Dominic Garramone is and ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Coronado High School for AZPreps365.com

With four games scheduled in three days in the Patriot Kick Off Classic, Coronado coach Donald Spaniak knew he was short on arms. During game two against Joseph City, he relied on his junior second basemen. 

“I was very proud of Justyn, he hasn’t pitched a lot and he said, 'Coach give me the ball,' ” said Spaniak about junior Justyn Pacheco.

The game ended 8-8 after the time limit was reached in the sixth inning.

"Shout out to Justyn,” said senior Drake Pfeiffer, “he brought that energy today.”

Pfeiffer is a four-year starter for the Dons and leads the team from center field and the leadoff spot. 

These four games will give the Dons the much needed live at-bats and game situations that are hard to replicate in off-season practices.

“I look at it as a chance to get back into the groove and knock the rust off, everybody is,” said Pfeiffer.

“This tournament we are not really worried about the scores or anything, more worried about how we are playing and how we are going to be able to play better for our seasonal games.”

The Dons dropped their first two games of the season.
“We were putting it into play a lot more than we were in the other games . . . we just need to work on communication going forward,” said Pfeiffer.

But a tie always leaves a bad taste.

“I’ll be honest it was disappointing, I thought it was a game we could have and should have won,” said Spaniak.

Costly mistakes in the field allowed Joseph City to get back in the game and ultimately cost the Dons their first win of the season.

“We really need to be better at knowing where to be on the field … we are playing a step behind rather than a step ahead.”

The Dons have a double header Saturday against Window Rock and North Pointe Prep.

“Tomorrow we need to come out with our good attitudes and compete, the wins will come when we start to do the little things right.”