Tyler Wiltshire is 9-0 for Sabino (Andy Morales/AllSportsTucson.com)

No. 1 Nogales beat No. 8 Salpointe 5-2 Saturday night to advance to the 4A semifinal round where the Apaches will face No. 5 Sunrise Mountain Wednesday night at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Apaches have to beat Sunrise Mountain twice to advance to the 4A championship game.

Nogales jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-out single from University of Arizona commit Marcel Bachelier, scoring Jorge Bojorquez and Kevin Jimenez. Mikey Villa came trough on a 2-RBI triple in the top of the third to tie the game up 2-2.

Jimenez put the Apaches back up 3-2 on an RBI double in the fourth and Jesus Lopez hit an RBI double of his own in the sixth to increase the lead to 4-2 and Mario Duarte followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.

German Fajardo picked up the win for Nogales with eight strikeouts in six innings of work. Markie Lopez pitched in the seventh. Ricky Santiago and Ian Ponce saw pitching action for the Lancers.

In 3A action, No. 1 Sabino, No. 3 Sahuarita and No. 12 Empire advanced to the semifinal round scheduled for Saturday, May 12 at Surprise. Sabino and Empire will face each other which means at least one team from Southern Arizona will play for a 3A state championship the following Monday.

Things didn’t turn as well in 1A and 2A action with all five teams from Southern Arizona losing in the quarterfinals.

SATURDAY, MAY 5

BASEBALL: 4A ELIMINATION ROUND 3 at Diablo
No. 1 Nogales 5, No. 8 Salpointe 2

BASEBALL: 3A QUARTERFINALS at Surprise
No. 1 Sabino 15, No. 8 Catalina 6
No. 3 Sahuarita 10, No.11 Payson 5
No. 12 Empire 5, No. 13 Pusch Ridge 3

BASEBALL: 2A QUARTERFINALS at Goodyear
No. 7 Phoenix Christian 14, No. 2 Willcox 4 (6)
No. 6 Joy Christian 13, No. 3 Bisbee 3 (6)

BASEBALL: 1A QUARTERFINALS at Goodyear
No. 6 Superior 17, No. 3 Baboquivari 7
No. 5 Williams 5, No. 4 St. David 3
No. 8 Bagdad 4, No. 8 Valley Union 0

MONDAY, MAY 7

BASEBALL: 5A ELIMINATION at Diablo
No. 3 Flowing Wells vs. No. 6 Notre Dame, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9

BASEBALL: 4A SEMIFINALS at Diablo
No. 1 Nogales vs. No. 5 Sunrise Mountain, 6:30 p.m.
No.2 Catalina Foothills vs. No. 11 St. Mary’s, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 12

BASEBALL: 3A SEMIFINALS at Surprise
No. 1 Sabino vs. No. 12 Empire, 6:30 p.m.
No. 3 Sahuarita vs. No. 2 Casteel, 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MAY 14

BASEBALL: 3A CHAMPIONSHIP at HoHoKam
No. 1 Sabino/No. 12 Empire winner vs. TBD, 4 p.m.

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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 is the Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Contact Andy Morales at AMoralesMyTucson@yahoo.com