Corona del Sol took care of business early. Defending state champ Chaparral waited until almost the last out to keep its season afloat in Division I state baseball play.

Corona erupted for seven runs in the second inning Saturday to gain a foothold and went on to eliminate No. 5 Tolleson, 10-4. Chaparral came from behind twice, the second time in the bottom of the seventh with one out on Dillon Bigcrane's game-winning single as it edged No. 22 seed Desert Vista, 3-2. Both games were played at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

Corona del Sol, the No. 24 seed that scratched and clawed its way to qualifying for state on the final day of the regular season, notched win No. 16 against 12 losses. The Aztecs face No. 14 Mountain Pointe on Tuesday May 7 at at 4 p.m. at Phoenix Muny. Mountain Pointe lost its first tournament game on Saturday to No. 2 Tucson, 6-3. Tolleson saw a fine season end with a 25-6 mark as it tried, but couldn't overcome Corona's big second inning. Chaparral (20-13) takes on Pinnacle on Tuesday May 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Muny. Pinnacle lost its winners' bracket game to top seed Desert Mountain, 8-5.

Corona, which trailed 1-0 heading to the top of the second, reached Tolleson southpaw Carlos Baldenegro and Elias Lucero for six hits and a walk in its rally. Two-run singles by Jeff Carte,  Nate Chokey and Colby Hamilton and a sacrifice fly from Rick Riley did the damage. Corona coach Dave Webb attributed adjustments by his hitters to the victory.

"We wanted them to keep the ball on the ground," Webb said. "Hitting the ball in the air in the big parks isn't the way. We were popping stuff up early. In the second inning we had a different approach. We have a lot guys who are first-pitch guys. We started seeing more pitches. We've been trying to get that across to them. They've found we've been able to get into people's (bull)pens by being more patient." 

Corona starter Jake Martin went three innings to pick up the win. He pitched out of trouble in the second third when Tolleson scored three times to pull within 7-4 and did so again without giving up a run in the third. Billy Clemens tossed the last four innings and allowed just one hit. Carter, Chokey, Hamilton and Josh Ethier had two hits apiece for Corona.

In the nightcap of the twin bill, Desert Vista nearly finished off the defending champs. A pitchers' duel between Desert Vista's Sean McGuire and Chaparral's Spencer Gilbert was the theme for six innings. Gilbert got relief help in the sixth and seventh. He allowed an unearned run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings, leaving with the game tied at 1.

McGuire, who went the distance and pitched beautifully after a tough outing the first game of the tournament vs. Brophy, got the go-ahead run from his teammates in the top of the seventh. A walk to Kyle Gunderson and stolen base from courtesy runner Keenan Bartlett gave Desert Vista (20-13) a runner at second with two outs against Chaparral reliever Collin Gabel. Gabel got ahead of No. 9 hitter Nick Levy 0-2, but Levy served his next offering sharply to center to put the Thunder in front, 2-1.

McGuire, who allowed six hits and an unearned run in his first six innings, got the first out of the seventh on one pitch. But No. 9 hitter Andrew Chaps, slapped his second double of the game down the left-field line to put the tying run aboard. McGuire walked Chris Nimtz and then Kyle Palmer doubled in the tying run. An intentional walk to Gabel loaded the bases before Bigcrane blooped a single just on to the outfield grass in right for the walk-off win.