By Don Ketchum

The last time that Phoenix Thunderbird’s baseball team faced Phoenix Greenway, it found itself on the wrong end of a 16-3 score on March 31.

So when the teams met again on Tuesday night (April 19) at Greenway, Thunderbird coach Seth Melton said of his team, “I wasn’t sure how we would respond.’’

Thunderbird was No. 1 in Class 4A Division II power points and Greenway No. 2. Thunderbird needed a win to maintain its advantage and it got it, 6-3.

Thunderbird climbed to 20-3, Greenway fell to 19-6.

Melton said it was his team’s goal to make Greenway ace left-hander Scott Squier throw as many pitches as possible.

“He’s one of the best pitchers in the state. If we were going to make outs, we were going to make it tough on him,’’ Melton said.

The plan worked. Thunderbird hitters used their patience and Squier struggled with his control.

He gave up just one hit through the first five innings – a first-inning triple by Marcus Wheeler (he scored on a bases-loaded walk) – but walked 10. He added another walk in the sixth and gave up three hits, including a two-run homer by Wheeler, as Thunderbird scored three runs for a 5-2 lead. By the time Squier was done (six innings), he had thrown 130 pitches.

Meanwhile, Thunderbird right-hander Eric Wagner came up with a gutty performance, throwing a complete game, scattering 10 hits.

All of Greenway’s runs came on home runs – a two-run blast by Squier in the first inning and a solo shot by Charlie Wagner (no relation to Eric Wagner) in the seventh.

“He (Eric Wagner) is not going to overwhelm you, but he is a tough kid. He is a bulldog. We needed this one, and he gave us a chance to win,’’ Melton said.

The coach is hopeful that the win will help give the Chiefs some momentum over the final four regular-season games as a tune-up for the state tournament, but said his team isn’t going to take anything for granted.

“It was a nice win, but we still have to take care of business,’’ Melton said. “We have four games against Washington, Notre Dame, Cactus and Sunnyslope.’’