Broken Arrow Ledger 03/19/07 By: Doug Quinn - Tigers win pair in Arizona

Tigers win pair in Arizona
By: Doug Quinn
03/19/2007

How hot was it in Phoenix, Ariz., Monday?

Probably so hot Broken Arrow High School baseball coach Shannon Dobson likely was doing
more than perspiring.

Dobson may have been sweating bullets in the opening day of the Sunrise Mountain Festival.

BAHS almost squandered two comfortable leads but managed to regroup to beat Yukon, 12-10,
and Cactus, Ariz., 7-5, in nine innings.

The Tigers (7-2), winners of six straight, are scheduled to play Willow Canyon and Notre Dame,
two more Arizona schools, Tuesday.

It was Broken Arrow's first doubleheader.

"Man," BAHS assistant coach Jimmy Ashley said, "it must have been 95 degrees. That was hot."

The Tigers nearly melted in the afternoon sun but "our kids just battled through it and found a
way to win."

Tigers 12, Yukon 10

BAHS had a 10-1 lead through four innings after Adam Johnston had tossed three scoreless
innings.

But the Millers exploded against Tiger relievers John Michael Moore and Justin Rackleff before
Nathan Pettus put out the fire in the seventh.

Pettus, a senior, was credited with his first save and belted a solo homer and a two-run double.

The Tigers stormed to the seemingly comfortable nine-run cushion with a four-run second and a
six-run fourth inning.

Pettus' solo homer, his second of the season, ignited the second inning and he kept the fourth
alive with an RBI double.

In the fourth inning, the Tigers batted around, keyed by a two-run triple by
John Swyden and an RBI single by Ky Burgess.

Marcus Terry was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Johnston had two singles.

BROKEN ARROW 12, YUKON 10

Yukon, Ariz.      100   052 2 - 10 10 1

Broken Arrow    040   611 X - 12 13 1

Gipson, Taye (3), Martin (4), Corn (6) and Dick; Johnston, Moore (5), Rackleff (6), Pettus (7) and
Burgess. W - Johnston (1-0). L - Gipson. HR - BA: Pettus (2).
- - -

Tigers 7, Cactus, Ariz. 5

(Nine Innings)

Pettus was Mr. Versatility for the Tigers.

After getting the first-game save, Pettus was the winning pitcher and drove home the go-ahead
run in the extra-inning affair.

BAHS had a 5-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the ninth, Pettus drove home Andy Wilkins, who had doubled, with a one-out double.

Pettus then scored on a base-hit by Johnston.

The decision didn't come easy for Pettus, who got a clutch play from his defense.

In the bottom of the ninth, after retiring the first two Cactus batters, Pettus surrendered a single.

The next Cactus batter singled off Pettus' leg and BAHS catcher Lance Rymel retrieved the ball
near the first base line when the lead Cactus runner rounded second base too far.

Rymel threw to second baseman Spencer Barnett, whose tag ended the game.

Pettus led a 13-hit attack with two doubles and a single while Wilkins, Swyden and Johnston had
two hits apiece.

BROKEN ARROW 7, CACTUS, Ariz. 5

(9 Innings)

Broken Arrow    040   010   002 - 7 13 1

Cactus, Ariz.      010 022    000 - 5 13 1

Edmisten, Pettus (6) and Rymel; Whitaker, Tassimari (7) and Navarro.
W - Pettus (2-1). L - Tassimari.

Game Notes

* BAHS is on spring break, playing six games in three days.

* The last day is Wednesday before the team returns home Thursday.

* BAHS players had picture taken with former major leaguer Harold Reynolds Saturday at Tulsa
International Airport.

* On Sunday, BAHS were guests of Mike Boulanger at the Texas-Colorado exhibition game.
Boulanger, who lives in BA during the off-season, is the Rangers' minor league hitting
coordinator.

©Neighbor Newspapers 2007