Friday, March 21, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Two weeks ago, Calvin Valvo was at a loss for words.
"Before the season started, I had no idea how these guys were going to play," said Cimarron Memorial's head baseball coach. "But they want to win."
And want has carried the Spartans to a surprising 6-0 start to the 1997 season. Thursday afternoon, Cimarron made up a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning, then went on to outlast Chaparral 6-5 in nine innings in a nonconference matchup.
The Cowboys (2-4) took the field in the seventh fairly secure. They had caught Cimarron on what appeared to be an unemotional afternoon, and were three outs from a win.
The tone changed after the Spartans forced extra innings, and there sophomore James Nepa lined a two-out single to left field, scoring Mike Esposito with the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. Esposito reached on an error to start the ninth, moved to third with nobody out on a stolen base and another error.
The Spartans stalled momentarily, grounding into two outs, before Nepa lashed a fastball through the hole.
Chaparral loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth after two outs, but senior pitcher Chris Martinez came in and worked out of the jam. He took over for Gavin Gosz, who had relieved the starter, Esposito, in the seventh.
"He's got the mentality of a kid that could be in his second or third year in college," said Valvo of Martinez.
Gosz did a tremendous job in gaining the victory. In the seventh inning, he struck out Maurice Washington, who was 3-for-3 to that point. Gosz also had hit three home runs Wednesday in a game with Ponderosa, Colo.
In the eighth, the Cowboys had two baserunners and Gosz worked out of that jam as well.
Valvo finally lifted Gosz in the ninth after Chaparral put runners on first and second with two outs. An intentional walk loaded the bases and Martinez ran the count full to the next batter, but he induced a ground ball to end the game.
Cimarron's 6-0 record is the best among Class 4A teams in Clark County. The Spartans, who start five sophomores, play host to Valley this afternoon.
"I really didn't think we would be where we are right now," Valvo said.
In other baseball action Thursday, Bishop Gorman downed Valley 8-2, Bonanza outslugged Eldorado 10-4, Silverado beat Basic 11-6, Rancho defeated Western 7-2 and Cheyenne rallied to beat Ponderosa, Colo., 5-4.
Notes
* RANCHO HAS NEW COACH: Tony Hopkins was fired as Rancho's boys' basketball coach Thursday, and the Rams wasted no time in finding a replacement. Joe Stein, who won a state title at Rancho 20 years ago, was hired. Hopkins had guided Rancho into the state championship game just two seasons ago.
* THURSDAY'S SOFTBALL: Bishop Gorman edged Valley 7-6, Clark slipped past Las Vegas 4-3, Cimarron-Memorial outscored Chaparral 12-7, Rancho hammered Western 19-8, Eldorado beat Bonanza 9-3 and Green Valley pounded Cheyenne 10-3.
* TODAY'S SCHEDULE: In baseball, Canadian team Guelph plays Cheyenne at 11:30 a.m., while Chaparral plays Gorman at Hadland at 3:15 p.m. The following games begin at 3 p.m.: Rancho at Clark, Bonanza at Basic, Eldorado at Silverado and Durango at Boulder City.
In softball, Durango and Silverado continue to play in a tournament in Bullhead, Ariz. Also today, Valley is at Cimarron at 3:30 p.m., Rancho is at Clark at 3 p.m., Bonanza is at Basic at 3 p.m., Western visits Las Vegas at 3 p.m. and Cheyenne travels to Green Valley at 3 p.m. Chaparral plays Bishop Gorman at 3:15 p.m. at Jaycee Park.
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