Ricardo Mendivil underestimated his power.
Mendivil, a junior, slugged two home runs and drove in six runs to lead Sunnyside to a 12-0, five inning win over Rincon/University on Friday in a 5A-II Southern Region game.
“Before the start of the season, I was telling my friends that maybe I’d hit four home runs (this season),” Mendivil said.
Mendivil had three home runs entering the game against Rincon. He blasted his fourth in the second inning with a runner on base and came back with three-run shot in the fourth to highlight a five-run inning.
Mendivil said both home runs came off fastballs.
“He’s hot right now,” said Sunnyside coach Ernie Palomarez. “I don’t think the (home runs) were helped by the wind. He got a hold of them and went with the pitches very well. He took the outside pitches. That’s what we teach.”
Sunnyside tagged three Rincon pitchers for nine hits, three by Mendivil. Rincon hurler Sam Blake absorbed most of the damage prior to exiting in the fourth inning.
Right-hander Jose Gomez (7-2) pitched a gem for Sunnyside, going the full five innings. He allowed three hits and struck out seven.
“We’re not gelling yet,” Palomarez said. “But it’s a good sign to score as many runs as we have lately and pitchers getting complete games. That’s what you want. I am very pleased, but we’re not where we need to be.
“Next week is going to tell us a lot because it’s going to be our toughest week of the season. We have to face Mountain View, Ironwood Ridge and Salpointe.”
Softball
Sierra Vista Buena’s ace Meghan McIntosh silenced Tucson High’s batters Friday.
McIntosh pitched a no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking four.
Carissa Youngblood hit a 2-run home run in the first inning while teammate Courtney Dennis added a 2-run insurance homer in the sixth.
Sahuaro 2, Sabino 0: Junior Courtney McCoy struck out five Sabercat batters while pitching a 3-hit shutout.
Tennis
Five Tucson-area tennis teams will host first-round matches Monday in the opening round of the Class 5A Division I and 5A-II state tournaments.
The Arizona Interscholastic Association released the 5A boys and girls tournament brackets Friday.
Defending 5A-II boys champion Ironwood Ridge earned the No. 1 seed in its tournament and will host No. 16 Kingman at 12:30 p.m. Monday.
Other boys teams to qualify for the 5A state tournaments include Salpointe (No. 5 seed in the 5A-I tournament) and Rincon/University (No. 9, 5A-II).
Three Tucson-area girls teams qualified: Salpointe (No. 4, 5A-I), Ironwood Ridge (No. 4, 5A-II) and Rincon (No. 8, 5A-II). Casa Grande, which competes in the 5A-I Southern Region, earned the No. 10 seed in the 5A-I tournament.
The team tournaments conclude April 28 at the Glendale Paseo Racquet Club. The 5A individual tournaments begin Friday.