Tolleson High School: Info
Sunday, August 12Summer Leagues
This summer Wolverine baseball players had the opportunity to compete in American Legion Baseball. Unfortunately we were only able to field one team, an A team. The Legion team had a great summer posting a record of 24-14 and missing the state tournament by one game, and being knocked out by eventual state champ , Ironwood. The team played in 2 tournaments over the summer, a round robin type of tournament in Hobbs,NM where the team went 1-4 but played very well. Losing to a Stan Musial team made up of all college players, and a perrineal TX powerhouse, Andrews,TX. The other tournament was the Mustang Classic held at Sunrise Mountain HS. The team went 2-3 there as well.
2003 Stats Now Posted
Go to the Handout section and click on the category that you wish to observe.
Thursday, March 21
Wolverines Win 2002 Spring Classic Tournament
In dramatic fashion, the TUHS Wolverine Baseball team beat two top ten teams (Moon Valley and Greenway) on consecutive nights in two totally different ways. On Tuesday the Wolver pups got a super pitching performance from staff ace Ernie Capono. Ernie hurled a complete game on 71 pitches while surrendering 4 hits, and walking only one. The pups were able to scratch out two runs in the top of the seventh on a 2 out rbi single by Mark Spradlin, Ernie took care of the rest in the bottom of the seventh. The next night it was the offenses turn to shine. The Championship game was played at Grand Canyon College against 3 time defending tourney champ Greenway. This was a slugfest with the teams combining for 27 runs on 27 hits. The pups again won the game in the seventh inning on Mark Spradlin rbi.
Thursday, March 21
5 Wolverines named to Spring Classic All Tournament Team
Five players received honors at the 2002 Spring Classic Baseball Tournament. Catcher Sam Hayden who hit .472, 2 HR, 11 rbi's. Shortstop Lee Schwartz who hit .432 . Designated Hitter Mark Spradlin who hit .439 with two game winning rbi's , 1 HR, and 12 rbi's. Ernie Capono who recorded two wins pitching 14 innings and not giving up a single earned run, 6 hits and 3 total runs. Chris Johnson was placed on the Academic all tournament team with a GPA of 4.35 and ranked forth in his graduating class. The staff congratulates all says keep up the good work.
2002 CLASS 4A WEST VALLEY CHAMPS
The Wolverines clinched the regional championship by sweeping the second half of region play. The Wolverines regional record is 8-2 which is good enough to give them a bye into the championship game of the regional tournament starting on May 1. The Wolverines will play the winner of the Friday night game, on Saturday May 4th at 2:00 PM, for the number 1 seed into the state tournament from the West Valley Region. The last time a Tolleson team won a region title was 1990. Not only have the Wolverines baseball bunch wrapped up the regional pennant, they are ranked 3rd in the state of Arizona in class 4A (coaches poll).
WOLVERINES WIN WEST VALLEY REGIONAL TOURNEY
The Wolverines won in grand fashion the 2002 west Valley Regional tournament. Thanks to a 13 run third inning. They now are assured a number 1 seed in the state tournament, and will host the opening round to be played on Tuesday May 7th at 7:00 pm.
WOLVERINES LOSE OPENING ROUND OF STATE TOURNEY
The Wolverines couldn't overcome a great pitching performance from Greenway junior Kris Alford. His pitching combined with 5 Tolleson errors made it tough to mount much of a threat for the home team. Tolleson pitcher Ernie Capono kept the Demons in check most of the time, but even Ernie was not at the top of his game. The lone offensive highlight for the Wolverines was catcher Sam Haydens two run opposite field blast in the first inning. Capono did help his own cause by going 3 for 3 at the dish. The Greenway Demons will advance to the state quarterfinals and face Prescott at Papago Park at 4:15 pm.
WOLVERINES PICK UP POST SEASON HONORS
After a 23-8 season it is only obvious that there will be some post season awards coming the Wolverines direction.
