Sidewinders' blond ambition

 The adage blonds have more fun rang true Saturday - at least it did at Boemer Field.

 It has become a ritual for every member of the San Luis baseball team to show solidarity and team unity through their hairstyle before any important tournament.

 Before Saturday's 13-7 victory over Gila Valley Region rival Kofa in the first round of the 5A Division II state playoffs, the Sidewinders got together and dyed each other's hair blond.

 "At the beginning of the year they went with Mohawks. We went to a tournament and they did OK," said San Luis coach Cesar Castillo, who maintained his natural hair color. "They've been trying to get me to do it. I don't know. The way they're playing right now they might convince me to go ahead and do the same."

 The Sidewinders will shoot for a spot in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Last year's team also won its first-round game before dropping the next two in the double-elimination tournament.

 San Luis left fielder Edgar Juarez, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI, said the idea to get creative with their hair is just a tradition set by previous San Luis teams.

 "It was up to the seniors," Juarez said. "Every year we try to make a statement. We didn't do it last year but we did it all the years before."

 The bottom of the San Luis batting order was instrumental in setting the tone early against the Kings. The No. 7, 8 and 9 hitters went 6-for-10 with five runs and five RBIs while reaching base safely nine times.

 Castillo said he thinks that his players might be on to something, adding he's all for whatever brings them tighter as a team this time of year.

 "When it's time to play tournament baseball they love the atmosphere. They know what it's about," Castillo said. "Some of the guys were even (dying their hair) right before we came out here - they saw everybody doing it. It's a bond between the team. I don't know if it's luck or not, but they love it. If that's what works, oh well. I'll do the same."