Sierra Vista opens Legion play a victor

Sierra Vista baseball coach Levi Gill hoped his team would make a statement in opening the American Legion state tournament with a big win on Sunday.

Gill didn’t get quite the performance he was looking for, but he did get a victory. Jake Hager went 4-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to help the second-seeded Lions (41-15) defeat No. 7 Coronado 9-3 at Wilson Stadium.

The win lifted the Lions into winners’ bracket play. They will face Reno at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

“There are a lot of things we can do better,” said Gill, who thought his players failed to capitalize on key opportunities. “But we got the ‘W,’ and that’s what’s important.”

Sierra Vista wasted no time grabbing the lead, going up 2-0 in a first, capped by Tommy Barnes’ two-out RBI double.

Lions starting pitcher Nicholas Kingham homered to left to open the second, and teammate Matt Holman stretched the lead to 4-0 by driving in another run with a single up the middle later in the inning.

But Cougars starter Alex Watson settled down after the second, holding Sierra Vista scoreless over the next three innings.

Cody Giordano cut Coronado’s deficit to 4-1 with a fifth-inning RBI single, but the Lions finally chased Watson with five runs in a sixth inning, highlighted by Hager’s  three-run homer to left field.

Kingham (9-2) tossed seven strong innings, allowing just two earned runs while escaping several jams. Teammate Barnes went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.

RENO 18, BONANZA 1 — Thomas Jameson tossed a five-hitter, striking out seven, to help the sixth-seeded Knights (37-15) cruise past the No. 3 Bengals (14-11) in seven innings.

Reno supported Jameson early, posting 11 runs in the first two innings. Patrick Gallagher led the 21-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs and five runs scored.

“I was happy with the kids’ effort tonight,” said Knights coach Pete Savage. “I thought our pitching was especially outstanding.”

Bonanza coach Kevin Fiddler agreed, though he noted his squad had an off night.

“Our ace just didn’t have his good stuff,” said Fiddler, whose starter Mario Franzese was chased in the second inning. “I think he struggled a little bit with the heat.”

Even so, the coach insisted his team should not be counted out of the double-elimination tourney.

“With their backs against the wall, our guys are much better,” Fiddler said. “They’re good at bouncing back.”

Kris Bryant went 2-for-3 with a home run for the Bengals, who will play Coronado (13-12) in a 5 p.m. elimination game on Tuesday.