4A West Valley All-region Selections
Sam Hayden - Player of the Year
First Team Selections
Lee Schwartz
Ernie Capono
Devin Mowery
Scond Team Selections
Robert Kepner
Mark Spradlin
Armando Pina
Honorable Mention
Manny Estupinan
West Valley Coach of the Year
Coach Richardson
Sam Hayden was also chosen first team all-state catcher, while Ernie Capono was voted second team all-state pitcher. Both of these young men were also selected to play in the north-south all-star game for the south team, which will be coached by Coach Richardson and his staff. The all-star game will be played June 7th at Grand Canyon University at 7:00 pm.
Sunday, September 8
FALL BALL UNDERWAY !
The Wolverine Baseball Players have started their 4th year of fall baseball and their third year in the Northwest Valley Fall League. The Wolverines currently have 55 players involved in fall ball making up three teams. The C Team plays their games on Thurdsy nights and is currently 4-0. The B team plays mostly on the weekends and is 2-2-1 thus far on the young fall season. The A team is 4-0 so far and is participating in the Mustang Fall Festival on Oct. 4-5. The Wolverines will help host this tournament, and on Sat. will play all their games at home, Sundays schedule will depend on the seeding from Saturdays games. The Wolverine baseball players lift weights 4 days a week after school then go to the field for workouts to work on fundamentals of all aspects of the game.
Thursday, October 2
Fall Schedule Now Posted
Go to Schedule link to see 2003 fall schedules, B&C team schedules to be posted soon.
Wolverines win October Splinterfest and Mustang Fall Tourney
Strong pitching has carried the Wolverines through to the Championship of both fall baseball tournaments that they have participated in so far.In the Mustang Fall Festival the Wolverines were a perfect 4-0 with a win over Millennium in the Championship game. In the October Splinterfest Wood Bat tournament the Wolverines again were a perfect 5-0 while only giving up 4 runs in 5 games and beating Mountain Ridge 5-1 in the championship game.
Wolverines Runner - up at Lake Havasu Superseries Tourney
The Wolverine Fall Ball Team traveled to Lake Havasu, AZ for a National Qualifying Superseries Baseball Tournament the first week in November. They opened up with a loss to tournament host Lake Havasu Stars. Austin Smith pitched 6 strong innings but the Havasu Stars got some big hits off off releiver Brent Fisher in the bottom half of the sixth to mount a come from behind win. The stars prevailed 5-3. In the second game Andy ballman picked up the complete game victory from the Mohave Valley Stars giving up 1 run, and winning 8-1. In the third game of the tournament and of the day, the Wolverined again, drew the Mohave Valley team and again beat them handily behind the strong pitching of sophmore Rene Ramos. The Wolverines won 6-2. That put the Wolverines into the Semi-Finals as the number 4 seed against the number 2 seed, Lake Havasu. The Wolverines beat the host team 6-2 behind some timely hitting and a great mound outing by Fisher. The Championship game was anti climatic with the Wolverines getting trounced by the Las Vegas Metro Stars 10-0. Both Fisher and Ramos were named to the All-Tourney team.
