By Don Ketchum

Scottsdale Desert Mountain baseball coach Bryan Rice looks across the field at Mesa Mountain View and sees a mirror image of his team.

“They (Mountain View) are a good team. They don’t give in. We’re just like them,’’ Rice said.

Rice’s Wolves and coach Mike Thiel’s Toros took turns coming back on each other on Wednesday (April 11) at Desert Mountain.

Mountain View took a 2-0 lead, then saw Desert Mountain take a 4-2 lead. Mountain View regained the lead at 5-4 with two runs in the seventh, but Desert Mountain rallied with two of its own in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 victory.

Desert Mountain, which also defeated Mountain View in Mesa 4-2 on March 30, raised its record to 17-7. Mountain View dropped to 15-7. Desert Mountain entered this week as the No. 6 team in Division I power points, and Mountain View was No. 7.

The Wolves won it on Cody Erickson’s bases-loaded, two-run double to right field with one out in the seventh. The hit scored Austin Mill and Drew McLaughlin, who produced back-to-back singles. A walk to David Greer loaded the bases.

Rice said Desert Mountain has not had many come-from-behind wins this year, but did have some last year and the players drew on that experience this time.

“It seemed like every game was like this last year,’’ Rice said. “We have a bunch of competitive kids. I told them (before the bottom of the seventh), “We’ve still got some fight.’ ’’

Pinch-hitter Rustin Sveum began the seventh with a line drive to left that carried near the fence before it was caught by Shane Martin. Then Mill, McLaughlin, Greer and Erickson stepped to the plate. Erickson finished with four RBIs.

“We had five straight quality at-bats,’’ Rice said.

Mountain View had pulled to within 4-3 in the sixth on a solo home run by Ronnie Adair. The Toros tied it in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Traasdahl and took the lead on a triple by Bryce Bailey. A throwing error by the Desert Mountain catcher on a pickoff attempt helped to set up that seventh-inning rally.

Bailey and Zack Hyzdu each had three hits for Mountain View.

The state tournament is set to begin in a few weeks and Rice said his team should be ready to go, especially with a win like this.

“It certainly can’t hurt,’’ he said.