Knights Take Game One Behind Nachman’s Shutout

Game one between Arizona College Prep and Canyon del Oro did not need a big offensive explosion. It needed one clean inning, steady defense, and a pitcher willing to own the moment.

Arizona College Prep found its opening in the third inning, pushing across two runs to break a scoreless game and give the Knights the only cushion they would need. From there, the matchup settled into a postseason grind, with every baserunner carrying weight and every out feeling bigger than the last.

The Knights finished with seven hits, led by CJ Estrella, who went 2-for-4 and scored a run. C. Groppenbacher added a double and scored, while Clayton Nachman helped his own cause with an RBI single. Ashton Sanchez, A. Longfellow, and Ryan O’Donnal also added hits for Arizona College Prep, with Sanchez adding a stolen base to keep pressure on the Dorados.

Canyon del Oro battled to stay within reach and got a strong offensive effort from Regen Mazura, who went 2-for-2 and reached base throughout the game. Gatlin Geile added the Dorados’ other hit, but Arizona College Prep kept the damage contained and never allowed Canyon del Oro to break through on the scoreboard.

On the mound, Nachman delivered the story of the game. The senior threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits over seven innings while striking out three. Even when Canyon del Oro put runners on, Nachman stayed composed, worked through traffic, and trusted the defense behind him.

Canyon del Oro also got a strong pitching effort from Mazura, who threw six innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, and struck out 10. Peyton Carson added one scoreless inning, giving the Dorados a chance to stay close until the final out.

But in a game where runs were rare, Arizona College Prep’s two-run third inning stood tall. The Knights paired timely offense with a clean defensive performance and a complete-game shutout to take game one of the semifinal series, 2–0.