Christian Marshall returned to running back after being injured in a season-opening loss and will carry a streak of five consecutive games with at least 100 rushing yards into Friday’s Class 4A Sunset Region semifinal against top-ranked Bishop Gorman.
Softball
Here is a recap of every team that won a state title during the 2016 spring sports season and will be looking to defend this upcoming season.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal announces its 2016 all-state softball teams.
Follow the link for postseason softball honors, as selected by coaches. All-league and all-region teams will be posted as they are received.
Rancho junior pitcher Sam Pochop has been named the Gatorade Nevada Softball Player of the Year.
Centennial rising senior Jamaal Evans became the second area QB to make an oral commitment for 2017 when he recently pledged to UNR.
Spanish Springs’ Cami Moore belted a pinch-hit two-run homer to left field to lift the Cougars to a 2-1 win over the Rancho at UNR’s Hixson Park and to their fourth state title in 10 years.
Rancho, which defeated Shadow Ridge in its first game Friday, used a seven-run outburst in the second inning to oust defending state champion Reed 12-0 in five innings in the losers’ bracket final at Hixson Park. Seeking their first state title in 36 years, the Rams will face Spanish Springs (27-14) for the crown at noon Saturday. Spanish Springs needs one win to claim the title. Rancho must win twice.
Reed’s Julia Jensen struck out 15, including 12 of the final 16 hitters, and led the Raiders to a 2-0 win over Rancho in a Division I state tournament opening-round game at UNR’s Hixson Park.
After being pulled earlier in the game when she got a little woozy in the heat, Kayla Coles re-entered and blasted a solo home run to help Rancho to an 8-0 win over Liberty in the Sunrise final at Bishop Gorman. It’s the first region title for Rancho, which will compete for its third state title next week in Reno.
It took two risky calls, but Rancho coach Amanda Zunno’s decisions paid off when Jahnae Davis-Houston scored from third on a wild pitch in the eighth inning to give the Rams a 1-0 victory over Coronado in Thursday’s Division I Sunrise League winners’ bracket final game at Foothill.
The Cougars blew most of an early 6-0 lead, but Sarah Pinkston saved the day with four strong innings of relief as Coronado edged visitingFoothill 8-6 in the second round of the Division I Sunrise Region playoffs.
Liberty pounded out 15 hits to rout visiting Las Vegas 13-0 in their five-inning Division I Sunrise Region playoff opener.
Samantha Pochop tossed a five-hitter and struck out 12 on Thursday to lead Rancho’s softball team to a 1-0 win over visiting Coronado in a matchup of the top two teams in the Division I Sunrise League.
Follow the link for the latest softball coaches poll.