Grizzlies’ bats ease Drachler’s burden

Spring Valley's Dylan Drachler had his patience tested Monday. The junior left-hander had pitched six shutout innings, but the Grizzlies had managed only one baserunner of their own.

Drachler's patience finally paid off, as Spring Valley scored five runs in the top of the seventh to secure a 5-0 road victory over Desert Oasis.

Drachler finished with a two-hitter, striking out seven.

"It was tough, but I knew our offense would eventually come through," he said. "We've got so many guys one through nine that can get on base any time, so I knew we were eventually going to get to him."

Drachler was referring to Desert Oasis' Tyler Condie, who took a no-hitter into the seventh before Michael Macove led off by lining a single to right.

Drew LaComb walked, and Drachler reached on a bunt when Condie cut off the ball down the third-base line, but had no play. Jose Rosales-Rodarte then lined a single up the middle to bring home two runs and break the scoreless tie.

The Grizzlies (14-6-1, 7-1 Southwest League) added a run when Desert Oasis right fielder Joe Paratore misjudged Robby Brewster's fly ball, another on a wild pitch and one on a double-play grounder.

"(Condie) just threw exceptionally well," Spring Valley coach Paul Bassett said. "He shut us down, so we continued to grind it out and stay with our game plan. We tried to get the leadoff guy on and move some guys over and do some small things there at the end to put up the five."

Drachler then struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh to complete the shutout.

"Dylan wants the ball and he's a kid who wants to pitch, and he's not scared of competition," Bassett said. "Obviously it was good getting a cushion there going into the end, but whether it's 1-0 or 5-0, the game really doesn't bother Dylan. He's not scared to have the ball in his hands."

Desert Oasis (9-7, 5-4) threatened in the sixth when Jack Lavine walked with one out and went to second on a balk. After a strikeout, Condie hit a grounder toward the hole between first and second. But LaComb made a diving stop and threw out Condie at first to end the inning.

"That was a big momentum shift," Drachler said. "Without that, we might have lost that game. But that was a big play by Drew."

Bassett said he wasn't surprised it was LaComb who got the team going.

"Drew's been our energy guy all year," Bassett said. "He's our lead by example kind of guy. He came up with that great play, and it was a huge momentum build for us to get out of that inning."

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