By Don Ketchum

The baseball team from Phoenix St. Mary’s had a good start to its season, winning 10 of its first 11 games.

But the Knights had not encountered a team with the same type of firepower as Scottsdale Desert Mountain.

The Wolves collected 16 hits on Friday night (March 9), including a three-run home run by Cody Erickson that highlighted a seven-run seventh inning, and won going away 16-9 at the Phoenix College field that St. Mary’s calls home.

Desert Mountain (8-2) was coming off a tough 8-7 loss to Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep on Wednesday (March 7).

The Wolves appeared to put that behind them in quick order, taking a 5-0 lead against St. Mary’s (10-2).

The Knights chipped away with three runs in the bottom of the second and another in the third to cut the lead to 5-4.

Desert Mountain made it 7-4 in the fifth and 9-4 through the middle of the sixth before St. Mary’s got close again at 9-6 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Erickson started the game at shortstop and then pitched in relief. He finished with four RBIs. David Greer drove in three runs.

Camilo Ruiz drove in three runs to lead St. Mary’s, and Juan Carlos Jasso and Joey Bustamante drove in two runs apiece.

Perhaps to its benefit, St. Mary’s won’t have much time to dwell on its loss. The Knights face Avondale Agua Fria on Saturday (March 10) at 9 a.m. in a tournament hosted by Avondale La Joya.

Desert Mountain also plays in a tournament beginning Monday (March 12) against Phoenix Arcadia.