6/5/2014
Arizona Wildfire Baseball stunned GBSA Blue Rays with five runs in the sixth inning, the game’s final inning, claiming a 7-5 victory on Thursday.
The sixth inning rally began on a walk by Henry Sandland (2016, Coronado HS, AZ), who advanced to second on a fielding error that put Christopher Romero (2015, Casa Grande Union HS, AZ) on first. A walk to Brett Matthews (2016, Perry HS, AZ) then loaded the bases. An RBI groundout from Cody Pepp (2015, Corona Del Sol HS, AZ) scored Sandland, making the game 5-3. Travis Johnson (2016, Saguaro HS, AZ) followed that with a single, brining home Romero and cutting the lead to 5-4. The next hitter, Matthew Metz (2017, Notre Dame Prep HS, AZ), reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Matthews. After a walk to Ryan Santarone (2015, Seton Catholic HS, AZ), Nicholas Guaragna (2015, Chaparral HS, AZ) drilled a two-run single to end the game.
Romero had a solid outing on the mound for the Wildfire, allowing just two earned runs on six hits over five innings. Romero, whose fastball peaked at 82 mph with an average of 77-81 mph, struck out five Blue Rays hitters. Pepp pitched the final inning, and earned the win. Pepp’s top fastball was clocked at 75 mph.
The rally spoiled a brilliant showing on the mound from the Blue Rays’ Tekwaan Whyte (2015, Stephenson HS, GA). Whyte tossed the game’s first four innings, and dominated Wildfire hitters. Whyte struck out ten of the 17 hitters he faced, allowing just two hits and a walk over four scoreless frames. Whyte’s fastball topped out at 91 mph, averaging 86-90 mph. Whyte displayed a projectable frame and an overtop arm angle. Whyte is one of the top ten shortstop prospects in the class of 2015, and an Underclass First Team All-American.
Keishaun Clarke (2015, Columbia HS, GA) led the Blue Rays on offense, recording the only RBI. Trenton Nash (2015, Columbia HS, GA) added a triple and a run scored, and Jaquez Williams (2016, East Coweta HS, GA) supplied a single and a run scored.