The 6A baseball conference was a dogfight this season, but when the dust settled, the alpha dog was a familiar face: the Hamilton Huskies.

Hamilton won its 10th title and seventh in the past 12 years, but every playoff victory as well as its big regular season wins down the stretch were a struggle. In Tuesday’s final, Hamilton trailed by seven runs after Corona del Sol sent 11 men to the plate in the second inning. 

But Hamilton, which trailed in its last five playoff games, refused to lose once again. Powered by a stellar pitching performance from Dean Thompson, the Huskies pulled off a rally to remember to dethrone Corona del Sol, 10-7, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Hamilton coach Mike Woods called this title—and his program’s first championship in 2003—the two most unexpected, because Hamilton wasn’t the favorite. In 2003, Hamilton defeated Horizon 5-1.

“We’ve been able to find a way,” said Hamilton coach Mike Woods about his message to his team a day before the final. “You will find a way. I don’t know who it’s going to be. Someone will find a way (Tuesday). Just relax. That’s the Hamilton way. It’s hard to explain, but it just happens.” 

The Huskies started the year 0-3 and had another three game losing streak in the regular season but overtook some very talented teams down the stretch. 

Corona del Sol also wasn’t a favorite this year, and, despite giving up the big lead, the Aztecs loaded the bases in the seventh. But Thompson closed the door after a Hamilton 6-4-3 double play to cap its 22-10 season. 

The junior right-handed pitcher came in at the start of the third and kept Corona del Sol scoreless the rest of the way, allowing just four hits during what Woods called a “magical” performance. Thompson was rewarded with the MVP plaque. 

“It’s a great feeling (being the MVP), but, honestly, it’s this team,” Thompson said. “I got to shine on the mound, but this team has so much fight. It’s a great group of guys.”

His fastball, change up, staying consistent, throwing strikes, and staying relaxed no matter the situation was key, he said. 

Hamilton scored a run in the second and two more in the third before taking the lead for good after tallying five runs in the fifth. Hamilton sent nine batters to the plate in that frame but only had two hits. 

Four walks, an error and a balk helped the Huskies exit the inning with an 8-7 lead. They tacked on two more in the sixth after a solo shot from Parker Rahn (2-for-4) and an RBI single from Alex Wells.

Senior leader Ben Ball (triple, double) and catcher Kristopher De Santiago (2-for-4) each reached base three times for Hamilton.

For Corona del Sol (22-8), No. 5 hitter Parker Williams, No. 7 hitter Gabe Becho-Garcia and No. 9 hitter Maddon De La Cruz had two hits apiece. 

The Aztecs had seven hits when they scored their seven runs in the second inning. But, this season, that wasn’t enough to stop the resilient Huskies. 

“You just have to believe,” Woods said.