These two could have gone either way and they didn't. Up in Paradise Valley, both games were tied early and in both games, the Pumas scored later and the Vaqueros didn't. 

Game 1:

The Vaq's went up 3-2 after two innings with doubles from Chris Kobar and MJ Hubbs, and a hustle score from second by pinch-runner Aldo Koutsoyanopulos on a bang-bang play at first. And that was it for Central. The game featured a couple of real nice 6-4-3 double plays with some nice feeds from SS Josh Ethier and really quick turns from 2B Cody Erickson. Paradise Valley pitcher Mike Diamond threw a very nice complete game, striking out four and walking none. The final was 5-3.

 

Starter Dakody Clemmer (3-2) had the gas and was nipping the plate but wasn't getting the calls on this day, walking four and striking out four. 

"This team is good and very well coached" said a PVCC business professor who had the afternoon off and came to watch his student pitch. "You can tell they can play."

"We're playing horrible" said head coach Anthony Gilich.

Only a coach can know what that means, because from the outside, everything seems good, that the breaks are going the other way. Reliever Michael Lopez threw a terrific 1.1 to stop the pesky Pumas, but it was too late, Diamond had a shut-down on the Central bats.

Game 2:

Jake Brown doubled and batted in two and after seven innings this game was tied at 3-3. The Pumas put together a couple of hits and scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead and the final was 5-3. Connor Noble threw 6.1 walking two and striking out three, and Christian Botnick threw scoreless baseball at the final seven Paradise Valley hitters. Central had ten hits but yet couldn't seem to plate 'em when they needed 'em.

"I talked myself out of working today" - Scott Hamilton 

"My brother will handle it today" - Gene Kobar