Errors plague Meadows in two losses to Needles
The Meadows fell just short of last year's regular-season Class 2A Southern League baseball title but rallied to win the league tournament a week later.
It's a path the Mustangs hope to follow again, but they'll have to clean up their defense to make it happen.
The Meadows committed 12 errors in dropping a doubleheader 10-5, 17-5 to visiting Needles (Calif.) on Friday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
"Against average clubs you're not going to win all the time if you make those errors," The Meadows coach Frank DeSantis said. "Against a quality club like (Needles), you can't give them extra at-bats.
"Next week is what counts, so we'll go from there."
Two-time defending 2A state champion Needles (18-7, 14-0) clinched the No. 1 seed for the league tournament, which it will open against No. 4 White Pine (11-14-1, 7-5) on Friday at Mountain View.
"Coming out today knowing that we could go 14-0 and get the No. 1 seed, that just drove us," Needles coach Ken Parker said.
Though its seed won't be determined until today, The Meadows (15-9, 10-4) is locked into a playoff opener against Lincoln County (11-5, 10-2) on Friday at Mountain View.
The double-elimination tournament will send both finalists to the state playoffs, which begin May 21 in Reno.
The Meadows was unable to hold on to a 5-1 lead after two innings in the nightcap, as Needles scored seven runs in both the third and sixth.
The Meadows committed eight errors in the second game, leading to five unearned runs.
"We've just got to start playing catch, make some defensive plays and not turn a seven-inning game into nine innings," DeSantis said. "We've got to play better defense; I don't care who we play. That's just the bottom line."
Junior shortstop Bobby Stahel went a combined 6-for-7 with a home run, a triple, a double and three RBIs in the two games to lead Needles. Teammate Andrew Mathews was a combined 5-for-8 and drove in four runs.
Garrett Gosse led The Meadows with three hits in the nightcap, and teammate Heath Gould added two hits.
Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.
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FRIDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
BASEBALL
Calvary Chapel's Hunter Rodriguez tossed a five-inning no-hitter in the opening game of the Lions' 29-0, 8-7 sweep at Mountain View.
Virgin Valley's Jason Wittwer went 4-for-9 with two home runs in the Bulldogs' 10-2, 14-2 sweep of Boulder City.
Clark's Greg McKinney was 5-for-6 with a home run, a double and five RBIs in the Chargers' 26-7 romp at Chaparral.
SOFTBALL
Boulder City's Karlee Koopman spun a five-inning no-hitter in the nightcap of the Eagles' 9-8, 19-0 sweep of visiting Virgin Valley.
Lake Mead's Amanda Wellman belted four home runs and drove in 10 runs in the Eagles' 6-4, 17-1 sweep of visiting Indian Springs.
Calvary Chapel's Jamie Schmidt fired a six-inning no-hitter in the opener as the Lions won 10-0 and 17-5 at Mountain View.
