Marlee Zanna Thompson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism graduate student assigned to cover Red Mountain High School fo AZPreps365.com

MESA– It takes a brazen leader to close the deal, and for Red Mountain on Thursday night, that was pitcher Mason Kelley. Kelley pitched a complete-game shutout for the Mountain Lions in a 4-0 win against their nemesis, Mountain View. The senior right-hander allowed just three hits and one walk while demonstrating fantastic control. Of the 95 pitches he threw, 69 were strikes. 

“When I walk up to the mound, I take a couple deep breaths and say to myself ‘Whoever steps into that box is worse than me,’” Kelley said. “You have to have that mentality as a pitcher…I know I threw a shutout but it could have been better.” 

“He has been the guy all year for us,” Red Mountain head coach Rob Gorrell said. “…He has always had to battle like this, to keep guys close, but he has just been tremendous all year, has been our horse and the guy we will always turn to.” 

Although it has been a rocky season for the 5-2 Mountain Lions, the team is loaded with talent, and on Thursday that was apparent. 

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With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless contest, Mountain Lion senior Landry Spitler found his way to first base after a fielder's choice.

Four pitches later classmate Ryan Villani stroked a single, advancing Spitler to second base. He was then replaced by pinch-runner Tommy Cooper, who scored when Brayden Grantham's hit dropped into left field. After a Mountain View fielding error—the Toro third baseman struggled to control the ball—Villani proceeded to sprint home with ease and Grantham advanced all the way to third base.

“Of my four years I have been coaching (at Red Mountain), this (season) has been the biggest battle,” Gorrell said. “…I am trying to steer this ship in the right direction.” 

The two-out sixth inning rally continued. 

Senior Mason Krznarich took first after he was hit by a pitch. 

Later, a Mountain View coach was tossed from the game, and after a single to left field by Fred Bohn, Grantham and Krznarich scored, putting the Mountain Lions four runs ahead of the Toros to close the sixth. 

Kelley took the mound for one last inning, ready to seal the deal. 

“When I stepped up, I reminded myself I had to throw this curveball and it has to be my best pitch ever,” Kelley said. “I threw my best pitch ever and it played out.” 

Kelley recorded two strikeouts during a relatively stress-free seventh inning to close out his complete game victory.

“(It was) a gutty win,” Gorrell said. “We needed (a win) bad…we had a team meeting (Wednesday) and we talked about sticking together. We need all 25 players to be heading in the same direction and once (we) do that we (become) a better team.” 

Red Mountain (5-2) hosts the Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles (5-2) Friday night at home and Mountain View (4-5) welcomes the Mesa Jackrabbits (6-4) April 5th.