Amya Zapien is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Corona del Sol High School for AZPreps365.com.

The Corona Del Sol’s baseball team opened up the season struggling both offensively and defensively in an 8-2 loss to the Casteel Colts on Thursday, keeping the game within reach until Casteel took on the lead in late innings securing the win.

Corona Del Sol’s inability of chances on scoring and defensive mistakes proved costly. 

Casteel wasted no time scoring their first runs in the first inning with an RBI single from sophomore pitcher Baylor Denny and a fielder's choice from senior first baseman Dallas Hairston giving it a 2-0 lead.

The Colts added another run in the second inning putting pressure on the Aztecs' pitching staff. 

The Aztecs managed six hits with their only chance of coming back with a home run from senior shortstop Jaiden LoRe and an RBI single from junior first baseman Kellan Tom, making the score 3-2.

Casteel took advantage of opportunities, finishing the night with seven hits. Senior Baylor Denny led the team, going 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. When he came up to bat, he was consistently applying pressure on the Aztecs’ pitching staff.  

“I feel like they got us early, so they kind of took the lead on momentum from the very beginning and I think about the fifth inning when we’d caught up, we missed a flyball in the dirt over here that should've been caught,” Corona Del Sol coach Dave Webb said.

“The next guy got a hit and the next guy got a home run and they took the momentum back. High school sports, kids are so volatile with their emotions that they took the momentum back and we were never able to get it again.”

The Aztecs committed two errors and the miscues on the field and basepath prevented them from gaining any more momentum throughout the rest of the game. 

“In three phases of the game we didn’t execute at all," Webb said. “We didn't play good defense. With hitting we are trying to stay on line drives more, got the ball in the air too much, had 12 fly balls, which is just not a recipe to win a game.”

Although this is just the first game of the season and there were some hiccups, Webb said he remains confident in the team.

“I have no doubt we’ll bounce back,” Webb said. “I have no doubt. I have faith in the guys and I think they’re gonna be just fine.”

Senior catcher Cooper Clauser acknowledged the team's struggles but emphasized the importance of learning from a loss against a good team.

“It’s tough. It’s a good team but we obviously could’ve done a lot of things better,” Clauser said. “It’s good to get that game behind us and feel like we can work on some things and just get better in the future.”

Senior pitcher Brett Crossland was Thursday’s starter. He said he had trust for the defense behind him and knew he needed to stay aggressive if he wanted to stay in the zone. 

“Just pound the zone for them, let them hit the ball, let my players work, let my infielders work,” Crossland said.

The Aztecs play their second game of the season on the road against the Sandra Day O’Connor Eagles March 4 and the Colts will look to go on the road as well to play against the Tolleson Wolverines March 3.