The Arizona Lutheran Academy baseball team defeated Pima 8-4 on Friday, with on-point offense and steady pitching to secure a preseason tournament win at home. 

Pima could not overcome the Coyotes' pristine and controlled offense, laser focus at bat and aggressive base running. This win gave the Coyotes momentum heading into the upcoming regular-season games. 

As ALA had its first Roughrider up to bat, freshman pitcher Andrew Baim opened the game by striking out the side immediately, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

The Coyotes came in hot, entering the first inning with multiple walks and taking a 3-0 lead.

The adrenaline stayed high throughout as the Coyotes ended the second inning with a 4-0 lead.

“I’ve been playing baseball my whole life, so sometimes pressure doesn’t get to me, but I would say when it does become a high-pressure situation, I tend just to breathe and talk to my teammates,” said senior Eric Urbieta, No. 25.

The 4-0 score felt suitable for the Coyotes, but when Pima scored its first run in the third inning, the energy shift was definitely felt on the field, yet the Coyotes did not back down just yet. 

“We know from watching them the game before that they were good hitters, and so being able to have our pitchers hit their spots was huge for us," said coach Shawn Riesop. "You hit your spots, and you follow what the coach's directions are, and the result comes out pretty good."

Parents cheering “Let's go Yotes” from the stands, the players still keeping their heads up high with the score at 6-4, ALA responded with a bang. Bases filled up quickly for the Coyotes.

ALA’s Danny Villarreal, delivered a timely hit, securing multiple runs for the Coyotes. 

Assistant coach Oliver Urbieta credited the team's consistency on the mound as a defining factor for the win. 

“The big thing for tonight's game was the pitching; our pitching keeps us in it. If the kids throw strikes, we stay in the game," Oliver Urbieta. "I feel that was a big key today, where you could see that their pitchers were on cue, and it allowed us to get some unearned runs."

Despite Pima’s mid-game rally, the Coyotes' responded with composed pitching were the reasons they were able to secure the win.