Jacob Ribeiro is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona College Preparatory Academy for AZPreps365.com

Arizona College Prep kicked off its fifth season in program history, playing their second preseason game and traveling to face the Gilbert Tigers. The game ended 6-5 to the Tigers in extras. 

Coach Andrew Pollak has been with the program from start to finish, as he enters his fifth season. He said the team has been building toward this season. 

“We are carrying 15 seniors, who have been playing varsity baseball since freshman year, so this is kind of like the culmination of it all,” he said. “They're experienced, they’re good players, and they’re excited.”

The game started off slow as both pitchers went scoreless through the first three innings. Arizona College Prep struck first as Senior catcher Cash Groppenbacher hit an RBI double in the right field gap to take a 1-0 lead after four innings.

After a quick three up three down, the Knights took their momentum into the fourth inning and into the fifth as seniors Jaden Guglielmo and CJ Estrella each had an RBI single. 

CJ Estrella ended up playing a big role in the Knights' offense as he went up going 3 for 3 on the day with two singles and a double. His batting was so impactful that he was intentionally walked late in the game.

“Just go with the pitch and get to the point where they have to walk you when you come up” he said. “Take that as a compliment”.

The Knights would go on to score one more time in the sixth inning, but the Gilbert Tigers were not done yet.

Down 4-0, the Tigers were building a comeback after senior Jacinto Espinoza III reached on an error, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to get the Tigers on the board. 

Soon after that, another error on a wild throw allowed the runner on second to score, making the game 4-2. Knights pitcher Grant McInturf would leave the game after six scoreless innings and three strikeouts despite the Knights only holding a two-run lead going into the seventh.

Tigers junior Thatcher Johnson would pitch a scoreless sixth, giving them one last chance in the bottom of the seventh.

The Tigers would draw two walks in the seventh inning as sophomore Jacinto Espinoza III would bring both runners in with an RBI double to tie the game at 4-4 in the last inning.

Knights reliever CJ Estrella would get out of the jam with two straight strikeouts to secure extra innings. The eighth inning would go scoreless thanks to a run-saving diving catch in center field from senior Austin Longfellow.

Senior Ashton Sanchez would start the ninth with a leadoff triple, followed by another clutch play by Austin Longfellow, who drove in an RBI single up the middle to take the lead.​

Junior Thatcher Johnson would escape the ninth after only giving up that one run. With the Tigers down one run in the bottom of the ninth, the leadoff hitter would lead to Junior Cameron Foegal hitting a game-tying RBI double to left field.