Titans win again in Legion regional

Bishop Gorman entered the American Legion Western Regional knowing its potent lineup would be hard to keep down for the duration of a nine-inning game.

On Friday, San Bernardino, Calif., found out why.

Gorman, playing as the Southern Nevada Titans, rallied from a four-run deficit entering the seventh inning to post a 7-5 victory over San Bernardino and remain undefeated in the tournament in Fairfield, Calif.

The defending national champion Titans (59-12) improved to 2-0 in the eight-team, double-elimination regional. Though they still would play Sunday, a win today would provide an automatic spot into Monday's championship game.

"We were down 2-0, then 5-0. We just didn't panic," Gorman coach Chris Sheff said. "We were having good at-bats, and nothing was falling for us. We stuck to our plan, and eventually we got to them."

Jeff Malm keyed the Titans' four-run seventh inning with a two-run double down the right-field line that scored Joey Rickard and Wes Denzler. That came in between RBI singles from Rickard and Erik Van Meetren.

Gorman took the lead in the eighth when T.J. White scored on a single by Rickard, who later came home on a double by Cory Welch.

White was 3-for-4 and Rickard 2-for-5 to lead the Titans.

Malm got the win, throwing two scoreless innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out two. Rickard, Gorman's starter, lasted seven innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Gorman will play at 7 p.m. today against host Fairfield, which defeated Greeley, Colo., 10-9 on Friday. Though he has not decided on a starter, Sheff said the team's options are right-handers Joey Gallo, Welch and White.