Salpointe improved to 7-2 overall and 3-0 in division play after taking care of Sabino 10-0 in five innings on Thursday. The loss dropped the Sabercats to 1-1 in division games.

The Lancers are coming off of one of their best campaigns ever with 27 wins and an extra-inning loss to Tucson in the Division II semifinal round. Gone are MLB prospects Jio Orozco (Seattle) and Donny Sands (Yankees) but head coach Danny Preble (159-69) appears to have reloaded for another post-season run.

Salpointe lost to Cienega in the championship of the Cowboy Up Tournament two weeks ago but the loss seems to have woken up the bats resulting in three straight wins with a scoring margin of 29 to 4.

Sabino (3-7, 2-4) started out the season with a big win over Catalina Foothills in the Cowboy Up Tourney but the Sabercats have been unable to ride any momentum since. But, with 13 seniors and two juniors on the Sabercat roster this year, the obvious experience should start producing for third-year coach Kelly Johnson.

Branden Hance (3-0) took the mound for the Lancers and he held the Sabercats scoreless despite giving up six hits including three in the top of the fifth to load the bases with one out.  

Zach Bigelow singled up the middle with one out to get things started for Sabino and Jacob Campbell followed with a hit to right field. Max Christoff singled to left to load the bases and Carlos Rico came up with a shot to right field that appeared to be deep enough to score Bigelow but Alex Diaz caught the fly in right and threw home to double off the runner at home to end the threat.

Salpointe scored two runs in the second, four in the third and four in the bottom of the fifth for the win. Coming up big at the plate for the Lancers were Robby Campillo, Efrain Cervantes, Adrian Martinez and Jose Osete.

Campillo went 3-3 with two doubles and an RBI; Cervantes went 3-3 with a double and 3 RBIs;  Martinez went 2-3 with a double and an RBI and Osete finished 2-3. Ryan Sweetman also had an RBI double.

Christoff and Rico saw pitching action for Sabino.

The Lancers will be hosting the Lancer Classic next week and Sabino will be one of 22 teams taking part.