Gorman one win away from regional title

Bishop Gorman is one victory away from a return trip to the American Legion World Series.

And the Titans have two shots at getting it.

Gorman (61-12) defeated Tucson (Ariz.) 12-8 on Sunday to move into the championship round of the Western Regional against host Fairfield (Calif.) at 4 p.m. today. Fairfield advanced with a 10-4 win over Kailua (Hawaii) on Sunday.

Because Gorman is undefeated in the tournament, Fairfield (30-11) would have to beat the defending World Series champs twice to secure the title and a berth in the World Series.

Tucson loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth when Gorman turned to Southern California signee Jeff Malm, who struck out two and allowed a sacrifice fly to secure the victory. Malm, who got the final out of the seventh with the bases loaded before returning to first base the following inning, retired all four batters he faced with three strikeouts.

“We got up big and then tried to go to some young arms and then couldn’t make a couple plays and made it interesting,” Gorman coach Chris Sheff said. “But the key was we won and now they have to beat us twice.”

Joey Rickard had his second consecutive big game on Sunday. The Arizona signee was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and six RBIs.

He had a two-run single to key a three-run second inning, and delivered two-run doubles in Gorman’s two four-run innings: the fourth and seventh.

Rickard was 5-for-6 with four runs and three RBIs in a 16-6 win over Fairfield on Saturday. He is 10-for-18 with four doubles and 11 RBIs in the tournament.

“He’s swinging the bat well and getting a few breaks, too,” Sheff said of Rickard. “Obviously we’re scoring enough runs to beat people.”

The big seventh inning gave Gorman a 12-3 lead, but Tucson (54-12) rallied for four runs in the eighth and one in the ninth.

Johnny Field was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Malm drove in two runs for Gorman, which had 12 hits but was hurt by five errors.

Sheff said Gorman would probably start Joey Gallo in the first game today, but wouldn’t hesitate to go to Stephen Manthei, who threw seven shutout innings on Thursday.

“We’ve got to win a game tomorrow and we’ll do whatever it takes to win one,” Sheff said.