Green light: Dobson baseball only has 12 players, but a record 107 stolen bases

The stolen base is not a lost art at Mesa Dobson High School, where coach Christopher Estilow only flashes a signal to his base runners when he doesn't want them to take off.

It's the red-light signal.

If that isn't given, which doesn't happen much, Dobson base runners know when to go. They know their speed. They are given a scouting report ahead of the games, letting each know which count they can steal on.

Senior Elias Murray said he likes to take off from first on the first pitch.

"We have certain guys on the team who are given the green light," said Murray, who has 29 of his team's 107 stolen bases this high school baseball season. "If we get a good jump, if we think we can make it, just take it. We've been doing that all season."

Estilow, whose team competes in the 6A Conference, did some research through the Arizona Interscholastic Association record book when his team was approaching 100 stolen bases.

He was surprised to see that the 6A state record for stolen bases by a team in a season was 75. He thought that was low. His team has smashed that at 107 with only one game left -- Monday's 3:45 p.m., home game against Yuma Gila Ridge.

The Mustangs won't make the postseason. They're 11-14, but this is big progress after they won just one game last season while losing 20. With only 12 varsity players, it shows how resilient and aggressive this group is, especially the first five guys in the order.

"Our initial starting lineup was Elias, who is our fastest kid," Estilow said. "Aaron (Mutascio), who is a sophomore, is out second-fastest. Jake (Dobson), who is a junior, who can run, aggressive. Even our fifth guy is our catch and runs really well for a catcher.

"The first five guys in our lineup, they would steal and you would never see me do anything. We know our times. We take our times from when they break to steal. So we know, 'You're a 3.1 (seconds).' We add these times up. And with counts, we say, 'You can go on this count, that count.' Before the game, they know.

"We're super-aggressive early. I'd rather they you get thrown out trying to steal early, so we can figure it out."

According to the AIA archives, the single-season state record for stolen bases by a player is 51, held by two players: Steve Garrabrants of Phoenix Moon Valley in 2000 and Jordan Payne of Winslow in 2006.

The 6A record is 41, set by Jayce Easley of Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor in 2018.

Murray, who is hitting .312 with 21 runs scored, said his goal is to get to 30 stolen bases. He said he's been caught stealing only a few times.

"I want to break 30," he said.

Jake Dobson, who leads the team in hitting with a .419 batting average and with 26 runs scored, is second on the team with 20 stolen bases. He said he usually likes to steal early in the count or when he knows the pitcher is throwing an off-speed pitch.

"We just have a lot of speed and we use it to our advantage," Dobson said.

Murray said the red-light signal usually comes when the team is trailing and trying to rally. They try to be selective at the plate. They'll take the walk.

"Because the walk turns into a double as simple as that," Murray said.

Estilow is trying to make the most of the small numbers on his varsity squad. He said low numbers are due to a combination of poor grades, injuries and a lack of participation.

"We roll up with 12 guys and (Mesa) Mountain View (has) 21," he said. "How can you compete?

"It's tough but it's doable."

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Green light: Dobson baseball has amassed more than 100 stolen bases