Red Mountain's baseball team is winning the games that matter most and it's pitching that's doing the trick.

Red Mountain posted its third straight power-point victory Thursday afternoon, using a  strong effort  from John Havird in blanking Desert Ridge, 14-0, in a Division I game at  Red Mountain.

Havird, a senior left-hander, gave up a one hit -- a swinging bunt in the third inning by Cam Richins. Havird didn't issue a walk and struck out seven. He only had to go five innings as the Red Mountain offense cranked out 11 hits and put the game away with a nine-run outburst in the fourth.

"We're going good because we're getting good pitching," Red Mountain coach Ross Pagel said. "Our senior pitchers are doing a nice job. They've had a little experience through the years, and are building on that."

Red Mountain has given up just two runs in its last three power-point games and a total of 12 in all six power-point games.

Red Mountain (12-4 overall, 5-1 ppg) crafted a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of senior Tarran Beasley's three-run homer to deep left-center.  The lead improved to 5-0 after two innings with the Mountain Lions stringing together three straight hits (an Alex Sepulveda single and RBI doubles by Aaron Smith and Colton Rice). Smith finished the day 2-for-2. He also reached base via walk, hit by pitch, scored four times and  drove in two runs.

"We've had him hitting third and leadoff," Pagel said. "He can do either one for us. In college he'll be a leadoff guy.  He had a real good day for us."

After Red Mountain chased Desert Ridge starter Zach Foose in the third inning, Max Cook relieved.  Cook struck out the side to get out of the third, but ran into trouble in the fourth. A hit batter, two walks and a double started the Jaguars' downhill slide. After a strikeout, Connor  Markell drove in two runs with a double, Quinn Rush singled in a run and Smith walked with the bases loaded. The final blow of the inning was struck by pinch-hitter Brandon Wileman, a three-run double.

Desert Ridge dropped to .500 any way you look at with Thursday's loss and is struggling to find consistency. The Jaguars are 9-9 overall and 3-3 ppg. They opened the week with a 4-0 win over red-hot Gilbert on Tuesday. 

Red Mountain caps its week with a home game Friday against Mesa High. Desert Ridge is on the road again Friday  for a rematch with Gilbert.