Top-ranked Sierra Vista takes down Gaels

If Scott Tomassetti felt any frustration over his team’s past losses to Bishop Gorman, the Sierra Vista senior took them out with one swing on Saturday.

Tomassetti drove the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning, and the top-ranked Mountain Lions went on to defeat the visiting second-ranked Gaels, 8-5.

“It’s great. They’re a tough team, and anytime anyone beats them, it’s awesome,” said Tomassetti, whose team had lost six straight to Gorman, including four last season. Gorman has won the last five Class 4A state titles.

Tomassetti and the Mountain Lions (16-0, 7-0 Southwest League) wasted no time getting to Gorman starter T.J. White. Jake Hager led off with a single up the middle, followed by a line-drive single to left by Conner Klein.

Tomassetti followed with his blast to get the Mountain Lions rolling.

“It definitely gave us an advantage,” Tomassetti said. “It’s hard to beat a team like that without jumping out on top at first.”

Gorman (14-3, 7-1) got an RBI double from White in the third, and Kenny Meimerstorf tripled and scored on a ground ball by A.J. Van Meetren in the fourth to trim Sierra Vista’s lead to 3-2. But the Mountain Lions scored three times in the fourth to regain their cushion.

Alex Estrella led off with a bunt single, and Hager walked. The Gaels replaced White with Evan Dunn, whose first pitch hit Klein to load the bases.

Tomassetti walked to force in a run, and Blair Goldsack had an RBI single through the right side to make it 5-2. Billy Santiwan added a sacrifice fly.

The Mountain Lions added two more runs in the sixth on an error and an RBI single by Dusty Stevens.

Tomassetti went 2-for-3 with four RBIs. The home run was his 10th of the season. He hit four last season.

“I’ve kind of simplified things in my head,” Tomassetti said. “I was thinking a bit too much last year.”
Sierra Vista has won 32 of its last 36 games, with all four of the losses coming to Gorman. The Mountain Lions hadn’t beaten the Gaels since April 24, 2008.

“It’s a big win,” Tomassetti said. “They’ve always been a tough team to play. We just came out and had a better day. They’re a great team, and they’re always a battle. We’ve always got our adrenaline pumping with them.”

Sierra Vista coach Nate Selby was quick to point out that the win did nothing to stall Gorman’s streak of state titles.

“In the end, nobody’s going to really care who won this one,” Selby said. “It’s going to come down to who wins the last one, and Gorman’s won the last ones. Until somebody can beat them in the last game, they’re still the favorite. They’ve still got the guys who’ve got the rings. We’re all chasing them.”