The AZ Prospects used two big innings Sunday to defeat the AZ Prowlers 7-4 for the 14u Nations Arizona Baseball Classic championship at Red Mountain Baseball Park.

The Prospects scored three runs in the first and four in the fourth, but the Prowlers drew first blood in the top of the first inning with three runs off Prospects starter Mike Hampton.

Lead-off batter Rafael Rios reached on an error but was thrown out trying to steal second. Bryce Johnson walked, Greg Saenz singled and Frank Smerekanich laced a ball to left field for an RBI single. Tyler Vanderham drilled a ball to the fence in left-center for a two-RBI triple, staking the Prowlers to an early advantage.

The Prospects bounced back with three in the bottom half of the frame. After an out, Michael Mueller and Ryan Mejia tagged two balls to the outfield for singles, setting up a two-RBI triple by Brody Kilgore that dropped into the gap in left-center and rolled to the wall. Mark Lange laid down a perfect bunt on the first pitch, scoring Kilgore to tie the game.

“The momentum swung right back in our favor after we rallied [to tie the game] in the bottom of the first,” Prospects coach Matt Lange said. “We got down early to a very good team, and we knew we had to go out there and steal the momentum. We wanted to show some fight after a bad start.”

The game remained tied until the third, when the Prowlers tacked on a run to take the lead on an RBI single by Fred Smerekanich. The ball hit the pitcher Hampton in the foot and took a high bounce over second base into center. Hampton was not injured from the play and stayed in the game. He would not surrender another run the rest of the day.

The Prospects took control in the fourth. Mark Lange tripled and scored when the centerfielder dropped a shallow pop-up with one out. Three batters later and with runners on first and second, the Prospects once again benefited from an error. Chase Thompson hit a line drive through the middle of the infield that went through the centerfielder’s legs. Both baserunners scored and Thompson landed at third base. Devin Crews doubled Thompson home to stake the Prospects to a 7-4 lead.

Prospects relief pitcher Erik DeLeon pitched two innings to preserve the victory, notching two strikeouts and allowing only two hits. The Prowlers threatened in the seventh with runners at first and second and nobody out, but the next three batters failed to capitalize.

“What more can you say about our two pitchers today,” Lange said. “They were outstanding. [Hampton] didn't get off to the start he wanted to, but he composed himself and didn't get down on himself.”

Hampton was the pitcher of record twice in the tournament, beating the Prowlers both times.

The Prospects integrated seven new players onto the team in this tournament, Lange said.

“We have only five guys from the old team, so it took a game to get these players to mesh,” he said. “They trust each other already, and the chemistry is good for this team.”