"Back to back."
That’s all that could be heard at Hi Corbett Field on Monday, after Nogales edged out Catalina Foothills 3-2 in the Class 4A state championship game.
“It feels great. I never thought it would happen,” Nogales starting pitcher Markie Lopez said about winning a second consecutive title. “It’s a dream come true. I really appreciate what I have.”
Last year, the Apaches rolled through the postseason into the championship game. This year's path couldn't have been more different.
The day before the No. 1 seeded Apaches were to start the state tournament, Nogales police officer Jesus Cordova was shot and killed while on a carjacking call. The same day, during practice, the Apaches decided they would dedicate the remainder of the season to the fallen officer and his family.
“His wife said we had an angel in heaven watching over us and, let me tell you, you've got to have a little bit of luck,” Nogales coach OJ Favela said. “This win was for him and we’ll do some special dedications for him.”
The Apaches were almost knocked out of playoffs before they could find their footing.
In the second round, Nogales lost a heart-breaker to Salpointe Catholic, 4-2.
Favela said it was definitely harder to play at home surrounded by a grieving community, but it was easier to get their heads back in the game once they had to go on the road.
“Not that we forgot about it, but once we got on the road, those two first home games were very emotional and I think it lead to a little bit of the flatness against Salpointe,” Favela said. “But after that, these kids were ready.”
Nogales played seven playoff games, rising through the loser's bracket to earn a shot at Foothills in the final. The Falcons played just five playoff games.
“We wanted to win every single game in the playoffs because it puts you in a pretty spot, but once we lost our first double elimination game, we knew we had to battle,” shortstop Ricky "Mono" Maytorena said.
The Falcons scored first thanks to an RBI double by Chris Kowalcek. But the Apaches responded in the next frame.
Jorge Bojorquez hit a double into left field to score Maytorena, who had drawn a walk, to tie the game. Then Bojorquez was brought in by a Kevin Jimenez single.
Two outs later, Jesus "Chuy" Lopez scored Jimenez to make the game 3-1.
Catalina Foothills scored once more thanks to a pair of doubles in the fifth, but the Nogales defense prevented the Falcons from taking control of the game.
‘It was that much more fun just because it was a great game,’ Maytorena said. ‘We like to be up by a lot because it takes the pressure off, but coming out on top this way makes it that much sweeter because it was a close game.’
Markie Lopez pitched the entire game – two days after pitching the second semifinal extra-inning nail-bitter game against Sunrise Mountain – and struck out nine batters.
The senior said he was pretty tired after Saturday’s game, but gave everything he had left to help win Monday.
‘I just want to play for my teammates, give them something to live for,’ Lopez said. ‘I just like making our fans happy. We have a great community.’
