Corona del Sol made it to the 6A baseball championship game last year where it settled for a runner-up finish. It has enough returners to make another run this year. The Aztecs turned to a veteran pitcher from last year to start their first power-ranking game of 2020.

Utagawa was up to the task in his second start of the season. He pitcherd a five-inning shutout, poked two hits and got offensive help from Cade Verdusco as the Aztecs blanked Skyline, 11-0, at Skyline High. Corona improved to 5-0, opening the season last week with four wins in the Adam Donnenfield Invitational. Skyline, with a very green varsity pitching corps this season, also played in the Adam Donnenfield and posted a 3-2 record.

Utagawa, a senior, logged 34 innings last year- the most of any returning Corona del Sol pitcher. He was treated to three runs in the first inning and had a 7-0 edge by the third before he hit his stride.

"David wasn't as sharp as his first outing, but he finished strong," Corona del Sol coach David Webb said. "His slider is usually his wipe out pitch. He didn't have a good one until maybe the fourth inning. He pitched well enough."

The Aztecs' 6-foot-4, 230-pound righty gave up three hits, walked four and fanned two. Four of the seven baserunners he allowed reached in the first two innings. He retired the last eight hitters in a row to complete the run-rule game. Utagawa is 2-0 after a five strong innings in a 13-3 win over Brophy Prep. 

Verdusco, the Aztecs' very capable centerfielder, got Corona going by ripping the game's first pitch for a double to the gap in left-center. He scored the first of three Corona runs in the first scoring from second on a base-on-balls wild pitch. Verdusco capped a four-run, third inning was a bases-loaded triple to the right-centerfield gap. He reached base in his other two at-bats via hit by pitch and throwing error where his speed was a factor.

"Grand Canyon (University) is getting a good one," Webb said of his third-year starting centerfielder. " He's a litle dinged early, but it's hard to tell if you don't know him."

Also adding two hits and an RBI for Corona was second baseman Zach Kress.

Webb was especially pleased with his team's approach a the plate. So far teams are pitching them "backwards", meaning offspeed first and more often.

"We adjusted early to that," Webb said. "I liked the discipline we showed in our at-bats."

Corona del Sol, collected six hits, eight walks and had four batters hit by pitch in the five innings. Skyline used four pitchers, who tossed a total of four varsity innings last year. 

Both teams are back in action Thursday with power-ranking games. Corona goe home to face unbeaten Basha while Skyline makes the trek to the west side to take on Liberty.