#6 Corona Del Sol Shocks & Run-Rules #2 Casteel 15-3

The 2025 6A state championship rematch saw the Corona Del Sol Aztecs defeat the Casteel Colts 15-3 in five innings. 

Even though it was a massive game for both teams, Corona Del Sol head coach Dave Webb made sure his team treated it like any other game.

“We tried not to play it up, honestly,” Webb said. “We knew we played them in the state championship (in 2025), they’re a fantastic team. We just played our game.”

Seeming like it was any other game, Corona Del Sol would get things going at the top of the first inning. 

Opening up the game, senior first baseman Kellan Tom was walked.

Tom would then get help from junior infielder Colton Floyd, who hit a single and advanced Tom to third base.

Scoring the first RBI of the contest was senior outfielder Parker Williams, who hit a single and helped Tom reach home plate. 

Casteel would struggle at the bat in the first inning. 

Having a great outing on the mound was Corona Del Sol junior pitcher Conor Rae, who didn’t allow the Colts to get any momentum in the first inning. 

In the second inning, neither team could get much going, and the score remained the same. 

The Aztecs score another run at the top of the third inning.

Floyd, who is one of the best power hitters on Corona Del Sol, smashed a ball to deep left field to get an RBI double. 

Scoring the run for the Aztecs was once again Tom. 

Heading into the bottom of the third, Corona Del Sol led 2-0. 

After failing to get a run in the first two innings, Casteel tied the game up in the bottom of the 3rd.

Getting the game going for the Colts was Casteel senior outfielder Ryan Harwood, who hit a ball to deep centerfield for an RBI double. 

Scoring the run was Casteel junior shortstop Baylor Denny. 

The next at bat, Casteel junior infielder Blake Gonzales hit an RBI single to bring Harwood to home plate. 

At the end of three innings, the game was tied at two apiece. 

The Aztecs would start to take over the game in the fourth inning. 

From the jump, Corona Del Sol dominated the inning as they got the bases fully loaded with only one out. 

Rae was up next to bat and was hit by a pitch, which allowed Corona Del Sol junior infielder Maddon DelaCruz to score a run. 

With bases still loaded, the Aztecs scored another run off a walk. 

This time, it was Corona Del Sol senior outfielder Santi Morales who was walked, allowing Corona Del Sol junior outfielder Quinton Griffin to score the run.

The runs wouldn’t stop there. 

Corona Del Sol junior outfielder Ben Jacobus hit an RBI single and brought Rae in for the run. 

The Colts didn’t help themselves either, as they had a wild pitch which allowed Morales to steal home plate and score another run for the Aztecs.

Capping off the inning for the Aztecs was Williams, who was walked with bases fully loaded and allowed Jacobus to score the run. 

Just like that, Corona Del Sol held a 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. 

Due to a throwing error by the Aztecs, the Colts were able to score a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

Scoring the run was Casteel senior Keegan Goddard, who stole home plate. 

After the immaculate fourth inning by Corona Del Sol, the fifth was even better. 

Helping extend the Aztecs' lead, Rae would get a ball to roll out to left field and get a two-RBI double. 

Scoring on the play for Corona Del Sol were Morales and Griffin. 

Up next to the plate was Tom, who hit a ball over the bases for an RBI double and allowed Rae to score from second base.

The next at bat would be the play of the game and the dagger of the contest.  

Floyd, who was intentionally walked in the previous inning, squared up a ball and launched it well over 380 feet over the centerfield wall for a two-run homer. 

Before the top of the fifth inning was over, the Aztecs still piled onto their lead. 

Morales hit a two-RBI single to get Corona Del Sol junior first baseman Gabe Becho-Garcia and DelaCruz safely to home plate. 

If there is one thing you can count on when it comes to the Aztecs is that they will always find a way to put the ball in play.

“We do not strike out, we hate striking out,” Webb said. “Good stuff happens when you swing the bat and put the ball in play.”

Out of nowhere, it seemed Corona Del Sol held a 15-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. 

To avoid the mercy rule, Casteel needed to score at least three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

However, Rae, who had a spectacular day at the plate and on the mound, would close the game up for the Aztecs. 

Not allowing any runs in the fifth, Corona Del Sol would bring back home a 15-3 win over Casteel in only five innings. 

Even though it was a dominant win for Corona Del Sol over one of the best teams in Arizona, it was just another win for them.

“It’s just another win to be honest,” Rae said. “I feel like, as a team, we competed really well.”

Now on a four-game winning streak, the Aztecs will aim to finish out their last five regular-season games strong and go for back-to-back 6A titles. 

“Trying to win back-to-back state championships, that’s our goal this year,” Rae said. “Just win, do anything we can.” 

Next up: 16-5, Corona Del Sol will look to keep their winning streak alive when they take on 11-9 Sunnyslope. 16-4 Casteel will look to get back in the win column when they take on 5-10 Perry.

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