Skyline's baseball team capped a two-game, must-win week Wednesday that assures the Coyotes a playoff berth for the first time in six years and only the second time in school history dating back to 2000.

Boyd Vanderkooi pitched six solid innings and cranked out three hits in leading Skyline to an 8-4 victory over Mesa Mountain View in the Division I regular-season finale at Skyline High. Skyline's last visit to postseason was in 2009 and the Coyotes lost itheir first two games in the double-elimination tourney.

Skyline entered play Wednesday  No. 24 in the power rankings, just ahead of No. 25 Desert Ridge. Skyline's victory combined with Desert Ridge's 7-1 loss at Corona del Sol dhould lock down a berth for the Coyotes and coach Pat Herrera. Mountain View, resting at No. 8 in the power rankings to begin the day, hopes to hang on to that spot and earn a first-round bye in the state tournament. The Toros are pursued in the rankings by No. 9 Corona.

Vanderkooi, a sophomore, is the second underclassmen this week to give Skyline a boost from the mound. Freshman Bobby Meza tossed a three-hit  shutout in a 1-0 win over Chandler on Monday. Vanderkooi worked six innings inearning the win. He allowed five hits, three runs and struck out six. Vanderkooi put Skyline ahead for good, 3-2, with a leadoff homer in the fifth inning. Skyline went on to score three more runs in the inning as wildness by the Toros' pitching staff aided the four-run rally.

After Vanderkooi's home run, the next two batters flied out. Two walks, two hit batters and a two-run single by Bodey Delmar made it 6-2 and put the Coyotes on their way to the playoffs. Delmar and Isaac Alvarez added two hits each for Skyline (20-10 overall, 12-6 power-ranking games). Skyline had nine hits and also benefitted from four walks, five hit batters, wild pitches and a passed ball. Canon Anderson homered and had two hits for Mountain View (19-8, 13-5 prg).

CORONA DEL SOL 7, DESERT RIDGE 1: Connor McCord pitched four strong innings and drove in four runs with a home run and single as the Aztecs defeated the Jaguars at Corona. The loss likely means Desert Ridge won't make the playoffs. Desert Ridge finished 12-15 overall and 7-11 in power-ranking games. Six of Desert Ridge'spower-ranking lossess were by one run.