Friday, August 1
2003 Summer Wrap -Up
The Wolverine Baseball Bunch has completed another summer of HOT baseball. Several things have changed; Coach Necaise got married, Coach Manduragga was hired by the Milwaukee Brewers as a strength and conditioning coach in Rookie Ball in Helena, Montana, Coach Lara is back with the team, Coach Gladieux and Martin have started their own program in the Dysart District (good luck), Coach Actons golf game has fallen apart, and Coach Richardson is still pursuing a career as a male swim suit model (not a pretty thought). As a team the Wolverines posted a record of 17-9-3 and were able to accomplish much in the way of team building and giving the guys a chance to work on some individual skills. Individually several of the Wolverines had a busy summer. Brent Fisher was selected to compete for the Arizona Junior Sunbelt team in a national tournament in Oklahoma. Brent was one of only 3 sophomores on the junior team, although Brent probably didn't get as much playing time as he would have liked it was a great experience for him, and a good measuring stick for him to see where he is compared to some of the best younger players in the country. Both Brent and Arron Capono played for the Rocky Mountain Baseball Academy in the Junior Olympic Tournament in Tucson. Both Tolleson boys represented the Maroon and Gold in stellar fashion. Brent pitched outstanding against a top team from California. He threw a total of 9 innings in the tourney and gave up one earned run, he also was 16 for 26 at the plate in the 7 game tournament. Arron got the first win of the tournament on the bump in relief, he pitched a total of 5 innings and did not allow an earned run. Arron was 7 for 16 at the plate as well. Congrats to those young men and keep up the good work. The Wolverines had 4 players placed on all tournament teams for the summer tournament series up north. All were more than deserving; Andy Ballman, Edgar Alvarez, Marco Rascon, and Austin Smith. The summer season is an invaluable part of the entire season, it gives players a chance to work on certain aspects of the game without the pressure of stats or wins and losses. It prepares younger players for varsity caliber baseball and gives injured players a chance to work their way back into playing shape. Summer ball is where a players skills will improve more than any other time of the year, and those that participated in summer ball will be way ahead of the game when the Wolverines step up with the big boys of 5-A in 2004. Good luck.
Friday, April 30
WOLVERINES IN 3-WAY TIE FOR REGION TITLE
After a strong finish by the wolverine baseball team they find themselves in a 3-way tie for first place going into the Desert West Regional tournament. To settle the tie Tolleson, Ironwood, and Sunrise Mountain will engage in a playoff format yet to be decided. Tolleson will play Sunrise at 2:00 PM at Peoria High School on Saturday May 1 to decide who will play Ironwood in the 4:00 PM game and a number 1 seeding in the Regional tournament, as well as an automatic state tournament birth. Ironwood won the draw earlier in the year to determine who will get the bye game. The Regional tournament will take place at the Peoria Sports complex from May 3 through the 5th. Kingman will play Peoria at 3:00 PM then the loser of Saturdays playoff game will play Westview at 6:CPM.
Monday, May 10
WOLVERINES RETURN TO STATE TOURNAMENT FOR 3rd YEAR IN A ROW
For the third consecutive year the Wolverine Baseball bunch posted a 20+ win season and earned a trip to the 5A state tournament. The Wolverines shared the Desert West region title and earned a third seed heading into the state tournament. After going 2-1 in the regional tournament the Wolverines will head to Mesa to take on Mesa Dobson at their school. Dobson will be the host because they were the #2 seed out of the East Valley Region. Game time will be 4:00 pm.
Wednesday, November 10
Several Wolverines receive post season awards
The 2004 Tolleson Woloverines were well represented in the the Desert West Regional All-tournament team. Brent Fisher was voted Regional Player of the Year as a Junior. Brent is the second Wolverine baseball player to receive the award in three years (Sam Hayden 2002). Brent was also named on the AZBCA All-State First Team as a pitcher, as well as being selected for the second year to represent Tolleson and the state of AZ on the AZBCA Arizona Sun Belt Team. The team will compete in June in McAllister, OK. Both Brent and Coach Scott Richardson were named Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, respectivly, for the West Valley by the Arizona Republic and the West Valley View. Edgar Alvarez was place on the first team all region team, while Arron Capono and Austin Smith were placed on the second team. Daniel Guevara received honorable mention with the region coaches. Marcos Valdez was named to the Desert West All-Academic Team.
Wednesday, May 19
Wolverines Get Bounced from State Tourney
For the third straight year the Wolverine Baseball team qualified for the state tournamnet, and for the third straight year they lost in the opening round. Tolleson lost to Dobson High in the first round of the state tournament by a score of 3-1. Brent Fisher was the tough luck loser and the recipient of little run support. The Wolverines end the season with a 23-10 overall record and tie the school record for wins in a season.