Two weeks ago in winning an extra-inning suspended game with Mesa High, Mountain Pointe opted for small ball to push the game its way. On Saturday in the first round of the Division I state tournament in extra innings, the Pride decided on a replay to keep its season alive.

A pair of excellent bunts by Michael Weaver and Sam Kingery paved the way for a bases-loaded walk to Joey Curletta in the bottom of the eighth inning that enabled Mountain Pointe to take a 3-2 victory over Mesa Mountain View in a game that epitomized  playoff baseball.

Mountain Pointe (18-10-1) advances to the round of 16 -- single-elimination again -- at  No. 2 seed Chaparral on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Mountain View saw its season finish at 19-10 despite great efforts from seniors Willie Ethington and Sterling Smith.

"It's unfortunate that one of us had to go home," Mountain Pointe coach Brandon Buck said. "This was a very tough game. But it gets us prepared for what's ahead."

Mountain View, which led 1-0 after the first inning but trailed 2-1 with two outs in the top of the seventh, drew even on a dramatic homer from Smith. Smith ripped a line-drive homer to right-center on a 1-0 pitch to tie the contest at 2.  Smith had three of Mountain View's eight hits and scored both runs.

Etnhington protected the tie with a shutout seventh. Mountain View then went to work against  Pride reliever Zach Cordova, who gave a up a one-out single and walk in the eighth. Mountain View couldn't produce the go-ahead run with a fielder's choice and strike out ending its threat.

Mountain Pointe attacked wit hits bunt strategy in the eighth. Weaver reached on his single and advanced to second when catcher Zach Hyzdu's throw sailed wide of first baseman Jacob Boehme moving Weaver to second.

With a 2-2 count, Sam Kingery stayed in bunt mode and put down another good one, beating it out for a hit and advancing Weaver to third. Mountain View intentionally walked Scott Kingery to load the bases. That meant pitching to Curletta, who walked on a 3-1 pitch from reliever Landon Russo that brought home the game winner.

"I told out guys we won't see a better pitcher than Ethington," Buck said. "He was the best we faced this season."

Ethington, who also contributed two hits, was on his game pitching seven strong innings. He allowed only four hits, but three came in succession in the fourth inning and combined for Mountain Pointe's two runs in regulation. He didn't walk a batter and struck out six.

A solid double to left-center by Curletta started the Pride's fourth-inning rally. Brantley Bell followed looping a single to right. With runners at the corners, left-hand hitting Ernie De La Trinidad stroked a fading liner down the left-field line for a two-RBI double putting the Pride up, 2-1.

"That kid has a great approach," Buck said. "He's not big and deceives teams. He's one of those guys that proves size doesn't matter."

Mountain Pointe and Mountain View both played solid defense. Mountain Pointe second baseman Sam Kingery made a couple of nice plays taking hits away up the middle. Curletta made a couple of nice digs at first. And Toros second baseman Bryce Bailey did the same, particularly on a play in the fourth when he dove to his right to stop a grounder and threw to first from his knees to get the final out. Had he not made the play, Mountain Pointe would have scored at least a third run in the fourth.

Mountain Pointe made back-to-back plays against Mountain View to start the sixth. Sam Kingery took a hit away from Ethington going to his right. Hyzdu followed with a long drive to the right-field corner that was snagged by Weaver near the line at the fence.

One other pivotal moment came in the first inning when Mountain View opened the game with three straight singles to load the bases. Mountain Pointe escaped the jam allowing one run. That scored on Hyzdu's 5-4-3 double-play grounder. Another ground out followed to extinguish the chance for a big inning.