The hardships paved the way for a storybook ending. 

Alain Gomez-Gudino celebrated with his Saguaro championship mates after earning the MVP of the 4A’s finale at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Gomez-Gudino’s story of survival and family sacrifices after immigrating from Venezuela was well-chronicled by Baseball America and azcentral.

On Monday, sheer excitement radiated from the senior after the Sabercats defeated first-time championship participant ALA-Gilbert North 11-4. Gomez-Gudino, Saguaro’s barrel-chested starting catcher, helped his program win its first two baseball championships. 

He told himself when Saguaro won it the first time two years ago that he would do again before graduating. Promise kept.

“I’ll remember this for all my life,” he said.

Alain Gomez-Gudino made a big impression during his time at Saguaro. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)

What Gomez-Gudino and a lot of folks will also remember is the home run he launched way above the right field fence of a Major League spring ballpark. 

It came in his first at bat with a man on. Just two batters in, Saguaro was up 2-0. 

But ALA-Gilbert North immediately responded in the bottom half of the inning. 

Center field Tate Clarkson led off with a deep fly ball to center that was mishandled, allowing Clarkson to come all the way home. The next four batters also got on base, with Nash Bigham and Luke Genet collecting RBI hits. 

It was 4-2 ALA-Gilbert North after the first inning, but Saguaro responded with five runs in the second to really start taking over. 

“We threw a punch early,” Saguaro first-year coach Gerald Laird said. “They threw a punch back, and then we were able to come back in the second and put up a five spot and kind of settle in with our pitching.”

Starter Jude Dravecky (7-1) and reliever Nate Wachinski (8-1, 1.18 ERA) didn’t allow a run the rest of the way. 

Ricky Faulkner, Max Pena (3-for-5), and Gomez-Gudino had seven of Saguaro’s 10 hits. 

“I don’t need nine heroes,” said Laird about what he told his boys before the 4A final. "I just need the nine best versions of yourselves. Do the best you can at your position, and we’ll be out on top. And they did a great job tonight.”

Like Saguaro, ALA-Gilbert North had to will itself to the final after a loss in the playoffs. 

"I’m really proud of them,” said ALA-Gilbert North coach David Webster of his team. “They played their hearts out, going down to Tucson and winning that big game (against defending champ Salpointe) and then coming back here and doubling up a really good team in Cactus Shadows.”

ALA-Gilbert North will return plenty of talent to make another run at the 4A crown next season. (Jose Garcia photo/AZPreps365)Webster’s team will return seven juniors who started in Monday’s matchup and a couple of very important gentlemen Webster sent a shoutout to, varsity assistants Devin Day and Matt Lund. 

The 25-8 team does graduate its No. 3 hitter, senior Grady Poulsen, who walked twice and went 2-for-2 Monday.

Saguaro (25-8) will lose 10 seniors, including Gomez-Gudino, who is committed to South Carolina. Laird, a World Series champ with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, is a former 13-year catcher in the Major Leagues. 

“(Gomez-Gudino) is ahead of the game,” Laird said. "You can see it in the way he takes at bats, the way he catches and controls the game. You don’t see that very often at a young age. Whatever route he decides to go he is going to be successful.”