Seton's Mark Ossanna slows down as he nears homeplate after his 6th inning homer. (AzPreps365.com photo)

Seton Catholic and Marcos de Niza shared the 4A Desert Sky Region baseball title last year. Seton all but made sure Friday afternoon there would be no tie for the crown this year.

A vehemently disputed balk call and trio of extras-base hits in the fifth and sixth innings supplied the offense as the Sentinels downed the Padres, 4-1, at Marcos de Niza.

Seton, which entered the day #3 in the 4A power ranking, has one of the best records in the state at 18-1 overall. The Sentinels are 11-1 in power-ranking games and 5-0 in region. Only three region contests remain. Marcos de Niza (14-9, 10-4 prg), which made a run to the 4A state semifinals last year, is ranked 11th currently in 4A. The Padres are 3-2 in region.

Seton coach Brian Stephenson said before the contest Friday, there are no secrets between the teams. The pitching matchups were the same in both meetings last year and ditto that the two games over the last 10 days.

"The lineups were pretty much the same as the first game last week," Stephenson said. "We know each other pretty well."

The teams offered few base runners or scoring chances the first four innings. They combined for three hits in that span. The first runs finally came in Seton's half of the fifth and the game's initial tally came via a balk with runners on first and third and one out.

Marcos de Niza coach Steve Schuck was beside himself after hearing the call. He eventually was ejected after a long discussion with the base umpire. The game's first RBI  followed and was produced a batter later by Seton leadoff hitter Mason Larusso, who blasted a triple off the base of the left-field fence to make it 2-0 off Marcos de Niza starter Eric Oden.

Oden got the final out of the inning, but his start ended two batters into the sixth as he surrendered back-to-back homers to Mark Ossanna and Matt Masciangelo. Seton finished with six hits. Oden pitched substanially better in the rematch. He allowed six runs in Seton's 9-6 victory on March 27.

Marcos de Niza is familiar with Seton junior righty Luke Bell. Bell was handed the ball for the start for the fourth time in two years (covering two meetings last year and the two this year). He's come away the winner in three of the four meetings, including Friday's contest. Bell and relievers Mike Kenney and Ryan Johnson combined on a three-hitter. Bell worked the first five and Kenney and Johnson the last two. Bell allowed all three hits and an unearned run. His command wasn't great early as he issued five walks in the first three innings. Bell finished with seven strikeouts. He also pitched five-plus innings in the 9-6 win 10 days ago. Last year he was the pitcher of record in a 2-0 win and took the loss in a 7-2 decision later. 

Larusso led Seton with two hits. Marcos de Niza's top hitter was Max L'Heureux, who was 1 for 2 with a sixth-ining double that chased Bell. He eventually scored after a throwing error and on a ground out by Adam Sebastian.

Seton can clinch the region title on Tuesday April 10 at home against Tempe High. Marcos de Niza takes to the road on April 10 to play Casa Grande.

Seton's Matt Masciangelo finishes his home-run trot after a clout to right field. (AzPreps365.com photo)