This article was taken from Extra Innings, the BCA Newsletter. Austin Yount was the 2003 BCA-Baseball Factory Rookie of the Year. Baseball Factory wishes him the best of luck in his high school season.

Scottsdale, AZ – Chaparral High won the 2004 Cleats National Invitational at Horizon High, and the Firebirds’ Austin Yount came within one out of a perfect game in the championship game.

Brett Manning hit a seventh inning two strike double to end Yount’s perfect game.

Yount and his teammates dominated Boulder (CO) 11-0.

“He made only 75 pitches and had only three outfield files,” said Chaparral Coach Jerry Dawson.

Yount struck out seven and had only one 3-2 count.

The Junior SS-RHP continues to lead Chaparral’s offense with his .453 season average. HE had six doubles, a triple, two home runs and 25 RBI as the Firebirds won 14 of their 16 games.

With Yount blanking Boulder, Ryan Davis took charge of the Chaparral offense. Davis had a triple and double with a pair of RBI.

Host Horizon collected 14 hits to defeat Yucaipa (CA) 11-6 for third place.

Nick Lowery tossed a seven hitter and had three hits and three RBI and Mike Acosta had four hits including two doubles and two RBI for horizon.

Kent Walton and Jeff Dunbar each had two hits for Yucaipa. Dunbar was seven-for-15 with three home runs in five games.

Lowery was named the Most Valuable Player in the tourney. In addition to being the winning pitcher in the third place game, he batted .625 with 10 hits (four doubles and two triples), scored eight runs, stole four bases and drove in 10.

The Best Pitcher Award went to Yount.

Paradise Valley’s Josh Lucas was named the Best Offensive Player as he hit .800 drove in 12 runs and hit three home runs.

Yucaipa SS Jesse Gill was the Golden Glove recipient for his outstanding defensive play. 

The all-tourney team: Chaparral: Ryan Weimer; Davis and Yount; Horizon: David Bluth, Acosta and Lowery; Yucaipa: Mario Lutz, Walton and Dunbar; Boulder: Ricky Thomas, Josh Kupfner and Manning; Paradise Valley: Sean Malinger and Lucas; Canyon Del Oro: C.J. Zeigler; Salpointe: A.J. DeRosa; Ironwood: Joe O’Toole; Eagle (ID): Joe Southers; Brighton: Chris Hathaway and Kyle Michael; and Brophy Prep: Braden Wells.