Perry avenges loss to Hamilton, wins MDN-CDS Softball Invite

Just eight days ago Perry met Hamilton in softball and came out on the short end of an 11-0 contest. Perry also lost its only game of the Marcos-Corona Softball Tournament Tuesday to Desert Ridge in crushing fashion, 9-1. All that amounted to payback Wednesday as Perry tucked away those bad memories with a 4-3 victory over Hamilton to win the championship of the annual tournament at Marcos de Niza High School.

Softball Les Willsey March 16, 2011

Highland walks past Mesa in Triple Play Classic baseball

Highland High did not have much to show in the hit column Tuesday night, but the adage a walk is as good as a hit worked just as well for the host Hawks.

Baseball Les Willsey March 15, 2011

4-year varsity stint works smoothly for Zach Davies

Mesquite baseball coach Jeff Holland has dabbled more in freshman varsity players than most of his counterparts. It takes a special mix of ingredients to trust a freshman with a significant varsity role, but in 2011 senior Zach Davies there are no regrets from either coach or player for Davies\\\\\\\' four-year stint with the big club.

Baseball Les Willsey March 15, 2011

HIghland Triple Play Classic baseball scores and schedule

Baseball Les Willsey March 14, 2011

Hamilton makes most of breaks, nips Desert Mountain softball

Hamilton has never been a world beater in softball like it has in football and baseball. Not even close. But the 2011 softball team is making its presence known. Hamilton took advantage of physical and mental errors by Desert Mountain and got the unintentional help of an umpire Monday in edging the previously unbeaten Wolves, 5-4, in pool play at the Marcos de Niza-Corona del Sol Invitational at Marcos de Niza.

Football / Baseball / Softball Les Willsey March 14, 2011

Mesquite-Gilbert Baseball Invitational sked and scores

Baseball Les Willsey March 12, 2011

Marcos de Niza-Corona del Sol Softball Invite, sked & scores

Softball Les Willsey March 12, 2011

Cron, Mtn. Pointe long ball outlasts Mesa Mtn. View, 16-10

It does not seem to matter who the hitter is. Mountain Pointe baseball is bombarding the opposition with the long ball three weeks into the season.

Baseball Les Willsey March 12, 2011

Defending 5A-II champ Horizon starting to hit its stride

The Horizon baseball team opened the season with tough competition in the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Invitational the final week of February. Since posting a 2-2 mark in the tourney in pool play the Huskies have responded by winning four of their last five games.

Baseball Les Willsey March 11, 2011

Baseball, softball invitationals set for spring break week

Baseball / Softball Les Willsey March 11, 2011

Meyerhoff an inspiration at many levels to those now, later

Cross Country / Track & Field Les Willsey March 10, 2011

Davies latest 4-year starter to thrive for Mesquite baseball

Baseball Les Willsey March 9, 2011

Mesquite football hire is former Winslow coach Matt Gracey

The Gilbert district governing board Tuesday night officially approved a recommendation from Mesquite High to hire Matt Gracey as the Wildcats next football coach.

Football Les Willsey March 8, 2011

Not a masterpiece, but Mtn. View tops Mtn. Ridge in baseball

A 10-4 victory would usually result in the winning coach wearing a broad smile. Mesa Mountain View baseball coach Mike Thiel did not have more than half a grin after his Toros topped visiting Mountain Ridge on Tuesday afternoon at Toro Field.

Baseball Les Willsey March 8, 2011

Early observations on 5A-I baseball chase

Cross Country / Baseball Les Willsey March 8, 2011

Michelle Duncan overshadowed in era of exceptional pitchers

It was not hard to get lost in the shuffle as a prep softball pitcher in the Valley the last few years. Gilbert hurler MIchelle Duncan can relate.

Cross Country / Softball Les Willsey March 7, 2011

Twin Killing: Howards, Doty power Mesquite past Gilbert

Mesquite turned on the power game, took advantage of a couple Gilbert miscues and rode that combination to an 8-4 win over the host Tigers and the championship of the Scottsdale Quarterback Club Baseball Invitational.

Baseball Les Willsey March 5, 2011

Mtn. View was exceptional in postseason -- and thensome

Cross Country / Boys Basketball Les Willsey March 5, 2011

St. Marys 15-0 run earns a 5A-I girls title over Chandler

Chandler High played the game it wanted against St. Mary\'s for the first 15 minutes of the 5A-I girls basketball championship game on Friday. It was that last minute of the half that was ugly and esentially ended the Wolves hope of claiming the title St.. Mary\'s used an 9-0 run to end the first half and that opened the gates to a 73-60 win over Chandler at Jobing.com Arena.

Girls Basketball Les Willsey March 4, 2011

Betty H. Fairfax beats Chaparral to first boys hoops crown

Talk about a battle for your first boys basketball title in school history. Chaparral and Betty H. Fairfax was just that Friday afternoon as Chaparral nearly four decades old and Fairfax four-years-old duked it out at Jobing.com Arena. Pierre Newton made free throws and reserve Jovan Wright several clutch 3s in regularion and overtimes as Betty Fairfax dealt Chaparral a second straight gut-wrenching 5A-II state title defeat, 65-60, in double overtime.

Cross Country / Boys Basketball Les Willsey March 4, 2011

Tolleson notches 5A-II girls hoop 3-peat, defeats Pinnacle

Pinnacle was determined to put the clamps on Tolleson guard Syerra Davis on Friday in the 5A-II girls basketball championship game. The Pioneers hounded Davis one-on-one and did a fine job on the Wolverines leading scorer, who had scored 49 points in two previous meetings this season. The solution was for other Tolleson players to step up. That they did.

Girls Basketball Les Willsey March 4, 2011

Mtn. View tames Buena, faces Brophy in 5A-I hoops final

Mountain View remembered how it played in the first half against Buena in December when it bolted to a 19-point advantage at intermission. Buena was hoping the Toros did not. Fourth-seed Mountain View used an 18-2 edge in the opening period Thursday night to put the top-seed Colts on their heels and went on to post a 67-39 victory in the 5A-I boys basketball semifinals at Jobing.com Arena.

Boys Basketball Les Willsey March 3, 2011

St. Marys returns to 5A-I title game, dominates Xavier

Games are supposed to get tougher as the state tournament progresses. That is not the case for top-seed St. Marys. The Knights raced to a 24-9 lead in the first quarter Thursday and dominated in virtually every facet to defeat No. 5 Xavier, 71-42, in the 5A-I semifinals at Jobing.com Arena.

Stories Les Willsey March 3, 2011

Chandler girls avenge loss to Mtn. View, reach 5A-I final

The game was eerily similar. But in the end not the same. This time Chandler High started fast and maintained its lead the entire way, knocking off third-seed Mesa Mountain View, 58-54 on Thusday afternoon at Jobing.com Arena to advance to the 5A-I state championship game.

Cross Country Les Willsey March 3, 2011

Pinnacle reaches girls hoops final for 5th consecutive year

Pinnacle girls basketball is resilient. The Pioneers want that moniker to read champions. Sophomore guard Sydney Wiese played like a champion with an amazing 35-point effort Wednesday night helping No. 2 seed Pinnacle edge 10th-seed Horizon, 65-61, in a 5A-II girls basketball semifinal at Jobing.com Arena.

Girls Basketball Les Willsey March 2, 2011