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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | MARCH 13, 2022
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Valley Christian wins 3A basketball title BY ZACH ALVIRA Sports Editor
Valley Christian was in unfamiliar territory early in the 3A boys basketball state championship game Saturday, Feb. 26 at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans found themselves facing a double-digit deficit against Coolidge at the half. They were being out-rebounded, out-shot and overall, outplayed in the first two quarters of the biggest game of the season. Head coach Greg Haagsma used the long intermission to calm his team down and help them refocus on the fundamentals. It worked. Valley Christian looked like a completely different team led by senior Caleb Shaw as it went on to outscore Coolidge 34-15 in the second half and defeat the Bears 61-56 to capture the 3A title. “We needed a long halftime to regroup and how to rebound better,” Haagsma said. “They were missing shots in the first half, too. They were just rebounding better. We stepped up the pressure a little bit certainly. “They were able to go cold and we were able to play an offense where we got some backdoor cuts, be patient and really attack the glass. Which I think really helped us a lot.” Coolidge jumped all over the Trojans
worn down by Coolidge’s explosive burst of energy early on. But once settled down, the Trojans took over. “We just needed to have more intensity,” Caleb said. “Have more intensity and get after it on defense and rebounding.” Valley Christian went on a 21-6 run in the third quarter, highlighted by its smothering defense, Caleb’s scoring and contributions from 6-foot-3 freshman wing Kyle Grier and Caleb’s younger brother, 6-foot-1 sophomore guard Luke. Grier, one of three freshmen for the Trojans this season, finished with Shaw led the team with 31 points and 10 rebounds, another stellar performance that was needed as 12 points and 7 rebounds. the Trojans trailed throughout the first half before outscoring Coolidge 34-15 in the second half. (Dave It was a quieter night Minton/Arizonan Staff) for Luke, who averages more than 10 points a Coolidge’s ability to not only cash in the first two quarters of play. The game. He capped off the season with a in from beyond the arc but get secduo of Brayden Gant and Belclem 7-point, 4-rebound performance. ond-chance opportunities on the Namegabe caused headaches everyEven as Valley Christian appeared to offensive end helped it quickly build where on the floor and on the glass. have flipped a switch and out-matched a double-digit lead. Valley Christian, Gant finished with a team-high 18 points and 12 rebounds. Namegabe add- aside from the heroics from Caleb and his 19 first-half points, appeared to be ed 16 points and 10 boards of his own. See on pag 32
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With no Cactus League, Innings Fest draws a crowd BY KEVIN REDFERN Cronkite News
The ping of metal bats meeting baseballs in the cages could be heard from blocks away. Fans dusted off their favorite jerseys and memorabilia pieces to be signed by MLB legends as they scarfed down funnel cakes and corn dogs. Sharpies and sunscreen filled up purses and strollers galore. And instead of those metal bats, the sights, sounds and smells coming from Sloan Park, Scottsdale Stadium or any of the other Cactus League ballparks around the Valley, fans amid the MLB lockout fans were getting their fix of spring baseball at Tempe Beach Park two weeks ago when the Innings Festival made its return. After spending a year on hold because of COVID-19, the Innings Festival brought together baseball fans and rock-and-roll diehards, who merged for a two-day festival where MLB legends greeted fans and bands rocked out along Tempe Town Lake. Major League Baseball, and by extension the Cactus League, is still on pause as the league and its players continue collective bargaining negotiations. Many fans who attended Innings Fest said their initial intention was to be at spring training games in addition to experiencing the festival, which is the whole concept of the event.
The Tempe Innings Festival brought together fans of baseball and music and was a welcome event for supporters of a sport that is dealing with a work stoppage that has shut down Spring Training Season in Mesa and the rest of the Valley. (Jim Jacoby/Cronkite News)
After negotiations fell apart March 1, spring training is still on pause and early games in the regular season have been canceled. Evan Thompson and Corbin Clark, both 27 and San Francisco Giants supporters from Northern California, were two of many fans dressed head to toe in their team’s gear. When they purchased
their Innings Fest tickets in October, they hoped to pair the experience with a Giants game during the daytime. “We like Foo Fighters. We like Tame Impala and we like baseball. It’s kind of the trifecta,” Thompson said. “The fans are the ones that are kind of helpless. We don’t really have a say in what’s going on (with the lockout).”
Clark, while also disappointed, expressed interest in meeting Jim Abbott, the New York Yankees’ legend who is largely known for making it as a professional (and throwing a no-hitter) with just one hand. Abbott, who spoke to fans on Sunday, wrote a biography that inspired a young Clark, who is hopeful for a swift conclusion to the league’s negotiations. “I want to see some baseball, I just don’t want to see them compromise on what makes it baseball,” he said. Cactus League games provide a fan-friendly way to engage baseball’s younger audiences through face-toface player interactions that do not break the piggy bank for parents. While the price point for Innings fest was fairly steep at around $150 per day for admission, children of all ages received a similar experience to the ballpark. Of course, there is no shortage of adults – or pricey adult beverages – during spring training, either. In addition to Abbott, MLB Legends Roger Clemens, Kenny Lofton, Rick Sutcliffe and more signed baseballs and made small talk with thousands of fans. Former Diamondbacks’ pitcher Dontrelle Willis also made an appearance. Clemens, 59, won seven Cy Young awards and two World Series titles as See
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