Richard Smith

West Valley Preps

This Kellis baseball team is not playing at the level of last season's champions.

But the 2018 Cougars are winning more regular season games and getting better rankings than their 2017 counterparts - at least in the regular season.

Kellis (11-11 overall, 10-3 regular season) enjoyed Monday night's rare all-West Valley game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale, defeating district rival Centennial. And the 5A champs can let their continued success in the games that count erase any frustrations from a 1-8 record in tournament play.

"I think we're starting to play a little better. I wasn't to happy tonight with our execution. Some of our guys didn't show up to play," Kellis coach Michael Deardoff said. "We got through our spring break swoon, where we were just horrific. We don't have a lot of pitching depth, and we ran into some good teams."

Looking a bit deeper, though, the tournament losses may even be less relevant. The first three were in February to 6A squads and the last five came in the Coach Bob Invitational to teams from other states.

And one of the three regular season losses was to 4A power Sunrise Mountain. Only Liberty and Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep beat the Cougars and will be in the way come playoff time.

"The first tournament had some really good teams in it. We needed that. Our young guys who didn't experience what we did last year realized we've got a target on our back this year," Deardoff said. "The tournament makes our record look awful but we're getting it done in the games we need to, which is encouraging."

They started fast Monday, with junior Sam Curran walking and senior Damien McElroy hit a single. Both advanced on a wild pitch and senior Jonathan Ornelas brought Curran home on a ground out.

Senior pitcher Michael Martinez got Centennial (13-10, 5-8) out of the jam without further damage. But the heart of the Cougars' order was back at it in the top of the third.

McElroy singled to right and University of Tennessee-bound Ornelas laced an RBI double down the third base line. Junior Justin Flebbe's flyout moved Ornelas to third and senior Brett Kuest drove him in for a 3-0 advantage.

"Our top four guys (in the order) have carried us this year.  Deardoff

The Cougars lucked out twice in the bottom of the third. Junior catcher Chase Weaver slid into the padded edge of the dugout with his knee but was okay and remained in the game.

Kuest slipped and fell on his rear while settling under a pop fly, yet caught it sitting down to end the inning.

The Coyotes bats came alive in the fourth inning. Senior Kevin Whalen smacked a triple to right center and sophomore Rudy Nolasco hit a sharp single to bring him home.

Sophomore Emiliano Garcia got out of the inning with a force play at second, and an interference call at second left Martinez out at first.

"We did some good things and played pretty solid defensively. We made some mistakes pitching-wise but bounced back," Centennial coach Brady Pond said. "It definitely wasn't the outcome we wanted but we battled with what we had."

That was most of the attack for Centennial, who only managed one base runner in the final three innings against the Kellis bullpen.

First-year coach Pond, who coached at Holbrook last season, is without two pillars of his lineup. Seniors Andy Kupec and David Donahew watched from the dugout with casts on an arm.

Kupec has missed the last two games while Donahew has not played this month.

"It's definitely hurt our offense. They were two of our top hitters," Pond said. "It's got to be that next guy up mentality. They're super  hard to replace but it's given us an opportunity to see some young players. Hopefully they can rise to the occasion and finish our region strong."

McElroy walked and Ornelas doubled to start the fifth, and when Ornelas overran the bag and induced the throw to second, McElroy scooted home. Flebbe hit an RBI single to right field.

The Cougars capped the scoring on a bases loaded walk in the sixth inning

Both teams have a quick turnaround. Centennial plays at Willow Canyon at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, while Kellis gets a bit of a break, not starting its game at Phoenix Sunnyslope until 7 p.m.

"We've got 'Slope Tuesday and Thursday and they're good. We're 5-0 and they're 5-1 in region. They're always tough. They're coached well and play well every year," Deardoff said.

Centennial sophomore Isaac Chavira retreats back to first back as Kellis junior Justin Flebbe (5) catches the ball from the pitcher Monday night at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. [Josh Martinez/Independent Newsmedia][/caption]