Millennium baseball’s senior class and third-year coach James McDonald were determined to make this season different, from the day they first got together in the fall.
The result is stunning to those outside the Southwest Valley. The Tigers were 14-14 in the 5A Conference in 2024 and it was a rough season, other than a play-in upset of Scottsdale Desert Mountain.
As of April 15, Millennium was 16-8 and ranked in the top 10 of the 6A Conference despite moving up into one of the toughest regions in the conference, which is deeper now than at any point this decade.
McDonald said he believed this team could compete in 6A from day one.
“The thing I saw that excited me was they care for one another. And I understand that as a player. When someone cares, you’re going to get the most out of that person,” McDonald said. “They can go out there and play beyond what they think they’re capable of in baseball when they have that type of support system.”
This team also is not piling up wins against the bottom half of 6A, splitting its Central Region showdowns with fellow top 10 teams Tempe Corona del Sol, Phoenix Brophy Prep and Phoenix Desert Vista.
Senior pitcher David Sheppard said a 2-1 loss to Brophy in fall proved this team was not scared. Upsets over Sunrise Mountain and Centennial in the preseason tournament reinforced that belief.
“Last year it was kind of an older group and kind of this animosity among each other. As a group we didn’t really click,” Sheppard said. “This year, being a senior and having that experience, I and Josue Malave were able to take the team under our wing.”
Malave credited the second tournament game, the 9-8 win over Sunrise Mountain in eight innings, with setting the tone.
“For me it was the game against Sunrise Mountain,” Malave said. “We were down in the last inning by three runs. We were able to come together and come through in the final inning. That’s when I really saw what we truly had inside.”
He and McDonald also credited every member of this team for their ability to let go.
The key, Malave said, was to stop worrying about results and to not force players into a certain template.
“We let everybody be who they are and we adjust to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. That’s what’s really helping us,” Malave said.
The coach also curbed his natural inclinations, sitting back and enjoying the ride.
“I also think I’ve let go and trusted in them. Let them play their game and be who they are. That’s a bigger growth moment for me as a coach, taking a step back and letting those boys be themselves,” McDonald said.
Two sophomores and two freshman regularly start in the batting order.
Freshmen Chase Fillman and Peyton Burgess shuttle in and out of the lineup and are the team’s top two in on-base percentage. Sophomore Matthew Nevarez has a team high three home runs and leads in slugging percentage, and sophomore Cy Buchberger tops the Tigers in stolen bases and runs scored.
“I feel like we’re swinging it better and we’re a lot more athletic this year. We’ve got a lot of young, athletic kids that can make plays. We can make plays with our legs, our speed and also with our hitting approach — our two-strike approach is a big difference this year. When we get two strikes, our boys are touching their helmets and looking at the dugout, to let them know this at bat is for the team,” McDonald said.
Seniors made a point to mentor the younger players.
Other senior leaders include outfielder/pitchers Sullivan Causey and Gabriel Mendoza. Malave credited senior pitchers Mason Rescina, Christian Moreno and Ryan Daniels with providing the team with energy in the dugout.
“Yes, the talent is there. We’ve got some good young talent. But the biggest thing for me is the senior leadership of that young talent is having is the special thing. They’re teaching them the right way,” McDonald said.
Sheppard, the No. 1 starting pitcher, said he is not worried about who the Tigers play. No matter the circumstances, the ace believes the team can get the job done.
A 4-0 win at Corona del Sol April 1, and a 4-0 win at Brophy April 7 add credibility to that view.
“This being my last year, and with everything this team has been through, it would mean everything to me. Knowing that there’s other great teams in the state and playing great competition is really rewarding, especially when you come out on top. When we beat Corona del Sol, that was a great feeling and we knew we had something special,” Sheppard said.
This team is healthy after losing its top two pitchers each of the last two years, McDonald said.
They did not just talk about winning the title, he said. Millennium’s players are willing to go through the hard stuff and day-to-day work to be champions.
“We had a group of guys that weren’t afraid to go through adversity,” McDonald said. “Soon after we started, these boys started seeing it and believing it. Let’s start shooting high.”
Suddenly, that goal does not seem unrealistic outside the program. Every team in 6A other than Mesa Red Mountain has at least two regular season losses.
That includes top ranked Corona del Sol. And the Tigers gave the Aztecs their second loss.
“(A title) would mean more for the guys that haven’t played as much. That’s what pushes me to give it all. Most of us don’t get this opportunity to be up here and get into the playoffs,” Malave said.
Richard Smith Senior News Editor | Glendale & West Valley Preps
Richard Smith has been with Independent Newsmedia since 2016, and worked at a Sun City-based news outfit covering the Northwest Valley for 22 consecutive years.
An NAU alum and lifelong Arizona resident, Richard began as a copy editor and page designer at Surprise Today and the Daily News-Sun, then rekindled his love of sports writing by taking the reins on West Valley Preps in 2008.
For most of the mid-2010s he was the Surprise editor and West Valley Preps reporter. Now he’s the West Valley Preps Editor and Surprise Associate Editor.
As COVID restrictions slowly lift, Richard is cautiously optimistic he will visit book stores, football fields and gyms again this fall.
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