Mtn. View's John Neeley records the fifth of his seven strikeouts in win over Red Mountain. (AzPreps365.com photo)

A visibly hot pitcher for Red Mountain and a more under-the-radar standout Mountain View hurler took the mound Tuesday night as the Brown Road rivals sparred for a piece of first place in the 6A East Valley Region baseball race.

The under-the-radar guy did just that. Mountain View senior John Neeley tossed a four-hitter and fanned seven and his teammates supplied plenty of noise with their bats as the Toros upended Red Mountain and its torrid hurler, Kai Murphy, 8-2, in the nightcap of a region twinbill at HoHoKam Park.

Not only was the game for a share of the lead in the region, but it matched a pair of Mesa schools in the top six in the 6A power-rankings. That hasn't happened much the last decade or so. #2 Mountain View improved to 15-5 overall and 10-1 in power-ranking games. The Toros are also 3-0 in region play, sharing the top spot with Skyline, which beat Mesa High earlier in the day. Red Mountain dropped to 12-8, 8-3 prg. The Mountain Lions are 2-1 in region play. 

Neeley, a right-hander, came out strong retiring Red Mountain in order the first two innings. In his previous outing, he failed to hold a 3-0 lead late against Basha (not all his doing) and walked away with a no-decision. He allowed six hits and three walks in four-plus innings against the Bears.

Murphy, the goose-egg producing lefty for Red Mountain, entered the game having thrown 28 consecutive scoreless innings. He made it 29 after the first inning, but that's where his streak ended. Having trouble with command of his curve ball, Murphy allowed a run in the second and three more in the third to give Neeley added confidence going forward.

Mountain View stopped Murphy's scoreless streak with the first two batters in the top of the second. Designated hitter Jared Thomas lined a triple over the right fielder's head and catcher Brandon Todd brought Thomas home with a ground out to short. Murphy escaped the inning with the bases loaded issuing two walks and giving up two hits.

The Toros stung the ball in the third off Murphy. Sean Rimmer opened with a double and two walks followed. Todd singled home a run to make it 2-0 and Cam Jowaiszas hammered the deepest hit of the night -- a two-run triple to cavernous left-center. Murphy pitched five innings and allowed seven hits, five runs (all earned), five walks and fanned six. He had won his last five starts in a row and is 5-2 for the season.

The lone bumpy inning for Neeley was the bottom of the third. He was hit hard by the first three batters - a Tyler Rice triple and singles by Josh Hibbard and Randy Hutson. With a run in, Murphy sacrificed runners to second and third. They were stranded, however, as Neeley fanned Luke Hyzdu and Austin Duffy to get out of the inning. Red Mountain didn't get another hit until the sixth - a double and their last one by Hyzdu. Neeley induced a double-play ball and ground out to end the sixth. He finished with a 1-2-3 seventh.

Neeley is 3-1 for the season and has allowed only two earned runs in 32.2 innings. His earned-run average is 0.43. Mountain View outhit Red Mountain, 11-4. Jowaiszas led the Toros' attack going 4 for 4 with two singles, a double and triple. Jowaizsas. Todd and Joe Georgini drove in two runs apiece. Rimmer was 2 for 4.

SKYLINE 3, MESA 2: The Coyotes are a little behind their Mesa brethern -- Mountain View and Red Mountain -- in the 6A power-rankings, but they stayed pace in the East Valley Region race Tuesday by defeating the Jackrabbirts at HoHoKam Park.

AJ Herrera, one of two sons playing for Skyline head coach Pat Herrera, scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh on a sacrifice fly by cleanup hitter Jan Rollen. Herrera doubled off Mesa reliever Angel Reynoso to start the winning rally. AJ Herrera also walked twice in the leadoff spot for the Coyotes.

Skyline senior pitcher Cole Yocum went the distance and shut down Mesa after giving up two run in the first inning. Yocum allowed five hits - none in the final four innings. He walked three and struck out six.

Skyline was led offensively by Tyler Jackson, who was 3 for 3 with a homer, double and single. His home run cleared the fence in the left-field corner in the second inning. Reynoso hqd two of Mesa's five hits.

Skyline improved to 16-4 overall and 9-2 in power-ranking games. The Coyotes are #11 in the most current power rankings. Mesa fell to 10-9 overall, 5-5 prg. The Jackrabbits are #18 in the power rankings.

In the East Valley Region the Coyotes are 3-0 and will be deadlocked with Tuesday night's late-game winner between Red Mountain and Mountain View for first place.