Red Mountain's baseball team piled up the runs (53 in its first four games) as it rampaged to a 4-0 start the first 10 days of 2021. Runs were harder to come by Monday night for the Mountain Lions, but they managed to squeeze out two in the bottom of the seventh in edging Hamilton, 2-1, in a battle of early-season unbeatens at Red Mountain.

Pinch-runner Sam Fuentes trotted home on a passed ball with two outs to cap the final-inning rally. One-hitter before - ninth in the order lefty hitter Rocco Acedo - collected Red Mountain's only extra-base hit. It was a ground-rule double just out of the reach of Hamilton left fielder Josh Tiedemann. It was only the Mountain Lions second hit of the game and tied the score at 1. Both Red Mountain runs scored were by players who reached via walk (seven for the game). Hamilton is now 2-1.

Red Mountain coach Rob Gorrell didn't exactly have a premonition regarding Acedo, but knew what he was capable of.

"They'd been a squeezing of hitters toward the line," Gorrell said. "They played off more for his at-bat. Rocco does have some pop the opposite way. He went that way. It carried more than it looked."

Hamilton coach Mike Woods credited Red Mountain on its performance.

"They played well," Woods said. "Pitcher's really good and they played good defense. We gave up two hits. What are you going to do?" 

Hamilton owned a 1-0 advantage most of the game, scoring its only run in the second inning. Selvidge singled and and eventually scored on a one-out double by Logan Saloman. It nearly held up for the win.

Neither starter, both of whom pitched well, were involved in the decision. Hamilton starter Brock Selvidge threw 6 2/3 innings before leaving due to reaching the maximum pitch count. Selvidge allowed one hit (a second-inning single to Mitch Namie), walked six and fanned six and was charged with one run. Selvidge allowed his last walk with one out in the seventh and next induced a potential double-play and game-ending grounder to short. The ball was bobbled and the Huskies were only able to get the out at first. A walk later,  Acedo's double and passed ball put the loss on reliever Will Shelor.

Red Mountain senior RJ Elmore (2-0), a Grand Canyon University commit, made his third start. He allowed the one run, four hits, one walk and struck out six in six innings of work. In his first two starts he allowed one run - four innings pitched vs. Desert Ridge and five vs. Campo Verde. Mason Kelley (2-0) picked up the win for Red Mountain with a perfect inning of relief.

Both schools are back in action Tuesday. Red Mountain hosts a region game with Skyline (1-2) and Hamilton does the same entertaining Chandler (2-1).