Photos: University of Arizona gets by the Hermosillo Naranjeros 7-1, opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta
The Wildcats waited late to put some distance on Naranjeros, scoring five in the top of the ninth for a 7-1 win in the night cap of the opening night's double header of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024. Jalisco rolled over Obregon 8-1 in the early game.
Arizona’s Maddox Mihalakis, left, comes flying in for the forearm slam with Brendan Summerhill after clouting a solo homer to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead over Hermosillo in the sixth inning of their game in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 3, 2024, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Arizona's Tommy Splaine (20) gets hit by a pitch in the eight inning against Hermosillo on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's Garen Caulfield (1) draws a breath as he stands in the box during his first inning at bat against Hermosillo on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's TJ Adams (23) comes in to snare a sinking liner in the right field gap and keep the Hermosillo runners at first and second in the seventh inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona’s Brendan Summerhill, right, slips around the tag of Hermosillo’s second baseman to swipe the bag in the ninth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.
Arizona’s Garen Caulfield (1) throws to first to retire the Hermosillo batter in the first inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 3, 2024, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Arizona's shortstop Mason White (24) loses the handle on a grounder by Hermosillo's Augustin Murillo allowing the Naranjero batter to reach in the first inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona third baseman Maddox Mihalakis gets a generous hop on a grounder from Hermosillo’s Francisco Lugo for the third out in the second inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday.
Arizona's Aaron Walton (11) beats the throw to Hermosillo's Irving Lopez after stretching a single to left into a double on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona’s Jack Berg deals during his inning of work against Hermosillo in their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Arizona's second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) has to hop over Hermosillo's Angel Ramirez after the throw from first bounced off the runner allowing him to advance to third on his stolen base in the third inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's second baseman Garen Caulfield (1) lines up a Hermosillo grounder for a fielder’s choice in the fourth inning/ of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's Hunter Alberini (38) works the inning against Hermosillo during the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's Julian Tonghini gets in his work against Hermosillo in the sixth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta on Oct. 3, 2024, at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Arizona's first baseman Andrew Cain (3) fields a lazy hopper from Hermosillo's Jason Atondo in the sixth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's shortstop Mason White (24) comes into field the infield blooper from Hermosillo's Augustin Murillo in the sixth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's shortstop Richie Morales) (7) gets the throw late as Hermosillo’s runner swipes second in the seventh inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's third baseman Ethan Guerra (2) moves in on a grounder by Hermosillo's Angel Ramirez in the eighth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's Tyler Russell (41) slides home untouched, the second run on Kade Thompson’s two RBI hit in the ninth inning and the final run in the Wildcats’ 7-1 win over Hermosillo on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona's head coach Chip Hale listens during the pre-game meeting on the ground rules before the Wildcats game against Hermosillo in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd, left, and former softball coach Mike Candrea, center, chat with baseball coach Chip Hale in the Wildcats dugout during their game against Hermosillo.
Jalisco’s Jose Aguilar gets tagged out trying to score from third in the game against Obregon at the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Obregon’s shortstop JC Gamboa can’t get a hold of a hotshot up the middle by Jalisco in their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Obregon’s shortstop JC Gamboa puts the awkward tag on a Jalisco’s Billy Hamilton’s stolen base attempt ending the fifth inning of their game on the opening night of the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Jalisco’s third baseman Hugo Valdivia runs down a Obregon squib down the line during their opening night game in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta, Tucson, Ariz., October 3, 2024.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
Arizona baseball notebook: Third baseman Maddox Mihalakis’ rise, a familiar-looking lineup, sharp pitching and more from the Wildcats’ annual exhibition appearance in the Mexican Baseball Fiesta.