Mtn. Ridge pitcher induces a 3rd inning groundout en route to a 1-0 win over Horizon. (AZPreps365 photo)

Mountain Ridge possesses arguably the state's best pitcher, certainly in terms of a professional prospect, in Matt Liberatore.

The Mountain Lions geared up for postseason Monday showcasing two other pitchers that help log them in as serious 6A title contenders in Mitchael Dyer and Zach Martinez as that pair combined on a two-hit shutout of Horizon, 1-0, at Horizon's Eric Kibler Field.

The victory was good enough to secure the 6A Desert Valley Region title, albeit via a fourth-tiebreaker with Sandra Day O'Connor. Mountain Ridge and O'Connor finished region play tied at 8-2. They split their two meetings. The next tiebreakers are power-ranking record within the conference and power-ranking record overall. They were tied on both accounts at 13-5. The final tie-breaker is who is highest in the power rankings. Mountain Ridge will win that. The Mountain Lions were No. 5 on Monday and O'Connor, who is done with its regular season, is No. 7. 

"This region is so tough, it's a dogfight," Mountain Ridge coach Artie Cox said. "We rely on good pitching and defense. That's what we had today. If we get a litlle offensive production we can make a run."

Mountain Ridge (17-9-1) got  a smidge of offense scoring the game's only run in the fourth inning thanks to a leadoff walk to Jason Harayda and a two-out RBI double by Preston Godfrey. Godfrey finished with two of the Mountain Lions' five hits.

That left it up to Dyer and Martinez on the hill. Dyer went the first 5 2/3 innings. He allowed two hits, three walks and fanned three. Martinez, who has been excellent all season save his last start last Friday against Sandra Day O'Connor, fanned the only hitter he faced in the sixth two two runners on. He then induced three routine ground outs in the seventh to complete the shutout. Mountain Ridge played error-less ball and 10 of the 21 outs were via ground balls. Horizon's only hits belonged to No. 8 hitter Logan Kershner.

For Horizon (16-12) it was a tough defeat like many others the Huskies have suffered this year in low-scoring contests. Eleven of Horizon's 18 power-ranking games have been decided with four runs or less for the winning team. Horizon is 5-6 in those games.

Horizon entered play at No. 14 in the power rankings and hopes to remain in the top 16 when the final rankings are released Tuesday morning. That would ensure a home game Wednesday in the state play-in game. Three schools behind Horizon in the power rankings won on Monday -- No. 16 Cibola, No. 18 Mountain Pointe and No. 20 Tucson.

Kibler agreed when offered the assessment wining the Desert Valley Region title is like a mini-state championship.

"This region is tough to win," Kibler said. having won the region last season. "They pitched well. They are loaded with arms."