Saguaro ace Cam Caminiti quiets national powerhouse Bishop Gorman in front of MLB scouts
The radar guns were aimed. The stands were overflowing with MLB scouts. And Las Vegas Bishop Gorman's dugout was filled with players yelling, trying to get into the head of the left-hander on the mound.
Nothing fazed Scottsdale Saguaro senior ace Cam Caminiti, as he picked up where he left off last week when he struck out the first 16 batters he faced in a 10-0 win over Glendale Deer Valley.
This time, Caminiti silenced Bishop Gorman's dugout Wednesday at Tempe Corona del Sol High School, while putting the Sabercats' baseball program on the national map with a dominant 6-0 win over the No. 6-ranked team in the country (according to MaxPreps) on the first day of the Boras Classic.
Bishop Gorman returned to the tournament it won last year en route to 35 wins and the Nevada 5A championship, this time bringing the entire program, all crammed into the dugout, to their feet, trying to ruffle Caminiti as he reared back and fired. His fastball hit 98 miles per hour in the first inning when he struck out the side.
Even though 20 players for the Gaels graduated off of last year's team, Caminiti was facing a team that has seven players committed to Division 1 colleges.
"I didn't even hear them," Caminiti said about noise from Bishop Gorman's dugout. "They should have brought the whole school."
Caminiti, who keeps moving up draft boards with every outing, struck out nine in five innings of work, giving up just one hit and walking three.
Saguaro improved to 9-2 and advances to play Queen Creek Casteel on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Phoenix Arcadia.
Caminiti, who signed with LSU in the fall, helped himself with a triple, scoring the first run. Cade Shumard ripped a two-run home run during a five-run third inning. Shumard, who has signed with New Mexico State, had two hits and three RBIs.
Before the game, coach Joe Muecke said he was inundated with messages from scouts about the upcoming game to make sure it was Caminiti on the mound against Bishop Gorman.
Scouts were already crammed in the bleachers for the 9 a.m. game that featured Casteel's 10-4 comeback win over Peoria Liberty that was sparked by catcher Kade Thompson, who had three hits, including a three-run triple in a seven-run fifth inning.
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The stands were so packed for the noon game between Saguaro and Bishop Gorman (1-3) that scouts had to go to the tent beyond the left field foul line to watch. Others stood along the sides outside the field to catch a glimpse.
Some fans had to sit atop the home side's dugout in order to see Caminiti at work.
"I think it's all about the teamwork, and the preparation," Caminiti said about knocking off the Nevada giant. "We're a really good team and we're here to stay. It was a good statement game. We're ready."
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: Saguaro's pitcher Cam Caminiti quiets nationally ranked Bishop Gorman
