There are definitely some similarities between last year’s 4A-I title-winning Tempe McClintock baseball team and the current year’s version at Scottsdale Saguaro.
McClintock had a pair of arms - Jimmy Patterson and Kyle Heckathorn - who you knew would always give you a reasonable chance to win a game. The Sabercats have the same in Matt Anderson and Scott Zuloaga. Neither team could solve Scottsdale Chaparral in the regular season, but the experience of those games helped McClintock beat the Firebirds in last year’s state semifinals, and one would expect a good game should the Sabercats and Chaparral meet in the tournament this year.
McClintock, the seventh seed, didn’t go into the state tournament as the favorite, or even one of the main contenders. Saguaro would currently be sneaking in as the 14th seed, though the team will likely move up.
The biggest difference is offensively. Players like Patterson, Xorge Carrillo and Dan Milner carried McClintock offensively, and the others in the order always seemed to come up with a timely hit.
Saguaro has more balance, but would likely need a big tournament tear from a player like Devin Thaut to have a chance at the title. The Sabercats won’t be entering the state tournament as the favorite, but definitely put them on the list of sleepers.
