It’s been a long road for Glendale Joy Christian’s baseball program, but worth the trip.

Joy has earned a berth in the Division IV state tournament for the first time in its three years as a full member of the Arizona Interscholastic Association.

Two years ago, Joy was 0-19. Jim Mitchell took over as coach this season and led the team to upset victories over Scottsdale Prep and Bagdad and earned just enough power points to sneak in as the No. 24 seed.

Joy opens the tournament on Tuesday (May 1) at 7 p.m. against ninth-seeded Winkelman Hayden at the Diablo Stadium sports complex in Tempe.

Congratulations to Joy Christian and to Hayden, which has had a long, rich tradition.