ROUNDUP: Llamas’ solo shot lifts Rancho over Las Vegas
Rancho’s baseball team is accustomed to playing classic games against Las Vegas High.
Manny Llamas needed only one swing to author a classic moment in the Northeast League rivalry.
After entering the game as a pinch hitter with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Llamas hit a first-pitch solo home run to right-center field, and the Rams held on for a 3-2 victory at Las Vegas on Saturday.
“This is a great win. It’s overwhelming, actually,” said Llamas, one of 11 Rancho seniors. “He threw me a first-pitch fastball, and I took it the other way. Coach always has belief in me. He gave me the green light, and it’s just a great feeling.”
Llamas helped Rancho (16-2, 7-0 Northeast) take sole possession of first place in the league, with Las Vegas (9-3, 6-1) falling to second. The teams meet again May 5 at the College of Southern Nevada.
“I’m thrilled for Manny Llamas,” Rams coach Tom Pletsch said. “He’s struggled with arm issues, had surgery, and he keeps coming back. Injuries have hurt his high school career, but he’s had no bigger hit than the one today.”
Las Vegas put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Rancho’s Eric Holdren struck out Dustin Cash on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
Rancho starter Zak Qualls and Holdren, a pair of UNLV signees, combined on a three-hitter.
Las Vegas ace right-hander Erick Fedde, another UNLV signee, gave up five hits, two walks and struck out eight.
“Fedde pitched a phenomenal game. Manny just got him on that one particular pitch,” Pletsch said. “Every time we get together with Vegas, it’s a classic game like this.
“We knew that going in, and it was nice to see (Holdren) close the game out.”
Scott Koenen belted a two-run homer to left field with two outs in the top of the first to give Rancho a 2-0 lead.
But Las Vegas tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Xavier Palmer led off with a double and scored on an error, and Justin Cheney came home on a fielder’s choice.
But Holdren shut down the Wildcats from there, striking out five of the 11 batters he faced on his way to the win.
“He’s a phenomenal pitcher. Can’t say anything else about him,” Llamas said. “Phenomenal pitcher and a great teammate.”
Kevin Kline went 2-for-3 with a double for defending Sunrise Region champion Rancho, which won its 14th straight game.
Though he called it a big win, Pletsch said the more important game might be May 5, if both teams can manage to win the rest of their league games until the regular-season finale. If Las Vegas were to win and both teams finished 13-1, the Wildcats would get the Northeast’s No. 1 seed for the Sunrise playoffs.
“This game was a big game for today, but May 5, whoever wins that one might win the league,” Pletsch said. “The Northeast is one of our goals, but it’s more important for us to get back to the regional and state tournament and send these seniors out right.”
Centennial 12, Del Sol 2 — At Centennial, Bryan Bonnell went 3-for-3 with three runs and three RBIs as the Bulldogs routed the Dragons in five innings.
Austin Nelson was 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI for Centennial, which put the game away with a seven-run fourth inning.
