Danny Hesse capped a couple of Gilbert rallies Tuesday at Gilbert High. The first with an RBI double in the first inning. The last a walk-off two-bagger giving the Tigers a 6-5 victory over 6A Central Region rival Highland in 10 innings.

Hesse's game-winner - a ground-rule double with no outs in the 10th - rescued Gilbert from blowing a 4-1, first-inning lead. Hesse, who was 2 for 5, drove home the Tigers' hitting standout of the day with the winning run. That standout was center fielder and fifth-place hitter Cooper Foster. 

Foster racked up four of Gilbert's 11 hits - three singles and a leadoff 10th-inning double in five at-bats in front of Hesse's game ender. Tye Sprague joined Hesse and Foster with multiple-hit games. Sprague was 2 for 5. Highland received mulitple hits from two players -- third baseman Grady Pratt (2 for 4, home run and two RBI) and outfielder Bropy Klenner (2 for 3, run scored).

There was a pitching standout as well for Gilbert. Junior left-hander Justin Parkes tossed four innings of shutout relief. Parkes allowed no hits, no walks and one baserunner - that runner reaching via hit by pitch.

Parkes entered in the seventh, relieving starter Kyle Jeffries with two runners on and no outs. Parkes hit batter loaded the bases with one out, but a pair of fielder's choices ended the threat. Parkes followed with three-up, three-down innings in the eighth, ninth and 10th. He struck out three in his four innings and picked up the win.

Gilbert's win improved it to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in its region opener (6A Central). Highland is 5-9, 0-1. Gilbert and Highland play twice more this week. On Wednesday Gilbert visits Alhambra in a non-region contest and Highland hosts Rincon/University, also a non-region game. Gilbert and Highland reunite at Highland on Friday at 6 p.m. to conclude their two-game, region series.