By Don Ketchum

Spectacular scenery isn’t the only drawing point for the northwest New Mexico area. They play a pretty good brand of high school baseball, too.

Farmington’s Piedra Vista High is living, breathing, pitching and hitting proof of that.

The team is the two-time defending state champion in New Mexico’s second-highest classification, 4A.

Piedra Vista scored two victories over Arizona teams in the Coach Bob National Invitational portion at Surprise Valley Vista.

Piedra Vista defeated Tucson Ironwood Ridge 8-6 in its first game and came back to pound host Valley Vista 13-3 in a game shortened to five innings due to the 10-run rule.

The Coach Bob Invitational continues the rest of this week and all of next week at sites around the northwest and north Valley.

“We’ve got great senior leadership. Not much seems to bother them. Once they grab on, they won’t let go,’’ said Piedra Vista coach Mike McGaha.

Playing two games in unfamiliar conditions can be a challenge, although Piedra Vista has participated in this tournament for at least seven years.

“You’ve got to make up your mind, “OK, we’re going to be here all day long,’ and go out and minimize the damage,’’ McGaha said.

Piedra Vista (10-2) did that against Valley Vista (10-3), Arizona’s No. 1 team in Division I power points entering this week. Valley Vista took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Nelson Benjamin, but then was buried under an avalanche of 13 Piedra Vista runs in the third through fifth innings.

Right-hander Nate Dominguez came up with a strong effort on the mound, scattering nine hits. And right fielder Shane Woodson threw a runner out at third who was trying to advance from first base on a single by Benjamin. Woodson also had a big day at the plate with three hits.

Piedra Vista wrapped things up in the top of the fifth on a two-run, inside-the-park home run by Matt Martin. The the Valley Vista center fielder attempted to make the catch on a diving play but couldn’t quite do it and the ball rolled all the way to the fence. Valley Vista also made several errors, which didn’t help its cause.

“Hopefully, this is a wake-up call for us,’’ said Valley Vista Klent Corley. “I don’t know if we were too comfortable when we went out there or what, but we lacked energy and intensity.

“It was a ballgame early, but things got away from us and just snowballed.

“I’m just glad it wasn’t a power-points game.’’