Latham helps Gorman stay alive
Bishop Gorman’s baseball team entered Wednesday’s game with its back against the wall, but that didn’t bother starting pitcher Chris Latham.
The left-hander struck out seven while allowing only two hits over seven innings to help the top-seeded Titans cruise past No. 5 Durango 6-2 in a third-round elimination game in the American Legion state tournament at UNLV’s Wilson Stadium.
Though defending champion and perennial contender Gorman is unaccustomed to losers’ bracket play, Latham said he knew early on that his team had nothing to worry about.
“I felt really good in the bullpen before the game,” said Latham, who improved to 6-0. “I just took the mound and things worked out for me.”
Latham set down the first six Durango batters, and his offense gave him the lead in the second inning when Cole Krzmarzick drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and Matt Hudgins singled in a run to make it 2-0.
Gorman (38-10) picked up another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Kenny Meimerstorf and broke it open in a three-run sixth highlighted by Ryan Suppe’s two-run single to left field.
With a 6-0 lead, Latham knew he had little to worry about.
“I just let the defense work behind me,” he said. “We have a solid defense, and they kept us in the game.”
Durango (51-24) spoiled the shutout with an RBI double by Jacob Dismont and an RBI single by Jordan Hodges off Titans reliever Matt Roth in the ninth.
The victory lifted the Titans into a semifinal rematch against Coronado at 8 p.m. Thursday. The Cougars, who are undefeated in the tournament, beat Gorman 9-6 in the first round on Saturday.
Hudgins went 3-for-3 to lead Gorman’s 13-hit attack, Cadyn Grenier went 3-for-5, and Latham and Nick Gates had two hits apiece.
Jordan Hodges went 2-for-2 with two walks to lead Durango.
Reno 8, Las Vegas 4 — Ryan Bush went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to help the sixth-seeded Knights rally past No. 3 Las Vegas in an elimination game.
Reno (36-19) will play Liberty in the early semifinal at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Las Vegas (25-11) took a 2-0 lead in a first inning capped by Jesse Acosta’s RBI single, but Reno battled back with a run in the third inning and three more in the fourth as consecutive RBI singles by
Brock Tsukamoto, Garrett Hampson and Kellen Richards put the Knights ahead for good at 4-2.
Las Vegas got a run back in the sixth, but Reno added two more in the seventh and two in the ninth to put it away.
Brady Page went 3-for-4 with a double to help Las Vegas.
