REGION BASEBALL: Crusaders cruise to title

Faith Lutheran’s baseball team already had clinched a berth in next week’s Division I-A state baseball tournament.

Friday, the Crusaders won a region title in dominating fashion.

Caleb Summerhays hit a grand slam to cap a five-run second inning, and Faith Lutheran beat visiting Boulder City 13-3 in the Division I-A Southern Region title game.

Summerhays hit an 0-1 pitch off Tino Ragone over the wall in left-center field, scoring Justin Daraban, Erich Uelmen and Tyler Trageton.

“That’s been key for us all season, to get timely hitting,” Faith Lutheran coach Blair Neagle said. “We take games one pitch at a time, and not worry about the circumstance or who’s in the other dugout.”

Uelmen was the beneficiary of the offense, and his performance on the mound was key Friday. He scattered six hits and struck out 10 in getting the win.

“Erich was just Erich, it’s simple as that,” said Neagle. “If our scoreboard didn’t work and you looked at Erich on the mound, you couldn’t tell who was winning. He has a calm demeanor about himself and he battles on the hill.”

Trageton’s RBI single in the first gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead.

In the second, the Eagles got consecutive singles from Mario Castanon, Austin Wishard and Corbett Fleming to produce a run and tie the game.

Faith Lutheran extended the lead to 10-1 thanks to a four-run fourth. The big blow was Andrew Hudgins’ three-run double.

Summerhays, Hudgins and Uelmen combined for 10 RBIs for Faith Lutheran (24-8).

Fleming had three hits to lead the Eagles (22-9), who also advance to next week’s state tournament.

DIVISION III SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Mason Cisneros tossed a two-hitter with three strikeouts and had two hits and three runs scored Friday as Needles routed Laughlin, 14-1 in five innings in the winners’ bracket final of the Division III Southern League Tournament at Mountain View.

Needles (16-6) will face Laughlin (23-7) again at 10 a.m. Saturday in the championship game with Laughlin needing to win twice to earn the title. Both teams will advance to next week’s state tournament.

William Dunn was 2-for-2 with a triple, a double and four RBIs for the Mustangs.

Laughlin 7, Lincoln County 4 — A.J. Nelson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Cougars fought their way back into the title game by topping the Lynx (12-9) in the losers’ bracket final.

Haylan Drescher allowed seven hits and was aided by a triple play in the second inning for Laughlin.

Preston Robbins went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Lincoln County.

Lincoln County 14, The Meadows 7 — Mitchell O’Connor had two doubles, two runs and three RBIs, and the Lynx used a seven-run second inning to eliminate the Mustangs (11-9) in the day’s first game.

Mike Wood had three hits, two runs and two RBIs for Lincoln County, which had just three hits in the second inning, but took advantage of six walks, including three with the bases loaded.

Connor Cheek and Alec Sparks each had two hits for The Meadows.