Lions top Trailblazers for baseball win
A little insurance went a long way for Sierra Vista's baseball team Wednesday.
Clinging to a one-run lead in the top of the seventh inning -- after Durango scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth -- the Lions scored four runs to distance themselves in a 9-4 road win.
With four hits, two walks and a hit batter off three Trailblazers pitchers, Sierra Vista gave coach Nate Selby a little breathing room.
"(Durango) came out and got a couple hits, put a little pressure on us in the bottom of the sixth," Selby said. "Everybody was kind of holding their breath there. We tried to get one run in the seventh to get a little distance -- but we kind of strung a couple together."
Nick Capparelli had the big hit of the inning, an RBI double, his second of a 3-for-4 day. Selby said he thinks the strong day might help Capparelli find some consistency at the plate as the Southwest Division season winds down.
"Last year as a junior, he had a good year, but he's been a kind of hit-and-miss guy this year," Selby said. "We'd definitely like to see him get his feet under him. It's a weird game -- confidence is something you want to have, but you need a short-term memory."
With Kiel Harmon pitching for the Lions, it looked as though the Trailblazers would have a day to forget.
The senior pitcher moved to 6-1, allowing four hits in the first five innings. But in the sixth inning, Durango had four hits, including a Ryan Kuehl double, pulling within 5-4.
• Valley 2, Rancho 0 -- At Valley, Larry Valdes tossed a two-hitter and struck out eight to lead the Vikings past the Rams.
Zack Qualls tossed a four-hitter and had both of Rancho's hits.
• Bonanza 5, Spring Valley 2 -- At Bonanza, Nick Bryant went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Phil Navarro drove in two runs to help the Bengals beat the Grizzlies.
Josh Wells picked up the win for Bonanza, striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. Chasen Shreve scored twice and got the save.
Cameron Brooks and Enzo Bello each tripled for the Grizzlies.
• Canyon Springs 15, Desert Pines 4 -- At Canyon Springs, Josh Dahilig went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs and two stolen bases as the Pioneers defeated the Jaguars in five innings.
Alberto Ortiz drove in three runs for Desert Pines.
Brady Smith threw a three-hitter for Canyon Springs, striking out seven, and was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
• Tech 17, Clark 12 -- At Tech, Travis James went 4-for-5 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs, and the Roadrunners used a 12-run fifth inning to top the Chargers.
Alex Fonseca and Jimmy Talamantez each went 2-for-2 for Tech.
Clark's Carlos Becerra and James Breen were both 2-for-4 with a triple.
• Las Vegas 14, Eldorado 0 -- At Eldorado, Bryce Harper went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and four RBIs to help the Wildcats to a five-inning win over the Sundevils.
Las Vegas' Tate Chauncey was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs. Miguel Ortiz tossed a two-hit shutout, striking out seven.
• Bishop Gorman 25, Western 0 -- At Hadland Park, Jerry Mitchell, R.J. Santigate, Erik Van Meetren, Paul Sewald and John Rickard each had two hits as the Gaels routed the Warriors.
SOFTBALL
• Durango 16, Sierra Vista 0 -- At Durango, Ashley Hall had a three-run homer and Jaixie Balilea added a two-run shot to help the Trailblazers rout the Lions in five innings.
Winning pitcher Nicole Herrera fired a three-hitter, striking out nine. She also went 3-for-3 with two doubles. Randi Gilbert added a double for Durango.
• Bishop Gorman 15, Western 0 -- At Gorman, Hayley Atiyeh and Alexis Aguirre combined on a five-inning no-hitter as the Gaels blanked the Warriors.
Christina Thompson was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs for Gorman, and Claudia Franco was 3-for-3.
• Bonanza 10, Spring Valley 6 -- At Bonanza, Brittany Spencer was 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs to help the Bengals defeat the Grizzlies.
Jessica Delp and Aimee Doyle each went 3-for-4 with a double for Bonanza.
• Rancho 7, Valley 5 -- At Valley, Maria Palacios went 4-for-5 with a double, and the Rams scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to down the Vikings.
Katelyn Bley was 2-for-4 with two runs for Rancho, and Karina Calderon went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
Valley's Mickayla Romero went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs.
• Las Vegas 15, Eldorado 0 -- At Eldorado, Jennifer Gliddon tossed a six-inning two-hitter and struck out 10 to lead the Wildcats past the Sundevils.
Brianna Guzman had a triple for Las Vegas.
• Canyon Springs 9, Desert Pines 4 -- At Canyon Springs, Alicia Tuala and Jessica Guerra each had a triple and a double to lead the Pioneers past the Jaguars.
Guerra tossed a two-hitter to get the win.
• Centennial 13, Coronado 0 -- At Coronado, Johnna Brown went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs to help the Bulldogs rout the Cougars.
Centennial's Juelaine Noa also had four RBIs.
Lauren Lynds tossed a five-inning two-hitter, striking out 10.
