Gators exploit errors in baseball blowout

It's easy to overlook defense in a lopsided ballgame. But to do that Friday at Silverado would have been to overlook the difference in the game.

Sure, Green Valley's baseball team outhit the Skyhawks 15-4, but seven Silverado errors did as much damage as anything in the Gators' 15-3 victory in five innings.

"We've been slow starters lately," Green Valley coach Nick Garritano said. "Today things went our way. We capitalized on an error early in the first inning and things went from there."

The Gators scored three unearned runs in the first with help from two errors to take a 4-0 lead. Cameron Harper and Scott Arn each had RBI doubles.

While five more Silverado miscues would lead to five unearned runs, Green Valley was making plays behind senior starter Nolan Kohorst. The Gators turned three double plays to help him out of jams, and the right-hander was solid, allowing four hits and striking out four.

"He pitched to the defense and pitched to contact, and the defense played solid behind him," Garritano said. "Double plays are always momentum changers. And it's the pitcher's best friend."

Green Valley made one error, but it was quickly erased by a spectacular play by second baseman Rudy Strnad, who made a diving stop up the middle and flipped the ball from the ground to start a 4-6-3 double play in the fifth.

Harper was 4-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs, and Strnad, Brett Harrison and Arn each added two hits.

The victory set up a showdown with Foothill on Tuesday at Green Valley. The teams are tied atop the Southeast League at 7-1. Foothill beat the Gators 8-5 in the first meeting.

"It's a huge game," Garritano said. "Whenever you're up top, every game is bigger than the one you played before. It should be a very good game."

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at
dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587.