Baseball

As the saying goes, Jimmies and Joes trump X’s and O’s.

Coach Steve Belles and No. 3-seeded Hamilton knew one thing when November came around: it didn’t matter how the Huskies won, as long as they won.

Even in the midst of a state semifinal week of preparation, with a trip to the championship game on the line, it was difficult for Desert Ridge not to wonder “what if.”

With two high-powered running-based offenses that each averaged more than 40 points a game this season, it figured that the Division I state quarterfinal between second-seeded Desert Ridge and Avondale Westview would be a defensive battle.

Batten down the hatches. Send the dog outside. Find a babysitter. Order the pizza early. Power down the phones.

Desert Ridge did what it needed to do to beat visiting Valley Vista in the opening round of the Division I playoffs Friday.

The Desert Ridge football team knocked off Boulder Creek 40-7 Friday night.

Despite injuries and a slow start, Desert Ridge pulled off a 38-14 win against Mesa on Friday. To start the game Desert Ridge (7-1) took the ball from Mesa with a squib kick that the Jackrabbits couldn’t cover. The Jaguars would then get on the board on their first play with a 35-yard run by running back JJ Husar.