Saguaro downs Salpointe in 4A baseball tourney behind Cam Caminiti's strong outing
Saguaro left-hander Cam Caminiti was at his usual best Wednesday night, striking out 17 batters and driving in the winning run in a 2-1 victory over Tucson Salpointe at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
"Stuff of legends," coach Joe Muecke said. "Just an awesome performance. Another notch on his belt for what has been a special senior year."
It was Saguaro's third victory in a row in the 4A double-elimination state tournament and put the Sabercats in a good position with great pitching options ahead with a week before their next game.
Caminiti, who is rated as the No. 1 left-handed high school pitcher in the summer draft by MLB, struck out the last 11 batters he faced to let the scouts know he's ready to take the next step in his baseball career.
Caminiti broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with an RBI single.
He improved to 8-0 with an ERA of 0.92. He has struck out 108 in 45⅔ innings.
"We had some big at-bats on offense, one of his singles driving in a run," Muecke said. "The lights went on, he delivered in a big way for the program.
"Job not done but this was a big step in that direction."
After Salpointe tied the score in the fourth with a home run, one of only two hits he surrendered, Caminiti struck out the final 11 batters he faced.
Caminiti is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 17th top draft pick this summer and the No. 1 left-handed high school pitcher.
He lived up to it Wednesday, in the most important game of the season so far for the Sabercats, who improved to 26-3.
With the win, Saguaro doesn't have to play again until next Wednesday. That gives coach Muecke a chance to evaluate his next pitching moves with all three of his aces available to go.
Muecke took a chance by making Caminiti his third starter in this tournament. But his trust in left-hander Cade Shumard and right-hander Billy Gregory proved correct in the first two rounds as they both brought out their best stuff in a 4-0 win over Tucson Sahuaro and an 8-2 win over Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain.
Shumard no-hit Sahuaro, striking out 15. That was followed by Gregory's nine-strikeout performance against Bradshaw Mountain.
Wednesday's performance by Caminiti was reminiscent of an early-season, five-inning no-hitter over Glendale Deer Valley, a game in which he struck out the first 16 batters he faced.
Saguaro could face No. 4 Salpointe again next Wednesday. The Lancers (21-7-1) have to go through an elimination game Saturday at home against No. 5 Flagstaff to get another shot at Saguaro.
By then, Muecke could come back with Caminiti for that game. If Saguaro wins that, then Caminiti could pitch yet again in the May 13 championship game. But he's got all good options, especially with the way Shumard has been pitching.
In the lower half of the brackets, No. 2 and defending state champion Oro Valley Canyon del Oro could be waiting for another title rematch with Saguaro. Canyon del Oro beat No. 2 Goodyear Estrella Foothills 7-4 to reach next Wednesday's winners' bracket round against the winner of the losers' bracket game between Estrella Foothills and American Leadership Queen Creek.
ALA QC, the 11th seed, eliminated Deer Valley 8-1.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cam Caminiti takes over for Saguaro in 4A tourney win over Salpointe
