Local teams jolt north

Two decades of Southern Nevada futility came to a stunning end in Round 1 of the 4A State Softball Tournament Wednesday at Sunset Park.

The area's four representatives -- Silverado, Durango, Centennial and Eldorado -- stepped out from the long shadows cast by their northern peers to make the rest of the three-day event a mostly southern affair for the first time in a long time.

The Skyhawks, Trailblazers and Bulldogs won their first-round games to remain in the winner's bracket, while the Sundevils bounced back from an opening loss for a loser's bracket win.

"The north has pretty much dominated, so to see that all four of us have advanced is real encouraging for Southern Nevada," Eldorado coach Ken Trujillo said.

Durango coach Sandy Morgan agreed: "We have some talent down here in the south. Now it's just a matter of believing. If they believe they can win a state championship then they can do it."

Centennial (27-8) got things going for the locals, posting a 5-1 win over Douglas. Amy Sauer pitched a complete game for the win, striking out 12 batters and holding the Tigers to four hits, and also tripled home the tying and eventual winning runs for the first-year Bulldogs.

"I thought we might be tight because this is our first (state) championship game in history, but we came out loose," Centennial coach Cyndi Parus said. "We're a first-year team, but they've all played big games in summer ball."

Silverado (32-8) kept the southern momentum going with a 5-2 win over 1998 state champion Reed -- despite an undisclosed injury that kept ace Keely Commerford from pitching. In her stead, Jackie Kinsey tossed a solid seven innings, scattering eight hits for the win.

"We told Jackie she was going today, and it didn't work out too bad," Skyhawks coach Chuck Pope said. "She's a different style of pitcher than they're used to in the north."

Durango (26-14) became the fourth Las Vegas-area club to advance, shocking defending state champion Galena 4-1 behind a seven-hitter from pitcher Aja Sherman and a two-run triple by Toni Deltoro.

Sherman preserved the victory by striking out Grizzlies cleanup hitter Tiffany Kristie with the bases loaded to end the game.

"In past years, we'd panic and give it to them," said Morgan, whose club lost to Galena in the first round last year. "Now we have confidence in our abilities. We wanted payback, and we weren't afraid to play them at all."

Despite the local teams' success on Day 1, the biggest obstacle to the state title returning to Southern Nevada for the first time since 1993 and only the second time since 1983 remains firmly in place -- Northern Region champion Wooster.

The Colts (39-2) prevented a southern sweep, blasting Eldorado (26-10) 10-0. Wooster's Jennipher Bator limited the Sundevils to just one hit, while teammates Chelsea Crosby (grand slam) and Cynthia Elkins (two homers) provided all the run support she would need.

"We've got a big, big game ahead of us," said Parus, whose club plays Wooster today in Round 2.

"Everybody's talking about the Wooster pitching staff, but the bottom line is we have to get the bat on the ball."

The Sundevils rebounded from their opening loss with a 4-1 win over Douglas in the evening session, with Crystal Alspaugh picking up the victory on the mound and belting a three-run homer.

In the day's final game, the Grizzlies (30-9) outlasted Reed (26-12) 3-2 in 11 innings, sending the Raiders packing.

Spencer Patterson covers prep sports for the Sun. Reach him by e-mail at [email protected] or at 259-4085.

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