Yuma Catholic tops Tanque Verde, advances to 3A state semifinals

Yuma Catholic’s postseason baseball run gained real traction with a 10-2 win over Tanque Verde, sending the Shamrocks to the 3A state semifinals and putting them one victory from Tempe Diablo Stadium’s championship stage.

The No. 2 seed in the Arizona Interscholastic Association 3A bracket answered quickly after the Tanque Verde Eagles scored first. A heads-up play at the plate from catcher Daniel Ruiz and pitcher Hiram Silva helped keep the early damage from growing, and the Shamrocks took control from there on their home field in Yuma.

Grayson Morris delivered one of the game’s biggest swings with runners in scoring position, driving a ball into left-center field that cleared the outfielder and brought home two runs. Silva later added to the momentum with a drive to dead center that reached the fence, producing more runs and widening the gap. Yuma Catholic kept stacking pressure with timely contact and aggressive baserunning, eventually breaking the game open with four more runs.

The victory lifted Yuma Catholic to 22-5 and continued a dominant tournament start. The Shamrocks opened the postseason with a 15-0 win over Pusch Ridge before handling Tanque Verde in the quarterfinals. Their season numbers reflect the same strength that has carried them into May, with MaxPreps listing Yuma Catholic at 2.7 runs allowed per game.

Judd Thrower’s team also finished first in 3A West with a 13-2 conference mark, a run that helped establish the Shamrocks as one of the state’s toughest clubs entering the bracket. That consistency now has Yuma Catholic headed to Tempe Diablo Stadium for a semifinal matchup with Northwest Christian on Tuesday, May 12. The other semifinal that day will match Valley Christian and Kingman.

The stakes are straightforward: win again, and Yuma Catholic reaches the 3A championship game scheduled for May 18 at Tempe Diablo Stadium. For Yuma, the Shamrocks’ advance keeps a local postseason story alive with direct pride for Yuma Catholic High School, its families and a fan base that now gets another chance to watch the program chase a title.