Kofa wins first playoff home game since 2016

Kings hang on to beat Jaguars 8-7 in playoff thriller

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Kofa Kings continued their postseason run Thursday night, defeating the Desert Ridge Jaguars 8-7 in a chaotic 6A playoff matchup at Dean Stout Ballpark for the program’s first home playoff victory since 2016.

Kofa jumped out to an early lead and survived a late push from Desert Ridge in a game that featured nine combined errors.

The Kings wasted little time building momentum. Leading 4-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Victor Gonzales lifted a shallow fly ball into left field that dropped between defenders, allowing Julio Reina to score and extend the lead to 5-1.

An inning later, Kofa continued to make plays defensively and offensively. In the top of the third, catcher Josiah Moreno fired a strike to Ozzie Ortiz to catch a Jaguar attempting to steal second base.

Ortiz then delivered at the plate in the bottom half of the inning, drilling a stand-up double deep into the outfield to drive Pedro Cruz in and push the Kings’ advantage to 6-1.

But Desert Ridge answered in the fourth inning after Kofa struggled defensively. A dropped pop fly opened the door for the Jaguars, who capitalized with a four-run inning to cut the deficit to one.

Despite the mistakes, Kofa found ways to respond. The Kings added insurance runs later in the game, including another run that scored on an errant throw.

Desert Ridge threatened again in the seventh inning, but Kofa held on to secure the victory and advance in the 6A bracket.

After the game, Kofa coach Jose Suero said the team’s focus moving forward starts with cleaning up the defense.

“Definitely the defense,” Suero said. “You mentioned there was a lot of errors today. It’s just part that our bodies are tired right now. Bodies are very tired, they keep moving slower, but how I say, whoever stays mentally stronger at the end is gonna win it all.”

Suero also credited the Kings’ pitching staff for keeping the team in games throughout the postseason.

“The last game that we lost, we scored one run, and I was telling them we depend a lot on the pitching,” Suero said. “Our pitching gives us a good chance to win always. If you go back and see all of the games, we don't allow more than two runs for games.”

The coach added that Kofa’s offense responded with a more aggressive mindset at the plate.

“Yesterday and today they approached us like we had to swing the bat,” Suero said. “We had to swing the bat, give us some support to the pitching so the pitching can do the job.”

Suero also praised the team’s trust in one another during tense moments late in the game. One of those moments was when senior Ryan Rosas came in as a closer.

“I always tell the guys, you trust the next guy,” Suero said. “I told Ryan [Rosas] in the bottom of the sixth, ‘Go warm up, you never know what will happen.’ If something happen, you're gong in. I think we're just staying one step ahead.”

With the win, Kofa advances to face the Casteel Colts at 4 p.m. on Saturday as the Kings look to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016.