Pumas season ends in second round; five players earn honors
The varsity baseball team fought hard all year, wrapping their season with a 16-13 record and a second-round exit of the 6A playoffs.
Third-year head coach Damien Tippett said the 2018 team was “one of the most fun teams” he had ever coached. He noted that the Pumas were “tough and resilient.”
Perry won its opening round game against Tucson, 3-1, behind a 7-strike out performance from ace Ty Pohlmann and timely RBIs from seniors Logan Schwenke and JT Urbanek.
Winning that game sent PHS across town to Mountain Ridge, where they had a rematch of an early-season win over the Mountain Lions – and arguably the best pitcher in America, Matthew Liberatore. Earlier in the year Pohlmann and the Pumas out-lasted MRHS in a 2-1 pitcher’s duel.
Perry jumped on top of Liberatore, 2-0 after a Max Johansen home run, but PHS couldn’t hold on and fell 9-4, ending their season.
Five Pumas earned spots on the All Premier Region team, and three on the All CUSD team.
Pohlmann and shortstop Matty Brown were first team in both, and Schwenke, Caden Christopherson, Johansen and Trenton Pallas earned second team and honorable mention, respectively.
“I attribute this success to my teammates for having my back all season and the coaches for pushing me and giving me the opportunity to perform,” Brown said.
Brown and Pohlmann were elected 6A All Stars, and Johansen and Schwenke Academic All Stars.
Asher has been writing for the Precedent since her junior year. She was the assistant sports editor and worked her way up for this year to be the senior...
