High school baseball Greg Hansen: Sahuaro pitcher is next can't-miss kid

Sahuaro lefty Alex Verdugo, a 6-foot-1-inch junior, takes an 8-0 record and a .500 batting average into today's state playoffs against Foothills. "It's mind-boggling what he's done," coach Mark Chandler says.

Greg Hansen: Sahuaro pitcher is next can't-miss kid

At a school that has won three state championships and produced major-league ballplayers Jim Olander, Sammy Khalifa, Tom Wiedenbauer and John Butcher, a skinny eighth-grader wearing his cap backward shouldn't turn the coach's head.

High school baseball Greg Hansen: Sahuaro pitcher is next can't-miss kid

Sahuaro pitcher Alex Verdugo has struck out 102 in 51 innings, can hit and has 46 career steals. "He's a five-tool guy," coach Mark Chandler says.

High schools: Verdugo, Sahuaro thinking state title

At a school that has won three state championships and produced major-league ballplayers Jim Olander, Sammy Khalifa, Tom Wiedenbauer and John Butcher, a skinny eighth-grader wearing his cap backward shouldn’t turn the coach’s head.

High school Baseball: Sahuaro 8, Sierra Vista Buena 0: Verdugo fans 14 to help Cougars shut out Colts

Sahuaro used timely hitting, solid defense and dominant pitching to quiet the Sierra Vista Buena bats and win 8-0 at Hal Eustice Field on Tuesday.

High school Baseball: Sahuaro 8, Sierra Vista Buena 0: Verdugo fans 14 to help Cougars shut out Colts

Sahuaro second baseman Marcos Munguia tries to turn a double play over Buena's Briggs Duce. The Cougars (17-3-1) stayed unbeaten at home.

High school Baseball: Sahuaro 8, Sierra Vista Buena 0: Verdugo fans 14 to help Cougars shut out Colts

Sahuaro used timely hitting, solid defense and dominant pitching to quiet the Sierra Vista Buena bats and win 8-0 at Hal Eustice Field on Tuesday.

High school softball: Canyon del Oro 6, Sahuaro 3: Dorados hold on in 'nerve-racking' finish

Sahuaro's Brooklyn Beardshear flies into third ahead of a lunging tag by CDO's Heather Knight after testing the right fielder following a single in the fourth.

High school softball: Canyon del Oro 6, Sahuaro 3: Dorados hold on in 'nerve-racking' finish

Canyon del Oro jumped out to an early six-run lead over host Sahuaro on Monday afternoon, but the Dorados had to battle until the end to hold on for a 6-3 win in a clash of two of the top softball teams in Division II.

Pick of the Preps: As March reaches end, three sports march on

It’s the last full week of March so that means the matchups are just going to keep getting better.

High School Boys Basketball: Sahuaro 1 of 3 So. Ariz. teams in state quarters

Coming into this season, it had been six years since the Sahuaro boys last played in the state tournament.

Wrestling: Jividen undeterred and undefeated

Sahuaro junior Kyle Jividen missed the first two matches of the season while recovering from shoulder surgery; then he went 40-0.

Wrestling: Jividen undeterred and undefeated

When an athlete returns to game action after suffering a serious injury, it typically takes a lot of time before they can perform at their full potential.

Hansen Sunday Notebook: Sahuaro coach stands alone

Freshman Sydney Harden, left, joking with Callie Maloney, has helped lead Steve Botkin's Sahuaro squad to a 24-3 record, averaging a double-double.

Hansen Sunday Notebook: Sahuaro coach stands alone

Coach Todd Mayfield took Palo Verde to the postseason in 10 of his 12 years with the Titans, winning a state championship in 2005.

Hansen Sunday Notebook: Sahuaro coach stands alone

Do we know who this man is? Yes, Tucsonans have become painfully aware of who he is.

Hansen Sunday Notebook: Sahuaro coach stands alone

Krystal Quihuis

Hansen Sunday Notebook: Sahuaro coach stands alone

When Steve Botkin coached the Sahuaro High School girls basketball team to a victory over Desert Christian on Dec. 28, there was no fanfare, ceremony or recognition of what was a historic moment.

High school soccer: Six Foothills girls 4 wins away from fourth state trophy

Six seniors from third-seeded Catalina Foothills are hoping to end their careers with four state championships when the playoffs start today.

Pick of the Preps: State soccer starts; hoops, wrestling head down stretch

Catalina Foothills defender Emily Green, left, competes in last season's state title game against Cactus Shadows. Green and her Falcons teammates will attempt to win a fourth straight state title, starting Tuesday.