Jordan Leandre is a student journalist at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com.

Junior varsity sophomore pitcher Danny Harris shined in an otherwise disappointing showing for Arcadia High School Wednesday night. The Titans lost 13-2 to Saguaro in a game called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Arcadia had many chances to score early, putting runners in scoring position in the first three innings. The Titans loaded the bases in the second, but the rally was squandered when Saguaro left fielder Donovan Davis made a diving catch.

“We had the energy every inning,” said Arcadia head coach Matt Sugarman. “No matter what, we put the screws back on them when it was our turn.”

However, the Titans couldn’t keep the Sabercats off the scoreboard, allowing four runs in the second and five more in the third. Senior right-hander Jake Resnick started on the mound for the Titans but walked multiple batters every inning until he was pulled in the third.

“I felt like I didn’t have a lot of feel for the fastball,” Resnick said. “You wanna be able to rely on your fastball and be effective with it. When that’s not going for you, you kind of put yourself behind the 8-ball a little bit.”

Resnick’s relief came from Harris, who was promptly greeted on his first pitch to a grand slam from Sabercats pitcher Thomas DeChesaro. But he soon settled in and allowed only two more runs.

“I made sure I was careful,” Harris said. “I got a lot of two-strike counts and tried to not give them anything good to hit.”

There were a few swings Harris induced that made hitters look foolish, one of which came on an off-speed pitch to get a strikeout in a scoreless fourth inning. But perhaps the most impressive part of Harris’ outing was when he snared a line-drive ball up the middle, robbing Saguaro of a base hit.

“I always try to be a fielder first, after I throw it,” Harris said. “I just didn’t want that ball to get through. I just wanted to knock it down and I caught it.”

It was only the sophomore’s second outing at the varsity level, but it was one he won’t forget, even if the score was as lopsided as it was.

“[The public address announcer] announcing my name as soon as I come out there … it was pretty cool,” Harris said.

Next up for the Titans is a road game against Paradise Valley High School on Friday, where Arcadia looks to snap that eight-game losing streak.