#4 Sabino's baseball team had to wait an extra 45 minutes on Monday to win what seemed to be a certain rout.

A 12-0 lead after five innings with pitcher Tyler Welsh working on a 3-hitter, it didn't seem possible that #2 Odyssey Institute would make a run. Sabino wiped its brow when the final out of the seventh was secured and a 12-8 final made them state champs for the second year in a row - minus COVID-19 2020.

Sabino finished up 16-5 using a five-run rally in the second and four-run sixth to put Odyssey Institute (17-3) on the ropes. Not many 12-0 deficits are overcome, but Odyssey's effort was outstanding as they had the tying run in the on-deck circle as the final out was made.

Jake Wiltshire, Dylan Bradford and Cris Miranda drove in two runs apiece and three others had an RBI to back starting and winning pitcher Tyler Welsh. Welsh labored little if at all the first five innings allowing three singles, walking one and striking out one. Nathan Ortiz topped the offense for Sabino (3-4 plus a walk.

Odyssey was an out away several times in its at bat in the sixth from getting run-ruled, but rolled out five runs with two outs to stay alive. A three-run homer by Steven Vasquez off reliever Ryan Draper in the seventh made it 12-8. Draper got the final out with two on via a fielder's choice grounder to short.

Three players had two hits apiece for Odyssey - Antonio Torres, Geoffrey Barr and Alejandro Banuelos. RBI leaders were Kentaro Felton and Torres.

 

Odyssey Institute's Steven Vasquez is mobbed after 7th inning HR further cut Sabino lead (Azpreps365 photo)

Sabino's title was its third in school history - 2019 and 1997 the others. They won the 2018 title on the field over Sahuarita, but had that title vacated for several rules violations a couple months later. The Sabercats got off to a 9-0 start in COVID 2020 before the season was shut down and the chance to defend their title in real time vanished.