Centennial’s A-Rod keys first-round win

Adrian Rodriguez might have been batting ninth for Centennial's baseball team on Monday.

But no hitter in the lineup has been hotter.

Rodriguez stayed clutch, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs to help the Bulldogs (22-11) to a 10-4 win over visiting Desert Oasis (18-11) in the first round of the Sunset Region tournament.

"That's one thing about our team, anybody at any given time can come up big for us," Centennial coach Charlie Cerrone said. "We don't have an MVP."

Rodriguez closed out the regular season by going 8-for-9 with a double, three homers and 10 RBIs in the team's last three games.

On Monday, he picked up where he left off, lining a two-run single to center in the bottom of the second inning to break a scoreless tie.

"His work ethic and attitude has led him to where he's been very successful for us," Cerrone said. "He's been a very pleasant addition and surprise to the team."

Rodriguez's first hit started a three-run second that gave the team some cushion.

"To get a lead and be able to pitch with a lead, you put yourself in a good position," Cerrone said.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Austin Nelson and Bryan Bonnell, then broke the game open with five runs in the fifth to make it 10-1.

Casey Moses had the big blow of the fifth when his line drive skipped past Desert Oasis center fielder Joel Lewis on the wet grass for a three-run triple.

Moses went the distance, allowing three earned runs on six hits. He struck out 10 and walked two.

Bonnell was 4-for-4, and Nelson went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs to lead Centennial's 15-hit attack.

Centennial plays at five-time defending Class 4A state champion Bishop Gorman at 3:30 p.m. today.

Riley Smith had two hits for Desert Oasis, which hosts Shadow Ridge in an elimination game, also at 3:30 today.

■ Bishop Gorman 12, Shadow Ridge 1 -- At Gorman, T.J. White tossed a one-hitter as the Gaels (29-4) blitzed the Mustangs (19-11) in five innings.

White allowed only a third-inning single to Mitchell Shields and struck out six. He didn't walk a batter and faced only two more than the minimum.

Erik Van Meetren was 1-for-2 with a grand slam and two runs scored for Gorman, which scored six runs in the third and five more in the fourth.

■ Spring Valley 8, Cimarron-Memorial 4 -- At Cimarron, Jacob Schwartz was 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and the Grizzlies (15-14) took advantage of five errors by the Spartans (23-8) to stun the Northwest League champions.

Chase LaComb was 2-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI, and Eddie Gomez went 3-for-4 with two runs for Spring Valley. The Grizzlies will visit Sierra Vista in a winners' bracket game at 3:30 today.

Nate Hale, Effie Garcia and Travis Hendry each had two hits for Cimarron, which will host Faith Lutheran in an elimination game at 3:30 today.

■ Sierra Vista 11, Faith Lutheran 3 -- At Sierra Vista, Scott Tomassetti went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, and the Mountain Lions (32-2) scored in every inning of their win over the Crusaders (15-16).

Blair Goldsack and Tyler Condie combined on a three-hitter for Sierra Vista.

Goldsack was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Billy Santiwan went 3-for-4 with a double for the Mountain Lions.

SUNRISE REGION

Trevor Johnson fired a three-hitter to lift Silverado to an 8-1 victory at Las Vegas High in the first round of the Sunrise Region playoffs.

"We felt like (Johnson) is our senior, he's a big horse for us, and we wanted to give him the ball," Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker said. "He was up to the challenge."

Johnson finished with four strikeouts. He walked four and hit one batter.

"I was really confident," Johnson said. "I knew I had defense behind me and we could hit the ball. I just made sure I hit my spots and just threw strikes."

Silverado (17-13) lost its last two games of the regular season to enter the playoffs as the Southeast League's fourth and final seed.

But the Skyhawks suddenly find themselves in the winner's bracket semifinals and will travel to Coronado (20-11) at
3:30 p.m. today.

Las Vegas (21-7), the Northeast's top seed, will play an elimination game against visiting Eldorado (15-15) at 3:30 p.m. today.

"It's everybody's goal, and we're no different," Whitaker said of staying in the winner's bracket. "If you get on the other side, it's a lot of games and you'd better have a lot of arms."

Johnson's three-hitter overshadowed a 13-strikeout performance by Las Vegas right-hander Erick Fedde, who gave up six earned runs on eight hits and three hit batsmen.

Silverado took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, with both runs scoring on a fielding error, and led the rest of the way.

Las Vegas loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth but could only push across one run. Brady Page scored on a wild pitch with two outs to cut the lead to 4-1.

"This is big," Johnson said. "If we play like we did today, we'll be good."

Dylan Brand went 2-for-3 and scored a run for Silverado, and Wyatt Reid had three RBIs for the Skyhawks.

■ Coronado 7, Eldorado 3 -- At Coronado, Cody Howard was 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI, and the Cougars bolted to a 5-1 second-inning lead on their way to beating the Sundevils.

Nelson Herrera was 2-for-4 with an RBI for Eldorado.

■ Rancho 5, Liberty 4 -- At Rancho, pinch runner Austin Blake scored from second base on a throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Rams (28-4) rallied past the Patriots (17-9-1).

Rancho trailed 4-3 before Kevin Kline homered with two outs in the sixth to tie the game.

The Rams advanced into a winners' bracket game at Green Valley today at 3:30 p.m., and Liberty will host Chaparral today at 3:30 p.m.

■ Green Valley 16, Chaparral 6 -- At Green Valley, Brett Harrison was 1-for-2 with five RBIs as the Gators (27-5) routed the Cowboys (7-15) in five innings.

Evan Van Hoosier went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs for Green Valley, which used an eight-run third inning to take a 12-0 lead.

Zack Vergiels was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, and Braden Rogers and Phillip McGovern each added two hits for the Gators.

Jordan January was 2-for-3 with a double for Chaparral.