Hager lifts Sunset to all-star win

Jake Hager would have liked Sierra Vista’s baseball team to win the Class 4A state championship.

But the senior shortstop still was able to make his last game in a Mountain Lions uniform a night to remember.

Hager went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run to lead the Sunset Region to a 12-8 victory over the Sunrise in the Southern Nevada Baseball Coaches Association All-Star Game on Thursday at Faith Lutheran.

“I wish (the season) didn’t end early, but it feels good to be back,” said Hager, named the game’s Sunset Most Valuable Player. “I’m going to miss everyone.”

Hager, an Arizona State signee, belted a two-run double to left-center field in the third inning to put the Sunset up 3-0.

Sierra Vista had its fingerprints all over the game, as Sunset starter Blair Goldsack threw two scoreless innings to get the win and Alex Estrella scored two runs.

Sunrise MVP went to Green Valley senior Brett Harrison, who was 2-for-3 with a triple and a run.

Centennial’s Bryan Bonnell had an RBI single as part of a five-run fifth inning the Sunset used to build a 8-1 lead. He also struck out the side in the third.

The Sunset edged the Sunrise 6-5 in the earlier Senior Exhibition Game. Cimarron-Memorial’s Cody Stafford was named Sunset MVP after he hit a two-run triple in the sixth. Sunrise MVP went to Liberty starter Trevor Williams, who struck out four in two innings.

NOTE — Former area coaches Calvin Valvo and Earl McFarland were inducted to the SNBCA Hall of Fame between the games. Valvo coached for 24 years in the Clark County School District, guiding Cimarron to its first state tournament in 1999. McFarland coached in the district for 36 years.