Ellenbrook’s arm lifts Palo Verde

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 4, 2001 | 9:40 a.m.

Spencer Patterson

Just one pitch into Thursday's Northwest Division baseball title showdown between Centennial and Palo Verde, it looked like the Panthers could be in for a long day.

Bulldog leadoff hitter Josh Wheeler pounced on the first offering from Palo Verde ace Larry Ellenbrook and sent it high over the left-field wall, giving the visitors an early lead.

But Ellenbrook bounced right back, striking out the side and rolling from there, allowing just two hits after the first inning to spearhead a 12-2 Palo Verde victory.

"That's baseball. It's not the first home run I've given up, and it's not going to be the last," said Ellenbrook, who upped his season record to 8-2. "I just had to focus on the batters and not let that bother me."

Ellenbrook also got plenty of help from his offense. Palo Verde (19-9, 7-1 Northwest) broke open a 2-2 game in the fifth inning, plating seven runs and chasing Bulldogs' starter Justin Wetzler from the mound.

Eric Newman's bases-loaded single brought home the first two runs to get things started in the fifth. An error and a hit batter loaded the bases again, and after Trevor Ehlers singled home Newman, Mark Aznarez's three-run double put the hosts in command 9-2.

"We saw the same pitcher (Wetzler) last time we faced them, and I think that helped," Panthers coach Mike Besser said. "We've been hitting the ball well for two solid weeks now."

Palo Verde put the game away in the sixth, invoking the 10-run rule on a two-run triple by Newman (3-for-4, four RBIs) and an RBI single by Ryan Bonnot.

Ellenbrook finished with a complete-game four-hitter, striking out seven batters and walking none. Justin Newman had three hits, as did Ehlers, who singled, doubled and tripled.

With the win, the Panthers claim their first division title, earning a top seed for next weekend's 4A Sunset Region Tournament. Centennial (21-10, 5-3) will go in as one of two No. 2 seeds in the eight-team event.

"Our first goal at the beginning of the year was a division championship and following that was 20 wins," Besser said. "You want to be playing your best ball at the end of the season, and I think we're doing that. I like our chances."