Abalos Era nears conclusion on Monday

Safford first battles Thatcher on Friday

By Raymundo Frasquillo

THATCHER – The No. 26 Robert Abalos-coached Safford Bulldogs have one game left in Graham County. They are at Thatcher on Friday, April 25.

The Bulldogs have played 536 games (308-225-3) or a win percentage of 57 through April 23 with Abalos as the head coach, posted 15 winning seasons with two 20-plus in 2017 (22-8) and 2010 (24-5), and finished below .500 six times.

Safford has a slight edge over the Eagles during 40 previous parings from 2006-24, going 20-19-1 overall, 2-1 in the 3A South Region, and 17-13 in seeding games. The teams are 3-3 meeting in regular season tourneys, and Thatcher prevailed 9-5 (May 1) during the 2012 Division II state first round.

Thatcher took the home region pairing 4-2 (March 24, 2023) while Safford twice ended ahead, 2-1 (Feb. 24, 2023) and 14-9 (April 18, 2024) at home.

The Bulldogs conclude the regular season in Tucson against Palo Verde Magnet on Monday, April 28. Tanque Verde (5-1), Pusch Ridge Christian (5-1), Empire (4-2), and Sabino (2-4) have each completed region schedules.

For South Region members, non-region pairings include Empire at Desert Christian on April 25 and Thatcher at Payson on April 28.

The play-in round for teams ranked 9-24 is on Wednesday, April 30.

3A South Region Standings

South Region standings through April 24 have Tanque Verde (17-5-1 overall, 15-3 seeding, 5-1 region) and Pusch Ridge Christian (13-11, 10-5, 5-1) tied for first, Empire (12-13, 9-8, 4-2) third, Thatcher (8-12, 5-7, 3-2) fourth, Sabino (2-16, 2-15, 2-4) fifth, Safford (10-9, 5-7, 0-4) sixth, and Palo Verde Magnet (7-10, 7-10, 0-5) seventh.

Region game results to date include Tanque Verde over Pusch Ridge (3-1, April 3), Thatcher (12-7, April 10), Safford (8-3, April 17), Sabino (7-2, April 19), and Palo Verde Magnet (19-4 in 4 inn, April 23); Pusch Ridge over Thatcher (11-3, March 25), Palo Verde Magnet (5-1, April 8), Empire (3-0, April 16), Sabino (14-3 in 6 inn, April 21) and Safford (12-6, April 23); Empire over Safford (12-9, April 4), Sabino (10-0 in 5 inn, April 1), Palo Verde Magnet (13-0 in 5 inn, April 4), and Tanque Verde (6-5, April 21); Thatcher over Palo Verde Magnet (20-1 in 5 inn, March 27), Sabino (5-3, April 17), and Empire (7-2, April 23); Sabino over Safford (10-0 in 5 inn, April 1) and Palo Verde Magnet (8-4, April 4).

2A State Rankings

The state rankings for South Region members as of noon on April 25 had Tanque Verde (15-3 seeding, 7.4633 rating) No. 14, Pusch Ridge Christian (10-5, 4.2801) No. 17, Empire (9-8, 2.4267) No. 21, Safford (5-7, 0.2890) No. 26, Thatcher (5-7, minus 0.0460) No. 27, Sabino (2-12, minus 5.9117) No. 35, and Palo Verde Magnet (7-10, minus 6.3602) No. 37.

No. 27 Thatcher Eagles (8-12 overall)

The Jace Howard-coached 3A South Region Thatcher Eagles (8-12 overall, 5-7 seeding, 3-2 region) are averaging a 6-8 (118-158) score per game or a 2-run deficit through 20 games.

Thatcher has seeding game wins over Show Low (4-3, March 4), Palo Verde Magnet (20-1 in 5 inn, March 31), Tucson Amphitheater (21-2 in 4 inn, April 3), Sabino (5-3, April 17), and Empire (7-2, April 23) along with losses to Queen Creek American Leadership – Ironwood (9-10, March 6), Pusch Ridge (3-11, March 25), Rio Rico (3-6, April 1), Chandler Valley Christian (0-10 in 6 inn, April 8), Tanque Verde (7-12, April 10), Douglas (6-8, April 11), and Benson (2-10, April 14).

Additionally, the Eagles went 2-2 during the 4-day Florence tourney and 1-3 during the 4-day Salpointe Catholic tourney. The wins were over Kearny Ray (7-1, Feb. 27), San Manuel (1-0 in 5 inn, Feb. 27), and Phoenix Saint Mary’s Catholic (7-5, March 12) while the losses were to Florence (1-4 in 5 inn, Feb. 28), Bagdad (2-11 in 4 inn, March 1), Yuma Catholic (1-38 in 5 inn, March 11), Benson (6-8, March 14), and Tucson Mica Mountain (6-13, March 14).

The Eagles have an 18-member team, with a roster of five seniors, four juniors, four sophomores, and five freshmen. The roster includes seniors Dee Allen (5), Kody Bingham (1), Paxton Echols (11), Jett Howard (3), and Branson Hughes (16); juniors Erik Ebert (14), Travis Larson (9), Noah Rasmussen (20), and Ty Shupe (4); sophomore Brant Duncan (2) Jagen Hall (10), Hudson Lopeman (5), and Brig Romney (18); and freshmen Boston Echols (7), Gunner Jacob (13), Traekon Kempton (15), Kase Palmer (12), and Jax Shupe (17).

Thatcher competes in the seven-member 3A South Region with Safford, and Tucson teams Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.

No. 26 Safford Bulldogs (10-9 overall)

The Robert Abalos-coached 3A South Region Safford Bulldogs (10-9 overall, 5-7 seeding, 0-4 region) are averaging a 6-6 (111-115) score per game or a tie through 19 games.

Safford has seeding game wins over Globe (10-7, March 4), Tucson Rincon/University (9-5, March 25), Sahuarita Walden Grove (12-2 in 5 inn, April 3), Coolidge (7-1, April 7), and Rio Rico (1-0, April 14) along with losses to Gilbert Christian (0-11, March 6), Show Low (7-10, March 21), Douglas (1-18 in 5 inn, March 24), Sabino (0-10 in 5 inn, April 1), Empire (9-12, April 4), Tanque Verde (3-8, April 17), and Pusch Ridge (6-12, April 23).

The Bulldogs went 3-1 during the 3-day Florence tourney and 2-1 during the 3-day Benjamin Franklin tourney. The wins were over Morenci (9-0 in 4 inn, Feb. 27), Superior (11-1 in 4 inn, Feb. 27), San Tan Valley San Tan Foothills (15-0 in 4 inn, March 6), Queen Creek Benjamin Franklin (4-3 in 5 inn, March 6), and Payson (6-5 in 4 inn, April 12) while the losses were to Show Low (1-6 in 5 inn, March 1) and Globe (2-4, April 10).

Safford has a 17-member team, with a roster of five seniors, six juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen. The roster includes seniors Carlos Arbizo (21), Dylan Broderick (20), Cole Goodman (24), Zayden Sanchez (31), and Cole Yentsch (8); juniors Damain Abril (6), Aiden Gutierrez (12), Darren Maldonado (22), Damian Nunez (9), Kayden Reno (28), and Dylan Stahl (6); sophomore Noah Cuences (18) Osvaldo Estrada (34), Broady Phillips (16), and Andrew Trujillo (32); and freshmen Easton Ballejos (23) and Deagan Faunce (7).

The Bulldogs compete in the seven-member 3A South Region with Thatcher and Tucson teams Empire, Palo Verde Magnet, Pusch Ridge Christian, Sabino, and Tanque Verde.