Silverado tops Bonanza to claim third straight conference crown

      The third time, just like the two preceding it, was a charm for the Silverado High School softball team.
      The Skyhawks (31-6) claimed their third straight conference title by beating Bonanza 5-4 Thursday in the Class 4A Southern Conference tournament at Sunset Park.
      The Skyhawks, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit, will be the South's No. 1 seed at the state softball tournament May 22-24 in Carson City.
      Bonanza (21-9) defeated Green Valley 4-0 earlier in the day to nab the No. 2 seed and push the Gators (23-8) to No. 3. Eldorado (23-6) is the fourth seed from the South.
      Chuck Pope said his Skyhawks, which have won the conference crown each year since the school opened in 1994, were more subdued in their post-game celebration.
      "You could tell that the excitement isn't quite exactly what it was the first time or the second time," said Pope, who has a 99-17 overall mark at Silverado. "So you hate to think that they're getting used to it, but I firmly believe that's their mark that they really have something left to do."
      The Bengals took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on Bridgett Thompson's two-run triple. The Skyhawks tied it in the third when designated hitter Christi Moores singled to score Sarah Buntjer and LaMeka Anderson.
      Moores drew a leadoff walk off Bonanza freshman Melissa Simerlink in the sixth, and Kristen Toner came in as a pinch runner. After Heather Young reached on an error, Toner and Young moved up a base on a passed ball.
      A Simerlink wild pitch brought Toner home, and Julia Yurek followed with a triple down the left field line to score Young. Laura Connors singled home Young to give Silverado a 5-2 lead.
      Pope said this Skyhawk team has been the best at rallying for victories.
      "We've proven that three times in a row this tournament," he said.
      "They have people who can bunt and people who can hit, and they just manufacture runs," Bengals coach Cheryl Speer said. "If they get one person on, they'll get her around somehow. I don't think I'd feel safe with a 10-run lead against them."
      Bonanza scored two runs with two outs in the seventh before Silverado pitcher Tiffany Finateri (14-1) got Lindsey Johnson to line out and end the game.
      Yurek, whose three-run homer lifted Silverado past Green Valley on Wednesday, was named tournament MVP.
      "We're a really good comeback team," she said.
      In the first game of the day, Bengal sophomore Jessica Smith pitched a four-hit shutout against the Gators. Simerlink, who played third base, rapped a two-run single in the third to give Bonanza a 3-0 lead. Johnston went 3-for-4 and shortstop Kelly Glass (2-for-4) had seven assists and two putouts.
      Green Valley played without star shortstop Crissy Buck, who had a right quadricep injury.