Top tournament spot in sight for Boulder City softball squad

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Friday, April 24, 2009 | 12:30 a.m.

The Boulder City High softball team is in the driver's seat of the 3A Southern League standings and virtually a lock for the top spot in the league tournament in three weeks.

At 19-2 overall, the Eagles appear to be the team to beat.

They took a doubleheader from host Virgin Valley on April 17 to complete a sweep of the first half of their league schedule, capping a run where they haven't been challenged in winning doubleheaders from all three of their league opponents.

But the runaway victories might not necessarily be a good thing. Boulder City has only been in a handful of contested games and that lack of experience could become an obstacle, Eagles' coach Bruce Reid said.

"We only have one senior and a lot of them don't have the experience of having to be mentally tough out there," Reid said. "If their mental capabilities get up to their physical capabilities, we will be unbeatable."

The first game with Virgin Valley was scoreless after four innings, but Boulder City erupted for five runs in the fifth inning for a 5-1 victory.

Brittany Patt started the scoring with a two-run triple and Taylor McKeever put an exclamation point on the outburst with a three-run home run.

Karlee Koopman pitched a complete game one-hitter with eight strikeouts for the win.

Boulder City had 17 hits in the second game in cruising to an 11-0 victory in five innings. Dylan Scott went the distance, giving up five hits, for the win.

Ali Rantz led the offense with a 4-for-4 performance with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Rantz is 8-for-9 with three doubles in the last three games.

"She has been hotter than anything with the bat lately," Reid said.

Ariel O'Neill went 3-for-4 with a double three RBIs, McKeever had three hits and Paxton Fleming went 2-for-4.

Boulder City also beat Needles, Calif., 7-2 on April 14.

Baseball swept at Virgin Valley

Disappointed by his team's performance April 17 in dropping both games of a doubleheader at Virgin Valley, Boulder City coach Bill Strachan will shake up his lineup this week in an attempt to spark his team.

"I'm bringing up some of the junior varsity kids to start," the coach said. "We have to mix some things up because some guys just aren't doing the job. It's like calling up Triple-A guys to get a chance."

Boulder City was defeated 5-1 and 9-4 against Virgin Valley. They were trailing 9-1 in the seventh and final inning of the second game before Ross LaMarca hit a three-run home run.

Boulder City batters struck out 10 times in the first game and 12 times in the second.

"Seven of those were looking," Strachan said. "This is high school baseball, you have to put the ball in play."

Adam Eudy and Ryan Bowen each had two hits in the second game for the Eagles.

Boulder City track wins meet in Mesquite

The Boulder City High boys track team captured the eight-team Bulldog Invitational on April 17 in Mesquite.

Alex Dillon won the pole vault at 12-feet and Jake Phillips was victorious in the 800 meter run in 2 minutes, 6 seconds as the defending 3A state champion Eagles scored 113 points. Second place Moapa Valley had 102 points, followed by Faith Lutheran in third at 97.

Boulder City took the top four spots in the 800 with Phillips in first, Dan Raddant (2:08) in second, Taylor Clifford (2:11) third and Michael Kelso (2:013) fourth. The foursome also teamed to captured the 3,200 relay at 8:42.

Matt Lundgren took second in the 1,600 (4:51) and the 3,200 (10:39).

Boulder City's girls, also the defending state champions, took second in the field of eight teams in Mesquite with 100 points. Faith Lutheran won the meet with 191 points.

"We are kind of hit and miss this year," Boulder City coach Steve Roe said. "We are not dominanting in any one event, but we have had some solid performances."

Callie Stanton won the lone event for the girls, capturing the 100 hurdles in 18.3. She was second in the 300 hurdles at 54.1

Sara Richner placed second in the 3,200 at 13:29 and third in the 1,600 at 6:17.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].