#6 Queen Creek kept the heat on 6A Central Region leader #5 Corona del Sol on Tuesday with all facets of the game in synch.The Bulldogs cranked out 15 hits, received solid pitching and played errorless ball in walloping Highland, 16-3, at Highland High.

Four Queen Creek players recorded two hits apiece led by the home run-happy duo of Nate Gray and Braden Belcastro. Gray batted in the cleanup spot and Belcastro in the fifth hole. Both of their hits were home runs and they combined for 11 RBI. Ryker Waite and Tait Reynolds were the others with two hits.

Gray homered leading off the second inning and capped his day with a seventh-inning grand slam. Belcastro went yard in the fourth inning (two-run shot) and added a grand slam in the fifth.

Queen Creek senior right-hander Danny Smith notched the win. He blanked Highland (7-15, 1-7) on one hit through the first four innings, backed by a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs broke things open with eight runs in the fifth inning. They sent 13 batters to the plate with the rally comprised of four hits, four walks and both errors Highland committed in the game. Smith worked six innings. He surrendered three runs, five hits, walked one and struck out six.

The victory improved Queen Creek to 20-6 overall and 6-2 in region. The Bulldogs still trail Corona del Sol (16-9, 7-1) by one game in the region. Corona del Sol kept the region lead edging Desert Vista, 5-4, on Tuesday. Corona del Sol and Queen Creek have already played their region series, splitting their two games last week.

Queen Creek has one two-game, region series left to play. The Bulldogs host Gilbert at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and finish on Monday with a 7 p.m. start at Gilbert High. Corona del Sol's final two region games are against Highland - Friday at 6 p.m. at Highland and Monday at 3:45 p.m. at Corona del Sol.