Valley’s Robles helps Sunrise rally past Sunset

Valley’s baseball team made an early exit from the Sunrise Region playoffs, losing twice to finish with a 14-15 record.

That didn’t stop Vikings senior outfielder Hector Robles from putting a memorable end to his high school career Wednesday.

Robles’ two-run triple to right-center field in the top of the ninth inning gave the Sunrise seniors a 9-8 lead on the way to an 11-8 victory over the Sunset in the Southern Nevada Baseball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game at the College of Southern Nevada.

“I was ready for this all-star game,” Robles said. “They called me, so I said, ‘Let’s do it; let’s go for it.’ It feels good. I’m very happy.”

Robles’ heroics helped the Sunrise defeat the Sunset for the first time since 2002 in the annual all-star game. He was named the game’s Sunrise Most Valuable Player.

“It’s kind of nice,” said Sunrise coach Tom Pletsch of Rancho. “The Sunset has kind of dominated this game the past few years, but we stepped up and got it done.”

Sunset MVP went to Legacy outfielder Andres Ortiz, who belted a two-run homer to right-center in the fifth inning to give the Sunset a 4-3 lead.

The Sunrise sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six runs in the ninth inning to rally for the win.

Tech’s Justin Vasquez scored on an error, and Coronado’s Cody Giordano came home on a double from Silverado’s A.J. Ford to set the stage for Robles’ two-run triple.

Foothill’s Dylan Ellis followed with a two-run, inside-the-park homer to give the Sunrise an 11-8 cushion.

Pletsch said the Sunrise’s first victory in eight years is meaningful.

“When the kids showed up, they were excited to be there,” he said. “They kind of meshed at the beginning. You play against these guys all year long when they’re on the other team. But today, they played together.”

Del Sol’s Daniel Doph hit a towering solo home run over the center-field wall in the seventh, and Silverado’s Bobby Johnson hit a solo homer in the fifth for the Sunrise.

UNLV signee Zack Hartman of Arbor View hit a solo homer to left-center in the eighth to give the Sunset an 8-5 lead.