(PHOENIX) No. 7 Gilbert Christian upset second-ranked Northwest Christian 8-6 in Monday's regional baseball showdown, behind a spectacular 4 for 5 effort from sophomore slugger Dane Coyle. 
 
Coyle hit a pair of doubles and drove in three runs in the affair. None more important, however, than the pair he brought around with his second two-bagger, which put his squad out front in the ninth and final inning.
 
The Knights' pitching staff struck out 12 in the affair. Senior starter Caleb Johnson led the way with seven Ks through five innings of work. Sophomore Logan King ultimately notched the win, compiling the remaining five and walking none, in four innings on the mound. King also managed a pair of base knocks on the day. 
 
Gilbert Christian amassed 18 hits in the contest, with 10 different players- every player in its lineup- collecting at least one against the Crusaders.
 
Four of the team's runs were batted in by senior captain Tyler Burr. Burr was hot early for the Knights, going 2 for 4 with a two-run dinger in the first, and a two-run double in the second. 
 
Freshman Camden Pallas, senior Sam Webb, and junior Zack Linker combined for six of GCHS's remaining hits, with two apiece at the plate. Also exercising the NW Christian baseballs with various trips around the park were junior Hayden Jensen, sophomore Micky Moran, junior Nate Nielsen, and senior Brody Aubut.
 
Ryan Holbert took the loss for Northwest Christian.
 
With the win, Gilbert Christian (10-3) moves to fourth in the 3A Conference rankings. NW Christian (10-3) drops a spot to No. 3. The two teams split 2025 regular season games, with NWC edging the Knights 4-3 on March 21st.
 
Knights' baseball is back in action on Thursday at Seton Catholic for a 6:00pm contest with the Sentinels. The team returns home on Friday, April 17th (6:00pm) for Middle School Appreciation Night against San Tan Foothills.