No. 1 Queen Creek keeps calm in 2-1 victory over No. 9 Basha
May 1, 2024 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
Queen Creek baseball is not flashy, overwhelming or intimidating, but the Bulldogs sure know how to win games.
Tuesday night was a perfect example, as Queen Creek outdueled a solid Basha club, 2-1 in a 6A second round playoff contest at Tempe's Diablo Stadium.
Queen Creek starting pitcher Dylan Weekly picked up the win in only his second start of the season. The senior scattered six hits over six innings, but came up clutch in the game's most crucial moments.
"Dylan really came through tonight and he really embodied our team and how we try to play," Queen Creek coach Mikel Moreno said.
"We just try to focus on the fundamentals. Don't get too high and don't get too low, and just treat every game like it's the biggest game, so when we get into these crucial situations, the adrenaline is a little bit more controllable."
Weekly did just that, keeping control and pitching his way out of several precarious situations, as Basha left runners in scoring position throughout.
Bears starting pitcher Zach Bolles had a solid outing himself, going five and two-thirds innings.
Queen Creek picked up 2 runs in the 4th inning, the second off this shallow shot to left field from @AlexGamboa2025 that allowed Paul Reynolds to score after his RBI triple. The Bulldogs lead Basha 2-0 after five innings. pic.twitter.com/FeByN6kCUL
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) May 1, 2024
But Queen Creek sophomore Tait Reynolds gave the Bulldogs a boost with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth inning for the first run of the game. Later in the inning, junior Alex Gamboa drove in Reynolds on a shallow fly ball to left field for the 2-0 lead.
Basha picked up its only run in the top of the sixth inning on slow ground ball that Wyatt Wolff was able to outrun at first base. The infield hit enabled Max Madrid to score from third base.
Basha picks up a big run in the top of the 5th off this grounder from Wyatt Wolff, who is safe at first allowing Max Madrid to score. Queen Creek leads 2-1 after the Bears leave runners stranded on 2nd and 3rd. pic.twitter.com/xumobDIw6l
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) May 1, 2024
Holding on to a delicate 2-1 lead, Weekly still had runners at second and third base, but was able to get out of the inning. Left handed closer Mason Lizzaraga closed it out for Queen Creek in the 7th.
"My arm's a little hung because I haven't thrown this many pitches in a while but it feels great," Weekly said of his outing. "I knew my defense would be there behind me and they played great."
Queen Creek (22-7) will next face No. 5 Mountain Ridge Saturday at Diablo Stadium.
Basha (16-11-1) will face elimination Thursday against No. 13 Chandler at Basha.
