The Scottsdale Community College (SCC) Artichokes were at home against the Glendale Community College (GCC) Gauchos Wednesday afternoon for the fourth matchup between the two schools.

SCC came in with (14-14 season) and GCC (20-9) for the season so far.

Regarding the Glendale Community College Gauchos, SCC’s head coach Ty Gavin described the opponents play.

“They’re a scrappy team, top of their line up can really drive the ball, bottom guys scrap to get on base,” Gavin said. “Pitching wise, they throw a lot of strikes so there’s not a ton free, so you gotta go up there and have a good approach.”

As the Artichokes enter the last couple months of season play, Gavin knows that every game matters that much more.

For many teams, peaking at the right time can be the difference in making the push for playoffs.

“If we wanna get where we wanna get to, there has to be a stretch where we win seven out of eight, nine out of eleven,” Gavin said.

In the game of baseball though, this does not come easy.

Gavin mentioned the importance of work ethic every day—every game.

The starters on the mound were SCC’s righty Dalton Hanson, and GCC’s righty Parker Staheli.

Staheli attacked the zone immediately as he struck out one batter and only threw one ball in the bottom of the first.

Meanwhile Hanson struggled to find the zone early during the second inning; he threw six straight balls at one point.

The free passes allowed by Hanson led to two GCC runs scoring, giving them an early 2-0 lead.

Staheli had an uncharacteristic start to the bottom of the second with a walk to SCC first baseman Luke Calendo.

But he immediately fell back into his groove as he struck out back-to-back hitters and induced a pop fly to strand Calendo.

In the top of third, Hanson got support from his third baseman Braiden Reynolds.

Reynolds stopped a high chopper as he stretched his glove over his head and then delivered a cannon to first base for the out.

He received cheers from the dugout and fans.

The defensive momentum translated to the offense for the Artichokes.

Second baseman Braedan Reichert recorded SCC’s first hit of the day with a slap down the right field line.

The Artichokes were in a great spot to score with two runners in scoring position for Reynolds.

He tied the game as he drove a ball back up the middle of the field, scoring both runners.

The next inning for the Artichoke offense started with Will Salihar.

He pummeled the first pitch to the right field gap for a leadoff triple.

SCC looked to add more runs to the board, but Staheli had other plans.

Following the leadoff triple, he struck out the next batter and induced two pop flies to strand Salihar.

The GCC dugout erupted for a leadoff walk by Brock Berlan in the fifth inning.

Berlan then stole second base to set himself up in scoring position for their next hitter Josue Malave.

Malave hit into the gap between the third baseman and short stop and then the left fielder fumbled to pick up the ball.

The error gave the lead back to the Gauchos, 3-2.

Hanson ended his outing strongly with a 1-2-3 inning.

He was able to put together six innings of work, and only allow three runs.

“Obviously I didn’t have the best stuff today but I tried to stay in the zone as much as possible, limit the stuff I did give them.”

Entering the bottom of the sixth, GCC turned to the bullpen following Staheli’s strong first five innings.

“Went out, executed pitches, did what I had to,” Staheli said. “Get first pitch strikes, get ahead of counts, and get batters out early.”

Staheli finished the day with six strikeouts and only allowed two walks.

The bullpen was a night and day difference for the Gauchos though.

Salihar picked up his second hit of the day with another rip to right field, putting him and pinch-runner Talan Shirey into scoring position.

SCC’s catcher Cas Herold drove in both runners with a liner past the infield.

“It was funny actually, before that I was in the dugout talking to one of my teammates about hitting situationally. And then came up to the plate, exact same situation I had earlier in the game that I didn’t succeed, and first pitch just got it.”

The Artichokes had the lead at 4-3 but SCC did not stop there.

SCC’s Ryder Florence, Carson Feddema, and Luke Calendo all picked up RBI hits in the team’s sixth inning barrage.

It was a seven run inning—SCC led 9-3.

Northeast Valley News asked Hanson how it felt watching his team’s offense in the bottom of the sixth:

“It feels great knowing the guys have your back. You come out of the game, you probably know you’re done for the day and the guys put up seven, and you go and get your win. What else could you ask for?”

The Gauchos did not go out silently though as they tried to climb back against SCC’s reliever Logan Spetz.

In the top of the ninth, GCC’s Logan Leavitt left the park with a solo shot to left field—cutting the deficit to two.

With the game at 9-7, GCC’s Andrew Shakespeare represented the tying run at the plate with Nomar Topete already on second base.

But he Gauchos comeback fell short as Shakespeare hit a pop fly to left field.

“They’re a tough team, that’s their ammo. They’re never gonna quit; they have a good offense so it’s a matter of time before they break through,” Gavin said.

Following the 9-7 win over GCC, the Artichokes will play the South Mountain Community College Cougars (22-9) Friday.