Mesquite's Spencer Applebach brought a potent bat to the field last season, hitting a few ticks under .400. With 2012 in its third week, he's now pitching up a storm for the Wildcats.

In a remarkable transformation year to year thus far, Applebach produced his second straight gem Monday afternoon.This time it was a complete game, five-hitter in a 5-1 victory over Perry in a Division I baseball game at Perry High.

"Last year was not my year pitching," Applebach said. "I've tried to be more focused.With Zach (Davies) last year we had a guy we could count on every time. Now that he's gone, myself and other guys have to step up as a staff to fill in."

To say 2011 wasn't Applebach's year as a pitcher is understated. He made three appearances pitching a total of 1 1/3 innings. He allowed 12 earned runs and 14 hits. His earned-run average was 63.00.

How has Applebach's transformation on the hill come about?

"I think he was embarrassed and disappointed last year," Mesquite coach Jeff Holland said. "He took it lightly when he he went in to pitch. He's more focused this year. He's got his velocity up. He's worked hard at it, and he's taking pride in it."

Applebach has two consecutive complete games (the other a 5-3 win over Mesa Mountain View last week). In 15 1/3 innings he's allowed 9 hits, no walks and struck out 16. His ERA is 1.83. Applebach fanned nine in Monday's victory. He lost a shutout in the sixth surrendering a long solo homer to left by Perry catcher Collin Braithwaite.

Mesquite (5-3 overall, 3-0 power-point games) put together three rallies to give Applebach ample support. Matt Waldren and Casey Howard delivered RBIs (double and sacrifice fly, respectively) in a two-run second. Garrett Jeffries made it 3-0 with an RBI double in the third.

Braithwaite's two-out homer in the sixth pared the lead to 3-1, but Mesquite gave Applebach insurance in the seventh with RBIs from Seth Fretheim and Jeffries. The game took just 85 minutes to play.

Perry starter Logan Swane kept his team in the game despite Applebach's dominance. Swane allowed seven hits in 6 1/3 innings of work and all five runs. Perry (6-2, 2-1 ppg) got two hits from leadoff hitter Kyle Huckaby along with a couple nice catches in centerfield.