Baseball: Pusch Ridge over Desert Christian 7-3
by Andy Morales on Feb. 27, 2013, under Sports
Jacob Frithsen. Andy Morales Photos.
Pusch Ridge has opened their season by beating Division IV rivals Tanque Verde 11-1 on Tuesday and Desert Christian 7-3 on Wednesday night. The two victories puts the Lions in the driver seat heading into the PCDS Desert Classic coming up this weekend in the Phoenix area.
It was Desert Christian’s first game of the year and they will also be heading up to Phoenix this weekend along with St. Gregory and Tanque Verde.
Senior pitcher Donny Perdue picked up the 5-inning victory over Tanque Verde and Jacob Frithsen took the mound on Wednesday. Frithsen gave up two walks in top of the first but he retired six straight batters until Daulton Hopkins reached on a hit with one out in the top of the third inning.
Meanwhile, Ryan Penny hit a triple to the right field wall with one out in the bottom of the first and he was brought in on a sacrifice fly by Mike Doty to give Pusch Ridge a 1-0 lead heading into the second inning.
Zach Malis walked Chad Willis in the bottom of the second inning but he also collected two strikeouts. Luke Haines reached on a throwing error that left the field but Willis was allowed to score on the play from first base while Haines was placed on second base. Malis picked up another strikeout to end the inning.
Down 2-0, Hopkins picked up his one-out hit in the top of the third and Malis reached on an infield hit one out later. Malis proceeded to get in a rundown between first and second base, allowing Hopkins to steal home on the play
With the score now 2-1, Mails was able to pick up two outs in the bottom of the third inning but he also issued walks to Penny and Doty. A catcher’s interference call allowed Perdue to reach safely to load the bases.
Willis belted a double to clear the bases to put Pusch Ridge up 5-1. Desert Christian got one back in the top of the fourth on a lead-off double by Ryan Phillips and an RBI single from Zach Rosson.
Malis held Pusch Ridge in the fourth but a one-out error put Penny on base in the fifth to set up back-to-back singles from Doty and Frithsen. Oliver Harris came in to run for Doty but he was picked off of second on Frithsen’s hit but the hit also brought in Penny.
Malis left the game with only one earned run given up and Andrew Edwards came in to pitch for Desert Christian and Perdue came up and doubled just in front of the centerfield wall, some 370 feet away, to bring in another run. 7-2 Pusch Ridge.
Trevor Jorg added a run in the fifth inning for Desert Christian on a walk and a wild pitch. 7-3 Pusch Ridge.
Doty took the mound in the 6th inning and retired six of the last seven batters with Hopkins picking up a 3-base error in the top of the seventh.
Malis went 2-2 at the plate while giving up one earned run and four hits. Phillips had a double and Rosson had an RBI to lead Desert Christian.
Frithsen threw 5 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits. Penny had a triple, Doty had an RBI and a hit as did Frithsen. Perdue hit an RBI double and Willis hit a bases-clearing double to lead Pusch Ridge.
PCDS Desert Classic: Baseball
Friday, March 1
At Phoenix Country Day
10 am: Desert Christian vs. Tempe Prep.
12:15 pm: Veritas vs. Desert Christian
At Joy Christian
10:15 am: North Pointe vs. Tanque Verde
12:30 pm: Tanque Verde vs. Parker
At Salt River
10:15 am: Valley Christian vs. St. Gregory
12:30 pm: St. Gregory College vs. Salt River
At Nozomi park
10 am: Chandler Prep. vs. Pusch Ridge
2:00 pm: Pusch Ridge vs. Horizon Honors
Saturday, March 2
At Phoenix Country Day
10 am: Valley Christian vs. Tanque Verde
2:15 pm: Tanque Verde vs. Phoenix Country Day
At Joy Christian
8 am: Joy Christian vs St. Gregory
10 am: Veritas vs. Pusch Ridge
12:15 pm: St. Gregory vs. Veritas
2:15 pm: Pusch Ridge vs. Joy Christian
At Salt River
10 am: Desert Christian vs. Chandler Prep.
12:15 pm: North Pointe vs. Desert Christian
PCDS Desert Classic: Softball
Friday, March 1
At Phoenix Country Day
10:15 am: Veritas vs. Desert Christian
12:30 pm: Desert Christian vs. Mogollon
At Joy Christian
10:15 am: Camp Verde vs. Tanque Verde
2:45 pm: Tanque Verde vs. Joy Christian
At Salt River
10:15 am: Valley Christian vs. St. Gregory
12:30 pm: St. Gregory vs. Salt River
Saturday, March 2
At Phoenix Country Day
10:15 am: Fountain Hills vs. Tanque Verde
12:30 pm: Tanque Verde vs. Phoenix Country Day
At Joy Christian
10:15 am: Veritas vs. St. Gregory
12:30 pm: St. Gregory vs. Joy Christian
At Salt River
10 am: Chandler Prep. vs. Desert Christian
2:15 pm: Desert Christian vs. Salt River
