Yuma baseball secures region final with win over Tempe
Yuma dominates Tempe and claims their second straight region title.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Jaime Ruelas had three RBIs to lead the Yuma Criminals to a 15-1 over the Tempe Buffaloes on Wednesday at Doan Field at Curley Culp Memorial Stadium.
No. 6 Yuma moves to 13-1 and claims their second consecutive Black Canyon Region title. No. 45 Tempe falls to 3-13.
"It's all playing for the guy next to you and a lot of guys that put in the hard work year round," Yuma head coach Nick Johnson. "You create a culture that where they're all bought in."
In the first inning the Criminals got right to work, putting up four runs. Tempe responded scoring their lone run of the ball game in the second when they walked with the bases loaded. The Criminals would score two runs in the third and fifth, as well as six in the fourth to run away with the 15-1 victory by mercy rule.
For Yuma, Cesar Anaya got the win on the mound.
Ruelas went 3 for 4 with the 3 RBIs.
Kevin Garcia went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs.
Last season, Yuma rallied off a 12 game win-streak to finish the regular season. They claimed a spot in the play-in, but lost to Bradshaw Mountain. However, last season's momentum carried into 2025.
"What it did last year for us is it teaches you how to win baseball games," Johnson said. "It was a learning experience to go out there and see they're good enough to do it. All of a sudden after that win streak last year they started to believe it."
The Criminals are currently ranked No. 6 in 4A by the AIA. The top eight teams will skip the play-in and will host a playoff game in the round of 16. With today's victory, the Criminals are firmly in the drivers seat to host a playoff game. It would be the first time that Yuma would host a playoff game since 2011.
"It would mean a lot to me because I played baseball here," Johnson said. "We bleed blue here and it's so ingrained in the community. It would be great for the community, as well as well as for us."
Yuma will finish the regular season against Desert Sunrise on Thursday, then against Kofa next Monday.
