Casteel reaches 5A baseball final behind Mason Russell's no-hitter against Nogales
It took another brilliant pitching performance for Queen Creek Casteel against Nogales to advance to the 5A baseball championship game for the first time in school history.
This time it was Mason Russell, who pitched a no-hitter in a 5-0 victory on Wednesday at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa that punched the Colts' historic ticket.
Russell, a junior left-hander, pitched the complete seven innings, walking just one and striking out six, facing a total of 23 batters, two over the minimum.
"He's a great competitor and pounded the zone all day," Casteel coach Matt Denny said. "When he's right, he's one of the best I've ever had."
Casteel (26-6), the No. 2 seed, advances to next Tuesday's state championship game at 4 p.m., at Tempe Diablo Stadium, and awaits the winner of Thursday's elimination semifinal between No. 4 Horizon and No. 1 Tucson Catalina Foothills.
Catalina Foothills avenged its loss to Horizon last week, working its way through the loser's bracket, beating Horizon 8-5 Wednesday, forcing another game. It was Horizon's first loss of the double-elimination tournament.
Last week, Casteel got a five-inning, one-hitter from senior Nick Dale in a 10-0 win that ended after five innings by the 10-run mercy rule.
On Wednesday, Casteel scored four runs in the second inning, all the offensive help Russell would need.
Landon Hairston went 2 for 4 and Tyler Russell had a double and two RBI to lead the Colts. Freshman Ryan Harwood and junior catcher Kade Thompson had RBI hits.
4A semis
Defending champion Oro Valley Canyon del Oro needed nine innings to beat Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain 6-5 and return to the state final in 4A. That game is Tuesday at 7 p.m., at Diablo Stadium. CDO will play either Scottsdale Saguaro or Sahuarita. Saguaro avenged its loss last week to Sahuarita with a 9-1 win Wednesday, forcing a win-and-advance game Thursday night at 6 at Diablo Stadium.
Saguaro scored four runs in the second and five more in the fourth to break it open.
Jakob Chavez, Cade Shumard and Cam Caminiti each drove in two runs for the Sabercats.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Casteel reaches 5A baseball final for first time, defeats Nogales
