Ashley Stevens is a Master's student at ASU/Cronkite School of Journalism assigned to cover Mountain Ridge High School for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE– The Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions defeated the Mountain View Toros Saturday afternoon in a thrilling 6-5 walk off victory off the bat of senior Aj Singer. 

Singer had a day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI triple in the first, a double in the fifth, and the walk-off double to send Carson McEntire and Josh Wakefield home for Mountain Ridge's first win in the 2022 AIA 6A State Championship playoffs. 

“I was trying to get on top of all off speeds,” Singer said. “I think I saw about two fastballs all day so I knew it was coming."

“Right when AJ hit the ball, I was screaming at myself ‘Let's go Wake, lets score, you're scoring’,” Wakefield smiled. “I knew he was gonna do something big because he's a big-time player and I'm proud of him and I'm just happy I was there to score the last run.”

Down one run heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman catcher Joe Forbes entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the nine spot.

“My heart was racing,” Joe Forbes said. “I was freaking pumped. I was ready to go. I haven't been that pumped in a long time.”

Senior catcher and Grand Canyon University commit Zach Yorke, who had seen Mountain View’s right-hander, Blake Tyler, for three plate appearances, let his protégé know what to expect when to step up to the plate.

“He started me off with a changeup and it looked like it was in to me, so I took it but it ended up being a strike,” Joe continued. “Zach told me he's probably going to change up and then the next pitch is gonna be a fastball, so I was ready to hit it and then there it was.”

After sending a missile of a line drive through the 5-6 hole, McEntire relieved Joe Forbes on first base with no outs as a pinch-runner. 

“You want all these guys to have those moments,” Mountain Ridge head coach Eddie Bonine said. “They've all worked really hard. They've all put in the time. Aj right up there at the top of the list as far as guys who have just been working really hard. This year has been outstanding for him. And for him to do that, in that situation, honestly, it doesn't surprise me.”

Aj Singer tagging out Willy Roberts on a stolen base attempt in the top of the first. (Matt Bushnell Photo/ MDB Photography)

In the first innning Yorke, a 6’0 San Jose native, threw out Willy Roberts on a stolen base attempt and was a backstop for Smith and Wakefield when they needed him to be. While he didn’t perform well at the plate, he had nothing but praise for his teammates who managed to get the job done around him.

“Joe Forbes with the huge, huge lead off single and then pop up by me and then Wakefield with the crazy walk and then AJ to win it,” Yorke joked.  “AJ Singer, been our guy all year, still our guy in the playoffs. He's one of the best hitters in the state. Probably the best in the state. He goes, we go.”

“We love each other,” Singer agreed. “So once we're down we're always gonna stick together no matter who has a bad day or who has a good day.”

Although Singer was the only Mountain Lion with more than one hit on the day, in the fifth inning sophomore second baseman Jackson Forbes—Joe's older brother—sparked life into the home crowd after sending a ball over the fence in right center field. Jackson's two-run blast closed the Toros' lead to 5-4 following Mountain View's own three-run rally in the top of the frame. 

On the hill for the Mountain View Toros was Tyler, a senior who was on the brink of pitching an impressive complete game against the third-seeded Mountain Lions. Entering the seventh inning, Tyler had allowed seven hits, four runs, struck out three and only allowed one walk. Six of the seven hits allowed were extra-base hits,  however, not including the walk-off hit off the bat of Singer. 

Senior right-hander Jace Smith went three and two-thirds innings pitched for the Mountain Lions, striking out seven. He utilized his fastball up in the zone, giving up five hits and three walks in his appearance. Smith was pulled with two outs in the top of the fourth before Bonine handed the ball off to left-hander Josh Wakefield. 

Wakefield earned the win, going three and one-third innings pitched, striking out four, giving up just three hits, two walks, and allowing two Toros to cross home plate. 

“I was just picking up my boy Jace, because he's done a great job all year and I just want to be on his back,” Wakefield complimented. "Help him out, hit my spots and just do my thing on the mound. Everyone gives up a run or two but you just got to stay in and compete.”

Mountain Ridge will host their next playoff game on Tuesday in Glendale at 4 p.m. against the sixth seeded Chandler Wolves. Mountain View will head to Brophy College Preparatory to face the 11th seeded Broncos at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.