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After giving up three runs on five hits in the first inning, it looked like it was going to be a long night for pitcher Cameron Bergloff.
But he's been there before. Starting his fourth consecutive 3A championship game on the mound, Bergloff cruised through the next five innings, helping No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian beat No. 2 Yuma Catholic 6-5 for the state baseball title on Monday, May 18, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Junior Ryan Sanchez hugged Bergloff as he came off the mound and took the ball with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh. After throwing a wild pitch that scored a run and seeing another run score on an error that cut it to 6-5, Sanchez struck out two batters to get out of a jam and preserve Valley Christian's third consecutive 3A title.
It was the first time in Arizona high school baseball history that a 3A team won three state titles in a row.
Outfielder Brock Jackson was named the AIA MVP for his three hits, an RBI, three stolen bases and two outstanding defensive plays.
"I just trusted my stuff, trusted my team," Bergloff said. "I've been there many times. I believe in my team."
Bergloff was the winning pitcher in each of the last three state championship games. He was the starting pitcher as a freshman in the 2023 championship game, losing to Phoenix Northwest Christian 4-2.
The last two title games were 11-1 (2024) and 6-0 (2025) wins over Yuma Catholic, with Bergloff in total command.
"Hats off to Yuma Catholic," Valley Christian coach Vince LaGatta said. "They battled the whole game. (Pitcher Hiram) Silva has been a great arm for them. We faced him early in the year. He's going to be a great college pitcher. He had enough velo on his fastball and off-speed stuff that kept us off balance today.
"We just had to get through the storm early on."
Silva retired six of the first seven batters he faced before Valley Christian (24-4) scored three runs in the third, two of them on deep sacrifice flies by Nate Danzeisen and Sanchez.
The Trojans scored three more runs in the fourth, all of those unearned. Two errors led to the runs scoring. No. 9 batter Will Waggoner drove in the third run of the inning with a single that made it 6-3.
"We didn't get too high or too low," LaGatta said. "We kept our emotions in check."
LaGatta said the roots of this 3A baseball dynasty started eight years ago under then-coach Damon Gilliland, who brought LaGatta on staff to help change the culture. The 2019 team lost only three games, falling to Northwest Christian in the state playoffs.
"This is the fruit of our labor, to be quite honest," LaGatta said. "We've been very fortunate. We're very blessed. We're thankful that the Lord blessed us today and we got it done at the end."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up for Azcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Valley Christian captures 3rd straight 3A baseball title
Continue reading...
But he's been there before. Starting his fourth consecutive 3A championship game on the mound, Bergloff cruised through the next five innings, helping No. 1 Chandler Valley Christian beat No. 2 Yuma Catholic 6-5 for the state baseball title on Monday, May 18, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Junior Ryan Sanchez hugged Bergloff as he came off the mound and took the ball with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh. After throwing a wild pitch that scored a run and seeing another run score on an error that cut it to 6-5, Sanchez struck out two batters to get out of a jam and preserve Valley Christian's third consecutive 3A title.
It was the first time in Arizona high school baseball history that a 3A team won three state titles in a row.
Outfielder Brock Jackson was named the AIA MVP for his three hits, an RBI, three stolen bases and two outstanding defensive plays.
"I just trusted my stuff, trusted my team," Bergloff said. "I've been there many times. I believe in my team."
Bergloff was the winning pitcher in each of the last three state championship games. He was the starting pitcher as a freshman in the 2023 championship game, losing to Phoenix Northwest Christian 4-2.
The last two title games were 11-1 (2024) and 6-0 (2025) wins over Yuma Catholic, with Bergloff in total command.
"Hats off to Yuma Catholic," Valley Christian coach Vince LaGatta said. "They battled the whole game. (Pitcher Hiram) Silva has been a great arm for them. We faced him early in the year. He's going to be a great college pitcher. He had enough velo on his fastball and off-speed stuff that kept us off balance today.
"We just had to get through the storm early on."
Silva retired six of the first seven batters he faced before Valley Christian (24-4) scored three runs in the third, two of them on deep sacrifice flies by Nate Danzeisen and Sanchez.
The Trojans scored three more runs in the fourth, all of those unearned. Two errors led to the runs scoring. No. 9 batter Will Waggoner drove in the third run of the inning with a single that made it 6-3.
"We didn't get too high or too low," LaGatta said. "We kept our emotions in check."
LaGatta said the roots of this 3A baseball dynasty started eight years ago under then-coach Damon Gilliland, who brought LaGatta on staff to help change the culture. The 2019 team lost only three games, falling to Northwest Christian in the state playoffs.
"This is the fruit of our labor, to be quite honest," LaGatta said. "We've been very fortunate. We're very blessed. We're thankful that the Lord blessed us today and we got it done at the end."
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up for Azcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Valley Christian captures 3rd straight 3A baseball title
Continue reading...
