Brophy baseball continues its dominance over Hamilton in 6A playoffs

After Phoenix Brophy Prep ended a 14-game losing streak to Chandler Hamilton that dated back to 2017, the Broncos now have ownership of the defending state champion.

For the third time in two weeks, Brophy beat Hamilton, this time by the run rule in five innings, winning 15-0 behind the pitching and hitting of Jack Ohman on Tuesday in the second round of the 6A tournament at spacious Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The large park and shaky pitching by Hamilton led to seven runs in the second inning that was sparked by Ohman's bases-loaded triple.

Ohman, meanwhile, shut Hamilton's heavy hitters down, limiting the Huskies to just three hits in five innings of work.

"We burst through," Ohman said. "In those other games, we had chances and didn't execute, which is why those games were so close."

Brophy ended the regular season with 4-3 and 2-1 wins over Hamilton.

Foot on the gas from start to finish

This time, it was over in the second inning, building an 8-0 lead.

Ohman likes having the ball in big moments. He threw the one-hitter to beat nationally heralded San Jose (California) Valley Christian 1-0 in a tournament at Bishop Gorman earlier in the year.

"They like to swing off of me, and I like to mess with their timing and it worked out perfectly," Ohman said about baffling Hamilton's hitters.

Brophy wasn't done after three innings, after building a 12-0 lead. Jack Meissner smashed a three-run homer in the fourth over the left-field wall.

"Our team has just been on the attack," Meissner said. "It's been that way the last 10 games. We just have to try to stay humble and stay on the attack."

With this decisive win, Brophy sets itself up well for the rest of the tournament to chase its first state title since 2006, when now coach Josh Garcia drove in the game-winning run against Horizon in that title game.

Brophy pitching moving forward

Garcia said he can come back with his ace, left-hander Johnny Casale, on Saturday against either Liberty or Sandra Day O'Connor in a winners bracket game.

Ohman had a slow start this season, but the win over Valley Christian boosted his confidence.

"We trust him," Garcia said. "He's a competitor. In situations like right here, you have to put your best competitors out there."

But nobody thought he would need so many runs, especially against a power-hitting team like Hamilton.

"Our team is not built to hit home runs," Garcia said. "We're built to execute. We're built for the base hit. For us, we feel very confident in these yards."

For Hamilton to claim its 10th state title under coach Mike Woods and third in a row, the Huskies will have a hard way to get there in the double-elimination tournament, especially with pitching depth being this team's biggest concern.

A.J. Diaz started and walked in a run in the first inning, then walked and hit the first two batters he faced in the second, before things got worse. A bunt single loaded the bases. A run scored after Diaz hit another batter with a pitch, before Ohman ripped the three-run triple.

Queen Creek, O'Connor, Mountain Ridge advance

No. 1-seed Queen Creek edged Chandler Basha 2-1, No. 5 Glendale Mountain Ridge beat No. 4 Phoenix Desert Vista 11-2, and No. 6 Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor defeated No. 3 Peoria Liberty 4-3 to all advance to the winners bracket Saturday.

O'Connor got clutch relief pitching from Chris Peronace, who gave up three hits and no runs, striking out three, in 2 2/3 innings for the win.

Mountain Ridge (14-12) got 15 hits, led by Coby and Carter Neville, who each had three. Coby Neville drove in four runs. Joe Forbes hit a solo home run and his brother Jackson Forbes had two hits and an RBI.

No. 2 Brophy, which has won 23 games for the first time since 2012, will face O'Connor at 4 p.m., Saturday at Diablo. Mountain Ridge takes on Queen Creek following that game.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hamilton still can't find answer for Brophy baseball in postseason