Arcadia’s baseball team hasn’t given up. With a big upset of number-one ranked Notre Dame on Thursday, the Titans moved themselves a few steps closer to a playoff spot.

The victory, a 5-4 thriller that came down to the final out, vaulted Arcadia into the number-17 spot in the AIA’s 4A-II power rankings. The top 16 teams make the playoffs.

Coconino currently holds the number-16 spot, a quarter of a point ahead of the Titans.

The big win over the Saints did more than move Arcadia up a couple of spots in the rankings, though. It boosted the team’s confidence and proved they could play with any team in the division.

Earlier in the season, the young team (they have five sophomores and one freshman on the roster) lost several close ballgames due to sloppy defensive play and an inability to hit in the clutch. However, the boys learned from the process and matured as the season wore on, as evidenced by Thursday’s victory.

Junior starter Thomas Schellhardt bent but did not break against the power-packed Saints’ lineup and benefited from a great catching performance by Eddie Lyon and a few double plays turned by his infield.

The Titans also received a bevy of clutch hits, including four singles by leadoff man Jake MacWilliam and the go-ahead two-RBI double by freshman DH Max Schuman.

Arcadia head coach Ken Rudolph said even the Notre Dame coaches noted the improved Arcadia lineup since the two teams’ last met, a 9-4 Saints victory on March 25.

ATH for Tuesday:

With only a few weeks left before the postseason begins, the Greenway Demons and the Mohave Thunderbirds find themselves locked in a tight battle for the number-one seed in the 4A-II softball division.

As of Sunday, the Demons (14-0) held the top spot with an AIA power-point average of 91.1389. However, on the legs of a strong schedule earlier in the season, the Thunderbirds (12-1) trail Greenway by less than a point at 90.5.

If Greenway can remain undefeated on the season, they should have the one seed locked up. But if the Thunderbirds manage to take over first place, the Demons regular-season finale against Sunrise Mountain could prove to be a pivotal matchup. A victory over the 4A-1 foe would most likely vault Greenway out of Mohave's reach.

Mohave has no more top-tier opponents on the schedule, so the team cannot hope to secure first place on the strength of a few late victories over highly ranked opponents.

The Thunderbirds do have a double-header against number-13 Sinagua on Thursday. If the Thunderbirds hope to stay in contention for number one, they will have to handle Sinagua in addition to defeating the lesser opponents on the schedule.

If Mohave has any chance of passing Greenway, they will need junior Shelby Johnson to continue dominating at the plate. She has an OBP of .529 and is batting .492 with seven homers, 12 doubles and 19 RBI.

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