by Conor Dorney

Desert Mountain shut down the Notre Dame Prep bats, beating the Saints 6-0 behind a stellar performance on the mound from starting pitcher Cody Erickson.

Erickson, a senior for the Wolves, threw 6 2/3 shutout innings while striking out seven Saints batters.

Erickson displayed stellar command of all his pitches, particularly with his breaking ball, en route to the win.

"Before the game in the bullpen, I wasn't really feeling it," he said. "Once I got into the game and threw the first couple pitches, though, I felt like I had everything."

Desert Mountain head coach Brian Stephenson said that these are the types of outings he's used to seeing from Erickson.

"He's at his best in big games," Stephenson said. "He went out there tonight and did what he always does." 

In addition to his dominating performance on the mound, Erickson racked up three hits at the plate. But Erickson still said he enjoyed putting up zeroes on the scoreboard more than his night with the bat.

"I think throwing the six and two-thirds of shutout ball is definitely more difficult," he said. "Notre Dame is a really good, scrappy team."

Erickson was relieved for the final out of the game after the Saints loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, despite his pleas to Stephenson to keep him in.

"I know he wanted to get that last out but his pitch count was getting up so we had to make the move," Stephenson said. "That's just the type of competitor he is."

The win moved the Wolves moved to 23-3 on the season, while Notre Dame Prep fell to 20-6 in what was the fifth and final meeting of the year between the two schools.