It wasn't a big inning that pushed Desert Mountain's baseball team over the edge and on to its latest victory on Monday night. The 5A Wolves used a walk, stolen base, single, passed ball and balk to score twice in the sixth inning and defeat host 4A Notre Dame Prep, 3-1.

Both starting pitchers deserved a win in this one, but Desert Mountain's Toby Haarer got enough offense to best Notre Dame Prep left-hander Max Zdimal. Desert Mountain, which likely will hang on to to the top spot when Tuesday's latest 5A power-rankings are released, won for the 13th time in 15 games. NDP slipped to 9-6 and is still likely to be safely among 4A's top 16. The Saints were NO. 11 when the last power-rankings were calculated.

Haarer, a junior right-hander, may have surprised some opposition this season. He notched his third win against one loss in going the distance. Haarer gave up three hits, walked five and struck out seven. Three double plays - in the first (line out), third (strike'em-out, throw'em out) and the seventh (4-6-3 to end the game) came in handy.

"Toby's been doing what he did tonight all year," Desert Mountain coach Ryan Dyer said. "He hasn't been a surprise to us. He's got a ton of upside. That's going to go to his senior year next year."

Both teams figured runs might be hard to come by, and Desert Mountain was the most daring. After two-out, back-to-back singles by Jake Horwitz and Luke Moeller in the fifth, the Wolves tried to steal home. Cleanup hitter Cooper McKee was at bat with a 1-2 count and Horwitz took off from third trying for the go-head run. Zdimal alertly fired to catcher Damon Ingram who put the tag on Horwitz short of the plate.

"We felt at that point we had to try and create something," Dyer said. "It almost worked."

The go-ahead runs waited only until the next inning. Cooper McKee opened the Desert Mountain sixth with a walk and stole second. Austin Haugen followed with a bloop single just out of the shortstop's reach scoring McKee. Zdimal hit Elijah Eynon with a pitch and a passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Zdimal balked home Haugen to finish the rally. Zdimal left later in the inning, having gone 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine. Two of Desert Mountain's runs were scored by players who walked or hit by pitch.

Desert Mountain's top hitters were Wes Kath (2-4 with an RBI single in the second) and Moeller (2-3). Notre Dame leadoff hitter Brian Leon reached base four times with a single, double and two walks. He was stranded at third twice. Mikey Ford had the Saints other hit, scored their lone run and also reached base via walk and hit by pitch. Vince Mati drove in NDP's run with a ground out in the second inning.