By Don Ketchum

Whether it is chipping away as Scottsdale Chaparral did in the early innings or lowering the boom with a six-run seventh inning sparked by a grand slam, the Firebirds seem to be ready to take on any baseball opponent in Class 5A Division II.

Chaparral solidified its hold on the top spot in power points with an 11-1 victory over host Scottsdale Desert Mountain on Friday (April 15).

Chaparral raised its record to 17-5. Desert Mountain, third in power points entering Friday’s play, fell to 15-8. The teams will play again on Tuesday (April 19) at Chaparral.

“This was a huge win for us,’’ said Chaparral coach Sam Messina. “We’re right down the street (west on Shea Boulevard about 7-8 miles) and this is a big rivalry. The score might not show it, but these guys really play us tough. I’m sure they are going to bounce back and be ready for us again on Tuesday.’’

Messina couldn’t say enough about the effort of his starting pitcher, Nick Diamond.

The left-hander didn’t give up a hit for the first three innings and just two on the day. He pitched into the sixth inning, but allowed the first two men to reach on a hit and an infield error.

Messina then went to right-hander Peter Lenstrohm, who struck out the final two batters of the sixth and didn’t allow a hit in his two innings.

“It was just his (Diamond’s) third start, but he does a great job for us,’’ Messina said. “He competes extremely well. Lenstrohm also did a good job.’’

Diamond is not an overpowering pitcher but nibbles away at the edges of the plate and throws decent off-speed pitches.

Chaparral scored a run in the first, two in the second and one in the third in support of Diamond.

Desert Mountain scored its run in the fourth when leadoff man Drew McLaughlin reached on an infield error, moved to second on a balk and scored on a hit by David Greer, a high chopper toward shortstop that went off the shortstop’s glove and into the outfield.

The game’s exclamation point was put into place by Nick DeRegis, who belted a grand slam in the top of the seventh. It was a tribute to his perseverance, having struck out three times and walked in his previous plate appearances.