HENDERSON, NV – Desert Region regular season championship on the line, the Basic Wolves hosted the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks. Although post season implications were minimal, anytime one plays for a title, it is an opportunity to, at the least, test your team and prepare for future games with higher stakes. The Diamondbacks starter lefthander, ’19 Campbell Holt, while Basic countered with senior, ’19 Trace Evans. In the bottom half of the first inning, Holt was unable to record an out. ’21 LHP Jacob Walsh came on in relief and stopped the attack, but not before Basic took a 6-0 lead. Walsh thwarted the Wolves into the middle innings surrendering one run over 4 innings of work. Meanwhile DO would mount a steady attack to get back in the game, scoring three runs in the 3^rd and 4^th innings.  The big blow came off the bat of Walsh in the 4^th, when he hit a two-run blast to right field in grand fashion. The homer put the D’Backs ahead 7-6. Basic would knot the game at 7-7 on Evans’ RBI single in the bottom half. Reliever’s ’19 Aaron Roberts (DO) and ’20 Logan Spaur (Basic) would hold strong until the 7^th. In the top half of the 7th, Spaur found himself in a bases loaded jam. With bases loaded, Spaur left a fastball in, hitting Roberts and forcing the go ahead run to cross the plate. Cleanup hitter, Campbell Holt followed with what looked to be a double play ball to shortstop, ’21 Dominik Tavares, when the ball took an indefensible hop, clearing the bases and giving DO an 11-7 lead. Roberts retired the Wolves in order to secure the victory and the regular season championship.

As much scoring as took place, the story of the anticipated matchup between the Wolves and D’Backs, was Walsh and Roberts. Walsh entered the game calm and collected, working diligently to minimize damage and stabilize the game, providing the opportunity for DO to mount its comeback. The mid-season overhaul of Roberts delivery shows aptitude as well as commitment and may compel MLB teams to revisit his position come June.

Although the win secured the regular season championship, the implications of the win simply mean that Desert Oasis earns the #1 seed, while Basic earns the #2 seed in next week’s Desert Region playoffs. With seeding yet to be determined, Basic could very well receive the luck of the draw. Should Foothill defeat Silverado, Desert Oasis could draw the Skyhawks and ’21 RHP Chris Cortez, a formidable first round opponent.

’19 Aaron Roberts, RHP

The strong, sturdy bodied, 6-foot-2 210 Roberts came on in relief in the fifth inning.  He displayed a retooled delivery, standing tall throughout his rocker step and leg lift, proceeding to an open swing of his lead leg, landing on a flat open-toed plant foot. The delivery is markedly different from the one previously seen. He threw all fastballs ranging in his first inning of work 91-95. He pitched mostly 91-93 with a low of 88 on a get me over strike, down in the count. Roberts ability to retool his delivery mid-season is impressive and he showed improved control. Thought to be a two-way prospect, many were leaning to him more as a hitter; however, this latest adjustment may make some rethink their position.