing of the year,” he said. “I couldn’t get a good feel for my fastball, but my breaking pitches were working. The shutout for sure was better than the home run. The defense was really strong today. That’s important.”
As of press time the Jaguars were holding the No. 6 spot in the 5A Div-II power ratings. If the rankings hold they would host a home playoff game on Saturday against No. 11 Lake Havasu (12-4) (check aiaonline.org for the most up-to-date
power ratings).
Regardless of who or where his team ends up playing this weekend McDonald said they will be confident.
“I think we’re peaking at the right time,” he said. “We set a goal before the season and we’re going to get the opportunity to fulfill it. We’ll take it one game at a time and see what we can do. I think it’s going to be a wide-open state tournament. Anything can happen.”
Jones agreed, saying that if he and the rest of the pitching staff can keep the team in the game they know the offense will give them a
chance to win.
“We’ve got an offense that can overpower teams,”
he said.
CACTUS SHADOWS
The Falcons finish the regular season this week looking to move up in the 4A Div-I power ratings.
With four straight wins heading into Tuesday’s showdown at Sunrise Mountain the Falcons could match their longest win streak of the season (results unavailable at press time). The matchup could be a first round playoff preview as the Falcons, No. 7 in the power ratings as of Tuesday’s press time would face the No. 10 seeded Mustangs.
On Tuesday the Falcons (13-9, 7-3) faced Apache Junction (results unavailable at press time).
The Falcons, who sit seventh in the 4A Div-I power ratings as of press time Tuesday, finish the region portion of their schedule at Apache Junction Thursday. On Friday they play St. Johns to close the regular
season.
Unlike the 5A Div-II state tournament, which is a double elimination event, the 4A Div-I playoffs are single elimination. The Falcons will get post season will get under way May 8.
SOFTBALL
The Cactus Shadows Falcons (10-12) will look to the final week of the regular season to right the ship as the Falcons season-long losing streak grew to six on Thursday in an 8-3 defeat at Queen Creek Thursday.
The Falcons, who stood as high as fifth in the 4A Div-I power ratings earlier in the month, had slid to 13 as of press time Tuesday.
On Tuesday they close the road portion of the regular season at Apache Junction. Today the Falcons host perennial power Sunrise Mountain (18-3), which sits at No. 2 in the power ratings, before closing the regular season against Apache Junction (11-17, 2-8)
on Thursday.
The 4A Div-I state tournament starts May 8. As of press time the Falcons would be on the road in the opening round, facing No. 4 Peoria (18-2). For up-to-date ratings go to aiaonline.org.
In a 5A Div-II action the Boulder Creek Jaguars, winners of four of their last five games, are making a final push for the postseason.
The Jaguars (11-7), who sat at No. 14 in the power ratings as of press time, closed the regular season Tuesday with a home game against Sandra Day O’Connor (results unavailable at press time).
The 5A Div-II state softball tournament gets under way Saturday. If Boulder Creek makes the 16-team field they will be on the road in the opening round. Check aiaonline.org to see if the Jaguars made the tournament field and where they will be playing.