Casteel senior Mason Russell threw a masterful game Thursday night, leading the top-seeded Colts to a 6-1 victory against No. 4 Notre Dame in a 5A winners' bracket showdown at Tempe's Diablo Stadium.

After giving up Notre Dame's only run in the first inning, Russell yielded only three more hits while striking out 10 batters in a near-complete game. Tyler Hatch relieved Russell to retire the final out, as defending champion Casteel took another step towards its second straight title.

The Colts (23-6) will next play Wednesday night at HoHokam Park in Mesa. Notre Dame (21-8) will next face No. 5 Mountain Pointe in elimination game Monday at HoHokam. The winner gets another shot at Casteel.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Casteel sophomore Ryan Harwood stepped to the plate with the bases loaded before launching a deep line drive into right-center field. The stand up-double cleared the bases, giving the Colts a 3-1 lead and momentum it would never relinquish.

"That was a huge hit by our lefty," Casteel coach Matt Denny said of Harwood's double. "That turned everything in our favor and gave us a massive boost."

On the next at-bat, Denny's freshman son Baylor Denny drove in Harwood with a base hit, giving Casteel a 4-1 lead. That ended the night for Notre Dame starter and UCLA commit Colten Bott, who was sharp early.

"That kid has an incredible arm and he was throwing really well in the first three innings," Denny said of Bott.

Later in the sixth inning, sophomore Connor Russell scored on a steal from third base, and Bobby Pierce picked up an RBI to finish the damage.

Connor Russell also came up with a big defensive play in the first inning for Casteel. After Notre Dame's Chase Wagner's base hit to right field scored Aaron Kniffin, Todd Stottlemeyre Jr also tried to score, but was thrown out at the plate thanks to a perfect throw from Russell.

"That was anothe big play that gave us momentum even though we'd just given up a run. Connor made a great throw."

 

Sunrise Mountain 8 Nogales 1

The way No. 2 Sunrise Mountain is playing, six days until its next playoff game might feel like too much rest. 

The Mustangs won their ninth straight game and third of the playoffs Thursday afternoon by dismantling No. 3 Nogales, 8-1 in another 5A winners' bracket macthup at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Sunrise Mountain pitchers Tanner Milner and Bryce Madison combined to spread out six hits for the Mustangs. 

Ryan Haseltine went 2-4 with an RBI and Cory Oxford drove in two runs on a base hit in the second inning. Andrew Balian, Chase Heid and Logan Guilford all added base hit RBI's for Sunrise Mountain (28-4-1).

The Mustangs' last loss to an in-state 5A team was against Apollo on March 14th. Sunrise Mountain has outscored its three playoff opponents 18-2. 

"We're playing really good right now," said Milner, who threw four innings before Madison replaced him.

"We've got a tight knit group and we love playing for eachother and our community. It really feels like we're peaking at the right time."

Milner made one of the game's biggest defensive plays after moving to center field in the fifth inning. Sunrise Mountain held a 4-1 lead, but Nogales had runners on first and second and base when Denzel Montijo came to the plate. Montijo launched a deep shot to right center field that appeared too long for Milner, but he was able to make an over the shoulder catch in full stride, saving two runs and ending the inning.

"The ball was hit well in the gap, but I was kind of surprised with the carry it had on it," Milner said. "Knowing there were two runners on I had to find a way to get to the ball and fortunately I did."

Nogales (17-10) will square off with No. 7 seed Campo Verde back at Diablo Stadium Monday in an elimination game. The winnier will face Sunrise Mountain next Wednesday at HoHoKam Stadium in Mesa.