(Canyon del Oro's Keith Francis)

Several colleagues, including a professional scout, urged Keith Francis not to take the Canyon del Oro baseball job when it opened up before this season started.

The parents are bound to put a lot of pressure on Francis, the coach was told.

Francis took the job anyway, and Tuesday he got to revel in the good decision he made to coach a program he is very familiar with.

In his first season since leaving Canyon del Oro in 2004, Francis once again reached the state championship winner’s circle. But Francis wasn’t on the field celebrating with his team after Canyon del Oro got the final out in the 3-1 Division II title victory over rival Tucson.

The veteran coach was alone in the home dugout at Tempe Diablo Stadium, soaking it all in. For Francis, the players deserve all of the credit for the program’s 8^th state championship, not the coach.

“I wanted them to enjoy it,” said Francis as to why he stayed back. “They’ve wanted it (title) so much, especially that senior class. It’s all about them anyway. It ain’t about me. I’m too old.”

The 65 year old ended this season just like his first season at Canyon del Oro — with a state title.

In 2000, when former Canyon del Oro coach Kent Winslow stepped down, Francis took over and guided the program to a championship as well. Francis used to coach at Central Missouri State University and Missouri Maple Woods Community College, where he coached major leaguer Albert Pujols for one season, before his first stint at Canyon del Oro.

He then moved to Tucson to retire, but couldn’t stay away from baseball. After he left Canyon del Oro in 2004, Francis went back to college, coaching at Pima Community College and at University of Arizona as an assistant before Canyon del Oro came calling again.

Francis has been blessed with talent at Canyon del Oro also, having coached major leaguers Ian Kinsler and Brian Anderson. This year, he was handed the keys to a team that is presently ranked No. 4 in the national rankings of maxpreps.

Canyon del Oro defeated a Tucson program that still leads the nation with 29 baseball titles and is coached by a good friend of Francis, Oscar Romero. This wasn't the frist time the two friends faced off during a state championship with the same teams.

In 2002, Canyon del Oro defeated Tucson 8-6 for the Class 5A state trophy. 

On Tuesday, Tucson started a freshman, George Arias, the son of a former major leaguer, on the mound and was effective during his four innings of work, allowing just four singles, despite only having pitched three innings on varsity this season prior to Tuesday's start. 

Tucson had the tying run at second and the winning run at home in the seventh inning. But the game ended when the runner at third was tagged out at home while attempting to score after the ball squirted away from the catcher.

Seven of Canyon del Oro’s starters nine seniors started Tuesday. Those seniors along with their teammates finished the year 33-2.

“I enjoyed coaching and teaching them,” Francis said.

And the parents?

They were great, Francis added.

No word yet on whether Francis will step down after this year — and if he’ll return in a couple of years again.

Note

Canyon del Oro’s graduation ceremony was held Tuesday, the same day the school’s baseball team won the state championship.

The nine seniors on the team didn’t get to walk with their graduating class, but that didn’t keep them from wearing their caps and gowns after Tuesday’s game.

The parents of the players placed the caps and gowns on top of the home dugout during the game, and after the game the players wore their green graduation garb to pose for photos behind home plate at Tempe Diablo.

The seniors:

Nicholas Ames

Gabriel Benavides

Anthony Felix

Austin France

Adam Hoyos

Hayden May

Erick Migueles

Max Smith

Nate Soriano