Red Mountain baseball coach Jason Grantham has been chosen as the new athletic director at Mesquite, the Gilbert school district announced in a press release.

Mesquite football coach Matt Gracey has resigned after two years on the job, athletic director Jason Grantham said.

Before he recorded an out, Red Mountain left-hander Justin Hunsaker allowed five runners to reach base and two runs to score against Mesquite on Tuesday.

Jason Grantham’s debut as Mesa Red Mountain baseball coach couldn’t have been much better. Part of the reason it was a success was the debut as a varsity pitcher of sophomore Cole Gleason.

Jim Jones heard a lot of “Why?” and “Are you crazy?” from his large family (among others), but it went in one ear and out the other.

Funny the things that can happen when bank accounts and reciprocation demands are stripped away.

Former Red Mountain coach and current San Tan Foothills assistant Jim Jones is expected to be Mesquite's new football coach.

A streaky baseball season that included a nine-game losing skid, an 11-game winning streak and a region title concluded in strange fashion Thursday afternoon for Mesa Red Mountain.

 SLIDESHOW: Red Mountain vs Mountain View

Needing a win to get into the 5A Division I state tournament, the Red Mountain baseball team threw everything but the kitchen sink at Hamilton in the first three innings on Wednesday.

It wasn't a good day for Red Mountain's power hitting Friday, but its pitching controlled the afternoon as the Mountain Lions toppled defending 5A Division I state champion Corona del Sol, 7-1, in a nonregion game at Red Mountain.

By Tuesday night, both Gilbert and Mesquite high schools were expected to have finalized their respective football coaches in Tim Rutt (Gilbert) and Jim Jones (Mesquite).

The 5A Division I state baseball tournament usually has a favorite this time of year. A team that has been consistent from start to finish, or perhaps one that has caught fire the last few weeks and latched on to momentum.

Mesa Red Mountain shed itself of a losing funk three weeks ago. And Tuesday night the wins kept coming as well as the 5A-I East Valley Region baseball title.

Clearly, East Valley baseball coaches have no interest in tempting the baseball gods.

Clearly, East Valley baseball coaches have no interest in tempting the baseball gods.

Cole Gleason started the 5A Division I state baseball tournament the same way he began the regular season two months and change ago - he pitched Mesa Red Mountain to a win and delivered some offense.

Williams Field notched its first victory as a varsity program with its 4-2 win over host McClintock in the McClintock Classic. JD Layton knocked in the two go-ahead runs with a single in the seventh inning.

Corona del Sol baseball coach Dave Webb said earlier this week his team had some pleasant surprises in its bid to retool for 2010. One of them is infielder Kyle Jorgensen.

Momentum was a frustrating pendulum for the Mesa Red Mountain boys baseball team Tuesday night. Each time it swung toward them, it inevitably swung away.

Mesa Red Mountain figures to have ample ammunition to fire at the opposition this season in terms of skill position players, but coach Jim Jones’ focus the next three weeks is figuring out the guys who will open the holes.

Mesa Red Mountain figures to have ample ammunition to fire at the opposition this season in terms of skill position players, but coach Jim Jones’ focus the next three weeks is figuring out the guys who will open the holes.

For years, Mesquite had one of the bigger school boundaries in the East Valley.

Gilbert Christian has fewer than 200 students on its campus, but its state-of-the-art facilities are more in tune with a Division I college than a small high school.