Adversity comes in many forms, as both the baseball and softball teams at Sedona Red Rock High School are familiar with heading into the Division III state tournament Saturday, May 2.

Senior Scott Moker provided the latest example, suffering a strained elbow in an April 24 loss at Combs that left him unable to pitch on Senior Night.

“He’s seeing an arm specialist,” head coach Craig Eagle said. “He was going to pitch for sure on Saturday, but he can’t throw a ball. We’ll at least have his bat — he hit the ball pretty hard — but that’s really hurting us now.”

Sophomore third baseman Randy Rodriguez filled in admirably through the first five innings before being figured out by Scottsdale Christian Academy in a seven-run sixth leading to the third straight SRRHS loss Wednesday, April 29.

All the Scorpions [15-7] can do prior to their first Division III state tournament appearance in Eagle’s tenure Saturday, May 2, at 4 p.m. is prepare for their first-round opponent at the Surprise Sports Complex.

All that the 10th-ranked SRRHS softball team could do may not be enough to rank among the top eight seeds for a bye to the second round of the Division III tournament, despite a 17-0 run-ruling April 29 of Coronado High School in Scottsdale.

“I don’t think they’re going to put us back to [No.] 8, that’s for sure,” Scorpions head coach Mike Keider said. “I think we’ll be 9 or 10.”

Instead, senior Emily Aitken will go for her seventh win in as many games for the Scorpions [17-4] on Saturday, May 2, in Peoria at 11:30 a.m.

For the full story and more photos, please see the Friday, May 1, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.