TEMPE — The top-ranked Salpointe Catholic Lancers are the 2025 4A baseball state champions after defeating the Flagstaff Eagles 8-0 on Monday night at Tempe Diablo Stadium. It’s the team’s first state title since 2019 and their second overall.
For Salpointe coach Danny Preble, it was a special moment to culminate the season with his team.
“It’s a special one,” Preble said. “I mean, they’re all special, right? Just to have an opportunity to play in this ball game, these guys have come a long way.”
Salpointe got off to a hot start, putting up five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
It started with an inside-the-park homer for Colton Raetzman, also allowing Paul Saffer to score in the process, making it 2-0 early.
“I saw him coming in and I knew how hard I hit it, and I knew there was no way it was that shallow,” Raetzman said. “I touched first, kept running, got to home, and it was just such a special moment.”
Then, Izaiah Moraga was able to cross home on a double by Aciel Guillen, extending the lead to 3-0 with two outs. However, Flagstaff wouldn’t get out of the inning before giving up two more runs — an RBI double by David Driskill to send Guillen home, and Driskill was able to score on a fly ball to left field by Anthony Milo.
The Lancers were able to tack on another run in the second via a balk, extending the lead to 6-0.
Keeping the momentum going in the bottom of the third, the Lancers were able to score two more runs. First, it was a bunt by Johnny Abramian sending Guillen to home plate, before Driskill was able to score on an error. By the end of three innings, it was 8-0 Salpointe, and the threat of being run-ruled was lurking over the Eagles.
The remainder of the game was a defensive battle. While, Flagstaff was determined not to give up any more runs, Salpointe’s pitcher Lucas Shannon was looking for a no-hitter. Shannon wasn’t able to pull off the feat, but he did finish the night giving up only two hits while striking out eight batters. The Eagles were also able to hold off Salpointe in the fourth and fifth innings, forcing a full game.
As Salpointe was able to get the final out, the stadium erupted into cheers. The dugout cleared and gloves went flying into the air as the Lancers ran around the field celebrating before eventually ending in a dogpile.
Before the trophy presentation, they were even able to dump the water bucket on Preble in championship fashion.
For the 13 seniors on the team, winning the state championship is a dream come true.
“I mean, what more can you ask for?” Moraga said. “That’s my final game as a Lancer and I’m just trying to take it in right now. I really have no words.”
While their time as a Lancer has come to a close, it’s brought many of them to reflect back on what their journey has meant to them.
“It’s just meant it’s always about the team and community over ourselves,” Shannon said. “Sort of over time realizing it’s not about the individual accolades; those come with being a part of a team… It’s more about us winning as a group rather than me doing something in particular.”
“These boys have been family,” Moraga said. “From the day I stepped on campus, from the day we played summer ball together, just from the day they transferred or got a class together. Being a Lancer is just about being family. No matter where you go, you’re a Lancer for life.”
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