It’s all about survival in the elimination brackets and that’s what the Coyotes of No.7 Campo Verde did in a 5-3 victory at No. 6 Catalina Foothills Thursday night. Campo Verde (2-1) moves to the third round of elimination where No. 3 Nogales (2-1) will be waiting Monday night at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

Nogales lost to No. 2 Sunrise Mountain 8-1 to move over to the elimination bracket. Sunrise Mountain (3-0) advances to the semifinal round to be played at HoHoKam Stadium next Wednesday. Catalina Foothills ends another successful season with a 22-9 record overall and a Southern Region championship.

The Coyotes jumped out early to set the tone with Gunner Bryant hitting a leadoff double and he scored on an error from a Sean King bunt three pitches later. King scored on a single from Ezekiel Zion to put Campo Verde up 2-0. Easton Almeida reached one out later and he stole second base with two outs and the throw to second base resulted in a score from Zion from third.

Troy Breazeale and Kaden Evahnenko hit back-to-back singles to open up the top of the second inning and King came up one out later and he delivered on a two-run double for a 5-0 lead. That score held up until the bottom of the sixth where the Falcons scored two runs to cut the lead down to 5-2.

Paden Good reached to start the bottom half of the inning and Ganon Dwyer doubled one out later to move Good to third. Cooper Kruk was intentionally walked to load the bases and Jared Flores responded with a double to score Good and Dwyer. King took the mound and he induced a ground ball and fly ball to end any further damage.

The Falcons had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh after Bryce Weege singled with one out, Good singled and then Weege scored on a passed ball, moving Good to third with two outs. King got the save with a ground out.

Almeida got the start for the Coyotes and he threw five innings. Luke Girard saw some action on the mound and he gave way to King. Almeida picked up nine strikeouts in the win. King went 2-4 with a double and two RBI.

Weege got the ball for the Falcons and Dwyer took over in the fifth inning. Good went 2-4, Jake Gee went 2-3 and Flores had a double and two RBI.