by Connor Dorney

In the midst of a three-game losing streak entering Saturday's game with archrival Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista came away with a 5-4 victory behind a strong showing from the Thunder bullpen.

After jumping out to a 3-0 lead, the Thunder fell behind after starting pitcher Kyle Gibbs surrendered four runs in the top of the fourth, including a three-run home run from Mountain Pointe pinch-hitter Jorge Carrazco.

Despite the three-game skid entering the game and early deficit, Thunder head coach Stan Luketich said the confidence in his team was unwavering.

"When you're losing games, you're just trying to get back in it," Luketich said. "But by the way we've been practicing, you'd never know that we lost a game. I love coaching these kids. They work hard."

The win for Desert Vista was due in large part to the 3 1/3 innings of combined scoreless relief from pitchers Diego Leal and Sean McGuire. After relieving Gibbs in the fourth inning, Leal and McGuire held Mountain Pointe hitless for the rest of the game.

"Coming out of the bullpen you have to have that fighting mentality," Leal said. "We were just able to come out and do what we've been practicing."

Leal said the win was especially sweet considering it came against their rival.

"We always want to beat Mountain Pointe," he said. "That's always a game that you circle on the calendar."

Echoing the sentiments of his head coach, Leal also believed that it was only a matter of time before the Thunder got back to their winning ways.

"We knew we were going to find a way to right the ship," he said. "We just have to keep working hard and good things will come from it."

The win brought the Thunder's record to 17-7 on the season, while the Pride fell to 13-7.