8-Run Rally Puts Hoover Over the Top : High school baseball: Tornados defeat Arcadia, 10-7, near Pacific League title.

Hoover High did not win the Pacific League baseball championship Tuesday.

But try to tell that to the Tornados.

After rallying for a 10-7 victory against Arcadia at Glendale, Hoover celebrated as if the title were theirs.

“They thought I was going to buy them pizza tonight,” Coach Bob Cooper said. “I told them not until we clinch.”

With the victory, Hoover (15-5, 10-2 in league play) pulled one game ahead of the Apaches (16-6, 9-3) with three to play. Because Hoover won two of three meetings against Arcadia, the Tornados would go into the playoffs as a first-place team if they tie Arcadia for the title.

Hoover catcher Nate Dishington, who hit a two-run home run to cap an eight-run fifth inning, said the Tornados played the game as if it were the championship game. But that pressure may have contributed to the Tornados nearly burying themselves in the first 4 1/2 innings.

Hoover made six errors, leading to six unearned runs and a 7-2 deficit by the middle of the fifth, at which time, “We just told everyone to relax and have fun,” Dishington said.

Hoover started the inning with three consecutive singles to load the bases, but back-to-back shallow fly balls left the runners stranded with two out.

One run scored on a walk to Mike Farver. Two more scored when second baseman Jeremy Lewis mishandled a ground ball and threw it away. Chris Butler doubled, scoring two more and tying the score, 7-7.

With runners at first and third, Arcadia relief pitcher Grady Rohn balked by dropping the ball while standing on the rubber, and the go-ahead run scored.

Dishington finished the scoring with an opposite-field home run, his seventh of the season.

Sparked by the outburst, Hoover reliever Doug Jackson (5-0) found his curveball and used it to retire the last six batters in order.

“It started working at the best time,” Dishington said of Jackson’s curve. “He really gets pumped up when he gets a lead.”