Marana is pushing for the coaching team after beating Tucson High 11-6 on Thursday night. (Kevin Murphy / AllSportsTucson.com)
Marana Center Fielder and Right-Handed Isaiah Roebuck was overwhelming on either side of the ball in a matchup against Tucson High at Cherry Field on Thursday night.
Marana beat Tucson, who finished sixth in the 6A State standings, 11-6 on an evening when the Tigers took control of the game from the plate and scored 12 runs.
Roebuck, who recently signed an NAIA program in North Dakota to play baseball and soccer with the University of Jamestown, went 3-on-5 with 3 RBIs and three runs and added four strike-outs in 2 2/3 innings as a pitcher of relief.
Whether it was his hurdle from the outfield fence after catching a deep flyball, or his grunt after every stroke from the hill where the effort sometimes left his hat in the dirt, Roebuck’s passion for the game of baseball was fully evident during the game.
Marana took the lead in the top of the first inning from a two-part double from Senior Jonnie Foreman.
Tucson High responded at the end of the inning as the junior lead-off hitter Andres Flores hit a solo home run.
Marana began retiring from Tucson in the second inning of an RBI double from Roebuck, a triple with two runs by sophomore Kenny Rheinand a victim fly by senior Jaden Beck. Marana took a 6-1 lead and never really looked back from there.
Jiovanni Toledo, who was recently added to the list after being pulled out of junior vars, added a two-part home run for the Badgers in the fifth inning.
Tucson High stands out Nick Arias did not play in the game due to an injury.
Marana head coaches Phillip Fileccia and Isaiah Roebuck. (Kevin Murphy / AllSportsTucson.com)
Marana head coach Philip FilecciaIn his first season as program director, he was impressed with the way his team struggled Thursday night in a season of ups and downs.
“We had our backs against the wall and we knew we had to climb out of some deficits that we have put ourselves into all year,” said Fileccia. “This was the biggest game, the best game we’ve played all year.”
Fileccia also owed Roebuck his exceptional all-round performance as well as his play throughout the season.
“We walk away from him, we fill up with his energy wherever he is in the line-up, from start to midfield, and hurdle fences after he makes catches,” said Fileccia. “It’s crazy what this young man has about his athleticism that most people will never experience, and just to be part of his career for a short period of time, man, I am blessed to be his coach.”
Roebuck was confident all evening in the bat and described the places he was looking for on the plate.
“Honestly, I came to hit speed,” said Roebuck. “Anything I saw that was flat, I swing on it and then I adjust to the curve ball, that’s what I do.”
Roebuck described his passion and motivation when competing on the field.
“I have some friends over there on the other team who are also fiery.” Said Roebuck. “But to be honest, I don’t care when I’m up there. I don’t care if they are my friends, I don’t care if they are family, you are against me and I am against you and I’ll show you. “
He went on to describe why he turned down a preferred walk-through location at the University of Arizona and signed with the University of Jamestown, a school more than 1,600 miles from Tucson, North Dakota.
“Honestly, they took me in, they were pretty much my first offer,” said Roebuck. “We talk all the time, I know the guys pretty well and they’re pretty funny. Then they came here and said ‘what’s wrong’ with me, we ate and had a good time and they are very close to me right now so I had to get on the train. “
Isaiah Roebuck talks about his competitiveness on the baseball field and his future after a staggering performance Thursday night in which Marana beat Tucson High 11-6. pic.twitter.com/QCdEvVIwCr
– Kevin Murphy (@ KevinMurfee) April 30, 2021
After this season of Roebuck heading to North Dakota, one thing is certain: Jamestown is getting an all-round athlete whose strength and determination are only matched by his outstanding skills on the field.
Tucson High (12-4) plays Ironwood Ridge at 4pm next Friday. Marana (11-7) will play at home against Rincon / University at 4 p.m. on Monday
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com writes intern Kevin Murphy was born and raised in Tucson. He has been pursuing the Arizona Wildcats athletics since childhood. He is currently attending Pima Community College, where he writes for the Aztec Press. Next semester he will attend the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at ASU, where he will work towards a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies.
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