Bulldogs explode early, rip Durango

If hitting really is contagious, Centennial's Katie Lee started quite an epidemic Tuesday.

The Bulldogs senior connected on the first of three consecutive home runs in the first inning to send Centennial on its way to an 11-5 victory over Durango in a winners' bracket quarterfinal of the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.

"Hitting is really contagious," Lee said. "We just hit really good."

Lee ripped a 2-1 pitch over the left-center field fence, scoring Paige Reese to give Centennial a 2-0 lead.

"She's been a little hot and cold," Centennial coach Mike Livreri said of Lee. "Sometimes she just tries to do a little too much. When she just relaxes, she's got enough pop, that a home run can happen."

Johnna Brown followed with a blast down the left-field line that cleared the fence by at least 30 feet.

Lindsay Konopelko then fouled off seven pitches before sending a 3-2 pitch over the left-field fence and increasing the Bulldogs' lead to 4-0.

"I kind of had a feeling she was going to hit a home run, too," Lee said.

Since being shut out by Shadow Ridge on March 27, Centennial (14-4) has scored 70 runs in eight games, an average of nearly nine per game.

"I wish we could bottle that," Livreri said of the first inning. "That just gives you such a boost."

Brown finished 3-for-4 with the homer, a double and four RBIs. Lee was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and Reese went 3-for-3.

The top four spots in Centennial's order went 10-for-13 with eight RBIs and scored nine runs.

Centennial will face Palo Verde in a semifinal at 11 a.m. today. The winner will meet either Bonanza or Winslow (Ariz.) for the title at 1 p.m.

Katie Moore was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI for the Trailblazers (15-6).

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.