Gilbert High's baseball team returned a good corps of hitters, but would its pitching be able to hold up its end of the bargain in 2013?

The answer through nine games is yes. With plenty of offense behind him, Gilbert's Tanner Herdt shrugged off a first-inning homer and pitched five solid innings in the Tigers' 13-3 run-rule triumph over visiting rival Highland in a Division I contest.

Herdt, a senior, improved to 2-0 and his ERA stands at 0.72. He allowed five hits, didn't walk a batter and fanned eight. Only one of the runs was earned, the homer by Highland's Tre Tyler. Herdt gave up two unearned runs in the third as Gilbert committed three errors. In nine games Gilbert has given up 26 runs. Not bad for a schedule that's included Desert Mountain, Sunrise Mountain, Chaparral, Saguaro and Red Mountain.

"Tanner was one of our top three last year," Gilbert coach Matt Gutierrez said. "He didn' have the year he hoped for last year. This year he's been outstanding. Our biggest question coming in would our pitching be able to keep us in games. It's been very good so far."

Gilbert won its fifth game in a row and ran its record to 6-3 overall and 4-0 in power-ranking games. Highland fell to 5-2, 1-1 prg as early walks and a bunch of extra-base hits made for a tough day.

A hit batter and walk, combined with a two-run double by sizzling Josh Moore(five RBI for the day)  helped Gilbert overcome a 1-0 deficit in the first and take a 3-1 lead after one. The Tigers broke it open in the second with a six-run outburst. Two more walks, a two-run triple by Dustin Peterson and two-run homer by Moore were the big blows. Peterson, Jack Zoellner and Moore batted 3-4-5 in the order and combined to go 8-for-8 with nine RBI. Peterson (.556) was a homer shy of the cycle and Moore (.448) was missing a triple. Moore has five homers and 17 RBI in nine games.Zoellner is hitting .474.

"If you pitch around three (Peterson), then you have to face four (Zoellner) and then Josh," Gutierrez said, "Josh has been getting opportunities, and taking advantage of them."

Highland was led offensively by Tyler with two hits. Starting pitcher Jake Smith, who took the loss, moved to third base after leaving the mound and made back-to-backweb gems in the third. The firstone  snaring a hot liner on a hop via backhand and next to his left to nab a liner. Smith also singled in a run as did teammate Kevan Elcock.