Daniel Avitia, Alhambra shock No. 1 Hamilton, advance to 6A baseball championship game

Phoenix Alhambra’s baseball team has become the biggest sports story of the high school year in Arizona with one more step to go to achieve the improbable.

After another brilliant pitching performance by senior right-hander Daniel Avitia in a 3-2 victory over top-seed Chandler Hamilton before a huge crowd at Mesa Hohokam Stadium on Saturday night, Alhambra is playing for the 6A state championship Tuesday.

“Special night for our kids, program, and school,” fourth-year Alhambra coach Shea Clark said. “Any time you knock off a program and coach of the caliber of Hamilton and Mike Woods, you know you’ve had a good day. Especially when it sends you to the state championship (game).”

Alhambra pitcher Daniel Avitia (left) puts his jersey on before a game against North in Phoenix April 20, 2021.

 (Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic)

The fourth-seeded Lions (22-1) will take on another Lions team, second-seed Peoria Liberty (20-3) — a 9-3 semifinal winner over Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor — at Tempe Diablo Stadium, following the 5A championship game that starts at 4 p.m.

Peoria Sunrise Mountain takes on Scottsdale Desert Mountain for the 5A title Tuesday.

Alhambra won its only state baseball championship in 2016, at the 4A level, behind another Avitia, Daniel’s brother, catcher David Avitia, now starting on Grand Canyon University’s baseball team. Before then, the last time Alhambra played in the state final was 1975, losing to Phoenix Maryvale 3-2 in what was the top conference then in the state.

This magical journey started with Daniel Avitia’s no-hitter in a 1-0 win over Phoenix Sunnyslope in the first round.

The legitimacy of the Lions came in the quarterfinals, when sophomore right-hander Marco Pacheco, who had yet to give up an earned run this season, shut down the mighty Mesa Red Mountain offense in a 7-3 win.

Then came the game of the ages Saturday with Avitia once again delivering, outdueling LSU-bound Brock Selvidge and beating the reigning state champions from 2019 (the 2020 season was canceled).

Avitia pitched the full seven innings, giving up five hits, two runs, walking two and striking out 10. He threw 100 pitches, five shy of the pitch-count limit for a seven-inning game.

The Lions built a 3-0 lead in the top of the fifth with his batterymate, catcher Jose Romero, delivering the big blow, a two-run double.

“We felt we were able to apply some pressure to Selvidge early, but weren’t able to come up with two-out hits,” Clark said. “I commend our players for staying the course with the game plan. As we worked counts and deep at-bats, Selvidge’s pitch count approached 100 and we were able to get to him in the fifth.”

Selvidge left in the fifth with Cole Klecker coming on in relief.

Hamilton (20-3), which last season was ranked No. 1 in the country by MaxPreps through eight games, before COVID shut the season down, finally broke through with a run in the bottom of the fifth.

Selvidge’s homer in the sixth cut it to 3-2. But, after a two-out double by Prince DeBoskie, Avitia was able to get the next batter to fly out to deep right.

Avitia then cruised through the seventh for his eighth victory, before getting the ice-water bucket from his teammates in a wild post-game celebration.

Up and down Hamilton’s lineup are players who will be playing Division I college baseball.

Avitia is the only Alhambra player heading to a Division I college to play baseball — at GCU.

That’s if he doesn’t go in June’s Major League Baseball draft and signs.

“As expected, the game was a treat for the scouts,” Clark said. “I previously mentioned the pitcher to stay ahead in counts and control the emotions would be the winning pitcher.

“Danny excelled in both areas tonight. He was efficient and attacked the Hamilton hitters all night. I think he not only put his name in the running for Player of the Year but likely put himself atop that list.”

Most of Alhambra’s players aren’t involved in club programs that play year-round.

They’re a community that is close, understanding what it takes to win, becoming a family during the midst of COVID chaos, believing on any given day they beat anybody in the state.

When the Phoenix Union High School District finally gave the green light in March to play sports again with COVID numbers easing up, it was time for Lions to show what they were made of.

Under the single-elimination format in the 16-team tournament, it just takes one or two really good pitchers to lead to a title. Alhambra can now come back with Pacheco, who is 7-0 with a 0.39 ERA, with a week between starts.

“As for Danny, he may have earned himself a lot of money tonight as his draft stock has skyrocketed throughout the season,” Clark said. “These last two playoff performances have been statement outings for him. Could not be more happy for him and his family.”

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.