This article was taken from Extra Innings, the BCA newsletter. Austin Yount was named the BCA-Baseball Factory Rookie of the Year in 2003.

Tuscon, AZ – Chaparral High (31-2) successfully defended its Arizona 4A championship with a 9-3 victory over Catalina Foothills (26-5).

Junior SS-RHP Austin Yount, who seems to be at his best when the pressure is on, came through with another strong pitching effort to end the season with a 7-1 record. 

Yount, the BCA-Baseball Factory Rookie of the Year last season, had a 360-foot two-run home run in Chaparral’s 10-0, five inning win over Prescott in the semifinal game.

Coach Jerry Dawson went with Yount after undefeated junior left-hander Ike Davis was forced to pitch the final five outs against Prescott when starter Greg Abram reinjured his knee. Davis had thrown almost 100 pitches earlier in the week in a second round win over Bradshaw Mountain.

Yount allowed seven hits and two runs while striking out four in six innings.

“I just tried to go out there and throw strikes,” he said.  “My defense played awesome behind me.”

Chaparral built a 5-0 lead after five innings. The Firebirds, who have on four state titles in the last six years, scored twice in the first inning when Jeremy Lamell doubled and came home on Ryan Davis double then Davis cored on Ryan Weimar’s single.

Curt Miasco’s infield grounder scored Tim Sherlock for a 3-0 lead in the second.

Davis opened the fifth with a double and Weimar’s triple scored him. Ike Davis singled in Weimar for the 5-0 lead.

Davis was 2-for3 with one RBI and scored three times to lead Chaparral.