Scottsdale Coronado may have posted the most impressive win of any team in the first round of the 4A-II baseball tournament.
The Dons won last year’s state title with an explosive offense that blistered any and all pitching in its path. This year’s Coronado offense has considerably less firepower, but the job done by the bats on Saturday would make the 2007 team proud.
The Dons touched up Flagstaff Coconino left-hander Kyle Lobstein - a possible first-round pick in June’s MLB draft - for five runs (three earned) in five innings of work, and eventually rallied for an 8-6 win. Lobstein was the best pitcher in the 4A-II tournament, but Coronado clearly wasn’t intimidated.
Next up is a matchup with No. 1 Scottsdale Notre Dame on Tuesday. Coronado beat Notre Dame in last year’s championship game.
I hate to rain on the Dons parade, but Kyle Lobstein had a terrible spring and absolutely is NOT the best pitcher, let alone the best lefty in the 4AII Tournament. The Dons got shutout by Notre Dame’s #2 pitcher - I wonder what their Ace would have done to the same lineup that shelled Lobstein…