Chris Kowalcek led the game off with a single. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

MORE PHOTOS HERE

It’s a long and brutal season but Catalina Foothills took the first step necessary to survive the vaunted 4A Kino Region with an 8-5 win at Canyon del Oro Tuesday night.

Catalina Foothills (5-0 overall, 1-0 in region play), Canyon del Oro (5-1, 0-1), Salpointe (6-2, 0-0), Nogales (7-2, 0-0) and Walden Grove (5-2, 0-0) are the pieces that make the region one of the most difficult in the 4A Conference.

How difficult?

STORY AT AZPreps365.com

CF: 2-1-1-0-3-1: 8-9-2
CDO: 0-2-0-0-0-3: 5-8-1

CF: Kowalcek (1-3, W, SB, 2R); N. Cullen (0-3, SAC, R); DeNiro (1-3, 2B, R, SAC, RBI); Larson (2-2, SAC, 2RBI, SB, W, 2R); Altherr (1-3, W); M. Cullen (0-3, W); Rodriguez (2-3, 2B, SB, 2R); Saul (2-3, RBI); Parker (W); Dwyer (0-1, CI). WP: Altherr (5 IP, 6K, 2 ER); Rodriguez (2/3 IP, 3 ER); DeNiro (1/3 IP, K).
CDO: Bustamante (2-4); Ochoa (2-3, 2B, RBI, W, R); Porter (1-2, HR, 2RBI, 2W, R); E. Romero (0-4); B. Romero (0-2, W, R); Lytle (1-3); Stucky (1-3, 2B, RBI); Higdon (R); Stancer ((1-2, RBI); VonBogaert (W, R); Benavides (0-3). LP: Cordova (3 IP; 2ER, 3K); Porter (2 IP, 3ER); Aykroyd (1 IP, 0 ER).

CDO head coach Keith Francis greats Tyler Porter at third base after his 2-run homer. (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

SOUTHERN ARIZONA GIRLS SOCCER ALL-STARS

SOUTHERN ARIZONA ALL-FRESHMAN SOCCER TEAMS

SOUTHERN ARIZONA ALL-FRESHMAN BASKETBALL TEAMS

2018 WRESTLING ALL-STARS

FOLLOW @ANDYMORALES8 ON TWITTER!

Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014 and he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and he has been a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. His own children have won multiple state high school championships and were named to all-state teams. Competing in hockey, basketball, baseball and track & field in high school, his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com