So far, so perfect for Sedona Red Rock High School in sectional baseball play.

But two days after needing nine innings to edge Section I rival Horizon Honors High School, 5-4, at home, the Scorpions lost a 2-0 first-inning lead Monday, March 28, at Payson High School, 12-4.

“We were in the ball game until the fourth inning,” Scorpions head coach Craig Eagle said. “We made a few errors and walked a few batters and Payson took advantage of the opportunities.”

Despite scoring two more in the fifth inning, a five-run fourth by the Longhorns and four more in the fifth dashed the Scorpions’ hopes.

However, regardless of the results Wednesday, March 30, against sectional rival Northland Preparatory Academy, the Scorpions have a week to maintain their sectional lead heading into the thick of the schedule at home Tuesday, April 5, against Monument Valley High School.

“We have only lost one game on the road this year,” Eagle said. “We are always ready for a battle against them.”

SRRHS would never lead Horizon Honors until their final at-bat Saturday, March 26, rallying for a ninth-inning win after a bunt laid down by Corbin Pulido was thrown into the outfield, allowing fellow senior Sam Serrano to come around and score the winning run all the way from first base.

“Small ball game came into play to win this,” Eagle said. “We had to come back three times. [I’m] very proud we played all the way to the end and so pleased to see us prevail in a game that was so back and forth.”

Junior staff ace Randy Rodriguez struck out 10 Eagles for his sixth win, maintaining a solid 3.11 earned-run average through the complete-game victory Saturday, March 26.

Rodriguez is tied for first in wins atop Division IV and is second in total batters struck out with 44.

SRRHS made the most of 10 hits, as Rodriguez and sophomore first baseman Michael Ortega combined for four hits and two RBIs, including Ortega’s run-scoring double.

The Scorpions would knock in two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game after the Eagles had drawn first blood off Rodriguez with a three-run fourth.