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Basic ousts top-seeded Desert Oasis in Legion state tourney

Desert Oasis entered this week’s American Legion state tournament as the top seed, but that didn’t matter much to Basic on Monday.

The fourth-seeded Blue Sox scored three runs in the third inning and rolled past the Aces for a 4-2 victory in second-round action at UNLV’s Wilson Stadium.

Taylor Ferdinand tossed an eight-hitter, striking out two and walking one, to earn the victory.

“Taylor just threw a great game,” Basic coach Scott Baker said. “He just pounded the zone and he pretty much had all three of his pitches going.”

Basic scored three runs in the third inning without the benefit of a hit by making the most of three walks, a hit batsman and a sacrifice fly by Logan Green.

The Blue Sox managed just four hits in the game, but Baker said he was happy that his team took advantage of its few opportunities.

“We were fortunate,” he said. “That wasn’t the formula, but it worked.”

The Aces cut the deficit to 3-2 in the fifth on RBI hits by Dylan White and Jordyn Compehos, but Ferdinand recovered to hold Desert Oasis to one hit over the final four innings.

Basic posted an insurance run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Isaac Perez, and Desert Oasis was unable to put together another threat.

Baker said he never doubted his team was capable of defeating the tourney’s top squads.

“I think we came into this thing with a pretty even field,” the coach said. “Whoever gets hot is going to win, and this game gave us the right direction.”

Ryne Nelson went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help the Blue Sox (36-17).

Chase Adams and Compehos each went 2-for-3 with a double to lead Desert Oasis (44-13), which exited the tournament without a win.

Rancho 11, Silverado 3 — In the late game, Jose Verdugo went 4-for-5 with two home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs to lead Post 8 past the Hawks.

Verdugo gave Rancho an early lead by driving in one run with a double in the first inning and another on an RBI fielder’s choice in the third.

But the Hawks answered in the fourth inning, scoring runs on a single by Dax Fellows and a sacrifice fly by Payton Ballard to tie the score at 2.

Verdugo answered with a two-run home run in the fifth to give Rancho the lead for good. He added a two-run double in the seventh and a three-run homer in the eighth to help Post 8 (26-17) put it away.

Vincent Taormina went 2-for-5 to lead Silverado (12-18).

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