For at least another week-and-a-half, Sedona Red Rock High School hopes nothing will slow its roll.

With three games to go before the first Arizona Interscholastic Association power rankings for Division IV come out Tuesday, March 29, both baseball and softball teams own a pair of losses.

But head baseball coach Craig Eagle has been flying high at 8-2, riding a three-game winning streak atop Section I.

Head softball coach Mike Keider’s daughter, Emma, has done her part on the mound and on the plate heading into the start of sectional play March 29 at Northland Preparatory Academy.

March 11, though, it was not enough in a 13-2 home loss to Chandler Prep that dropped the Scorpions to .500 and into the lower half of the sectional standings.

Still, both Scorpions teams have a chance to pick up Division IV power points Monday, March 21, when they return from their Spring Break to take on Dysart High School.

Baseball

Freshman Ryan Farmer’s pinch-hit double March 11 was clutch for the Scorpions at Glendale High School after the Cardinals scored a run to force extra innings.

“We kind of got a break,” Eagle said. “We were hitting the ball hard — just right at them before Ryan.”

Sophomore catcher Wyatt Ross batted in two runs and scored another, while seniors Justice Keane and Sam Serrano also contributed RBI singles to stake junior Javier Pacheco to a 2-0 lead.

“I’m really proud of our hitters,” said Eagle, whose Scorpions have already hit five home runs after having just three all of last season. “They’re what’s been the key to our success.”

But Pacheco began to lose control in the third inning, allowing six walks and three runs before giving way to junior Dawson Barber. He struck out four, but also walked four through four innings before senior Garrison Skornik threw strikes in the final two innings to end the Glendale threat.

“We weren’t throwing strikes,” Eagle said. “We came back and took the lead, then gave it up with a couple walks.

“My goal next week and going forward is to work on the pitchers and make sure they’re on cue.”

Softball

The Scorpions softball team is looking for other sources of pitching and offense than Keider, a senior.

“We’re hoping we can start hitting the ball again,” Mike Keider said. “With four hits, one of them being a sacrifice bunt, we can’t win without offense.”

Emma Keider struck out 13 batters March 11 and went three-for-three at the plate with a home run, two doubles and two stolen bases.

But Keider’s relief, sophomore center fielder Natalie Monge, was the only other Scorpion in the batting order to hit safely, stealing a base and scoring the other SRRHS run in the third inning.

“The freshmen are learning, but they’re in the bottom of my order,” Mike Keider said. “The new girls hadn’t seen a pitcher that fast. So after their first at-bat, they kind of had that ‘deer-in-headlights’ look.”

That same inning witnessed a three-run outburst by Chandler Prep, and another two Titans runs in the fifth essentially ended the Scorpions’ chances.

“I knew it was going to be a tough season,” said Mike Keider, who had just nine players March 11 after senior Michelle Galvez rolled her ankle at second base. “We needed to have some things go right at the plate.”

For more photos, please see the Friday, March 18, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.