The most decorated boys soccer coach in Phoenix Thunderbird’s history returned to the sidelines this season.

Not surprisingly, Thunderbird’s winning ways also returned.

Dennis Baker, the teacher, never left Thunderbird. But after a four-year hiatus from coaching, Baker was asked to take over the soccer program again.

Not wanting to pass up coaching his son, Alejandro, Baker accepted to coach the program that won its only soccer title (co-state champ in 2002) and reached three state title games while Baker was the coach. Alejandro is a freshman and Thunderbird’s starting central midfielder.

On Wednesday, Thunderbird beat Scottsdale Notre Dame (4-1-1) 1-0 to advance to Thursday’s semifinals of the Phoenix Moon Valley tournament and remain undefeated (5-0) this season.

Apollo adjusting to big loss

It was a big loss for Glendale Apollo, but when one of Mexico’s premier professional clubs, Club America, calls you can’t blame Eric Carbajal for leaving the Valley after just two high school seasons.

Carbajal is participating with the Under-16 team of America. His brother, Marco, a senior on Apollo’s team, reports that his brother is doing well in Mexico.

Carbajal scored 35 goals last year for Apollo. Jesse Cadena, a Valley soccer organizer with a lot of contacts in Mexico, connected Carbajal with America.

Apollo was considered a state title contender this year if Carbajal had stayed.

“How can you not be happy for him (Carbajal)” Apollo coach Dan Benford said. “That’s a great club.”

Benford’s club is off to a 2-2 start, but he said that if his team can find ways to score it’ll still be in the state title hunt.

Apollo might have to continue to rely on different players for goals like it did during its win in its final Moon Valley tournament game on Wednesday. Four different players scored a goal, including Steven Flores, the team’s starting goalkeeper, during Apollo’s 4-1 victory over Phoenix Sierra Linda.

Flores is one of the state’s top goalkeepers, but he might see more time up front. Apollo’s offense also will get a lot of help when midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez (knee injury) returns.

Benford said Hernandez’s long throw-ins will be a weapon this year.

Moon Valley semifinal games

Thunderbird and Phoenix Pinnacle each won their brackets in the Moon Valley tournament.

Pinnacle will play Phoenix North in Thursday’s 4 p.m. semifinal at Moon Valley. The 6 p.m. semifinal at Moon Valley will feature Thunderbird and Phoenix Washington.

Moon Valley tournament results

Washington 2, Greenway 1

Moon Valley 6, Prescott 2

Pinnacle 9, McClintock 0

Notre Dame 1, Apollo 0

North 2, Sierra Linda 0

Thunderbird 5, Tempe 1

Pinnacle 5, Moon Valley 1

Greenway 3, Prescott 1

Washington 4, McClintock 0

Thunderbird 10, Sierra Linda 1

North 2, Apollo 1

Notre Dame 0, Tempe 0

Moon valey 2, McClintock 1

Washington 7, Prescott 1

Pinnacle 4, Greenway 0

North 5, Tempe 0

Wasington 7, Prescott 1

Pinnacle 4, Greenway 0

North 5, Tempe 0

Apollo 4, Sierra Linda 1

Thunderbird 1, Notre Dame 0

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