Boulder City baseball team hopes to shore up defense

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009 | 11:59 p.m.

The Boulder City High baseball team will be on the road when the 3A Southern League playoffs begin in two weeks.

The Eagles lost both games of a league doubleheader to visiting Moapa Valley on April 24 — the second consecutive week they dropped a doubleheader — and sit at 2-6 in league. With four league games left in the regular season, coach Bill Strachan is working with his team to shore up its defense.

"We don't play defense with a lot of pride," Strachan said. "We are still trying to find ways to field the ball and throw the ball."

Boulder City lost the first game 6-2 to Moapa Valley. It led 4-0 in the second game but could hold on in a 6-5 defeat.

Shane Levin had a pair of RBIs in the second game while Adam Eudy and Nate Nafen had three hits each in the series.

"Shane Levin is our leader. He plays he butt off every game," Strachan said.

Nafen, a freshman who was called up at the beginning of the week, hit a home run April 21 in a 12-2 victory against Cheyenne. Strachan also called up sophomore second baseman Nick Morelli.

"We are putting people out there who want to play defense," the coach said.

Boulder City returns to league play at 3:30 p.m. on May 1 at Faith Lutheran.

Girls track team shows well at Coronado

The Boulder City High girls track team won three events April 28 in a tri-meet at Coronado, but couldn't overcome its lack of numbers in taking third.

Coronado won the meet with 101 points, Chaparral was second at 64 and Boulder City was third with 17. Boulder City has 18 girls on its roster for 18 events, and with each school allowed to enter three participants per event, the lack of depth has made winning meets difficult.

Individual performers, however, have consistently finished near the top of their events.

Ashley Vince captured the discus with a throw of 100 feet and Sara Richner won the 3,200 meters in 13 minutes, 37.8 seconds. Boulder City's 3,200 relay team also took first in 11:34.8.

"We had some girls do some good things today," Boulder City coach Steve Roe said. "Ashley Vince had a nice performance."

Boulder City also took third in the boys meet. Coronado was first with 68 points, Chaparral followed at 65 and the Eagles were third with 53.

Matt Lundgren captured the 1,600 in 4:48.1 and the 3,200 in 10:32.7, while Alex Dillon won the pole vault in 13-6 and John Garlinghouse took the shot put in 44-9. Dan Raddant won the 800 at 2:09.8 and the Eagles' 3,200 relay team was victorious in 8:17.7.

Swimmers make a splash in Moapa Valley

If only the rest of Boulder City High's teams could enjoy the same success against rival Moapa Valley.

The Eagles boys and girls swimming team combined to win all but one event April 25 in easily topping the Pirates — the boys were victorious 194-44, while the girls picked up a 173-38 win.

"The kids were awesome. They scored really well," Boulder City coach Sara Carroll said.

Mathew Lara and Dylan Bunch were each double winners for the boys, which remained undefeated in five meets this spring. Lara won the 200 freestyle in 1 minute, 56 seconds and the 100 butterfly 1:01.63. Bunch took the 500 in 4:56.96 and the 100 backstroke in 1:01.16.

Julia Jeppsen won two events for the girls, taking the 50 free in 27.57 and the 100 free in 1:02.03. Kelsey Thompson also was a double winner, capturing the 200 free in 2:06.85 and the 100 butterfly in 1:06.22.

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