Failed squeeze ignites Las Vegas

When Jose Sanchez was unable to get a bunt down on a suicide squeeze during the second inning Tuesday, it appeared to be the end of a rally for Las Vegas High’s baseball team.

It turned out to be the start of one.

The host Wildcats sent 10 batters to the plate in the second and scored four runs, aided by an obstruction call on the botched squeeze play, in a 5-2 victory over No. 7 Shadow Ridge during the final game of pool play at the Blazer Spring Bash.

“That’s what we’ve been trying to get across to the kids,” Las Vegas coach Sam Thomas said. “As long as we execute … if we can benefit from anybody else’s mistake, it’s going to be a positive for us.”

The Wildcats (10-9) went ahead 2-0 in the second when a throwing error allowed Parker Lowe to score and put two runners in scoring position for Sanchez. Thomas called for a suicide squeeze, and Shadow Ridge starter Jordan Johnson delivered a pitch up and away that the left-handed Sanchez couldn’t get his bat on.

Mustangs catcher Robbie Galvan, seeing Ryan Freimuth running down the third-base line, came out of his crouch early to catch Johnson’s pitch and slapped the tag on Freimuth. But instead of that being the second out of the inning, the home-plate umpire ruled Galvan obstructed the runner and Las Vegas was awarded the run.

“We got lucky on that because our kid didn’t read the squeeze real well,” Thomas said. “We definitely benefited from their mistakes.”

Sanchez then took the next pitch up the middle for a run-scoring single to give the Wildcats a 4-0 lead, and Las Vegas tacked on another run four batters later when Antonio Gaxiola was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Shadow Ridge (14-8) got a run back in the third inning when Travis Caskie led off with a single and stole second and third before scoring on a double to left by Dustin McDonald. But the Mustangs were held in check by Las Vegas pitcher Jaime Solis, who went the distance and struck out six.

The left-hander allowed five hits and worked around three hit batters, including in the fifth when he plunked Jakob Chambers to put runners on first and third for Shadow Ridge. Solis then picked off Chambers, but the Wildcats bungled a rundown for the second time in the inning to allow pinch runner Kyle Gaura to score and make it 5-2.

“I thought Jaime did good considering I don’t think he had all of his weapons today,” Thomas said. “But he competed. He let the defense work.

“Even when the defense faltered, he still competed.”

Shadow Ridge 2, Banning (Calif.) 0 — At Las Vegas, Jake Wilson threw a one-hitter, walking one and striking out five, as the Mustangs blanked Banning.

Antonio Arreola was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, and Francisco Robles went 1-for-2 with a double and a run for Shadow Ridge.

Basic 11, Poly (Calif.) 0 — At Sierra Vista, Taylor Ferdinand tossed a five-inning no-hitter, walking two and striking out five, to lead the Wolves by the Parrots.

Ryne Nelson was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and two RBIs, and Isaac Perez was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI for Basic. Skyler Mahoney was 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI, and Mikey York went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs for the Wolves.

Basic 2, Marshall (Calif.) 0 — At Sierra Vista, Tanner Roundy fired a three-hitter and struck out six as the Wolves ran their shutout streak to five games by blanking Marshall.

Perez’ two-run single in the third inning brought home the only runs of the game for Basic, which had just two hits.

Sierra Vista 13, Poly (Calif.) 5 — At Sierra Vista, Nolan Kingham went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs as the Mountain Lions topped the Parrots in six innings.

Caeden Marin, Bailey Welter and Matthew Almaguer each added two hits for Sierra Vista.

Arbor View 6, Bellflower (Calif.) 0 — At Durango, Ben Cutting threw a five-hitter and struck out five as the Aggies downed the Buccaneers.

Kaid Urban was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, and Nick Quintana added two doubles for Arbor View.

Arbor View 8, Chatsworth (Calif.) 5 — At Durango, Sam Pastrone went the distance and struck out eight to give the Aggies a win over the Chancellors.

Kevin Johns, Jayce Gardner, Urban and Quintana each had two hits for Arbor View. Johns also had two RBIs.

Riley Conlan had a double and a home run for Chatsworth.

Faith Lutheran 7, San Fernando (Calif.) 1 — At Durango, Erich Uelmen tossed a four-hitter and struck out 14 to lead the Crusaders by the Tigers.

Faith Lutheran 11, Marshall (Calif.) 1 — At Sierra Vista, Joshua Harmonay was 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs to help the Crusaders down Marshall in five innings.

Jordan Dreibelbis tossed a two-hitter, walking one and striking out four, for Faith Lutheran.

Desert Oasis 8, Bellflower (Calif.) 7 — At Durango, Alex Tafesh went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs to help the Diamondbacks top the Buccaneers.

Dominic Paratore was 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and three RBIs, and Bryson Stott was 2-for-2 with an RBI for Desert Oasis.

Desert Oasis 6, Arleta (Calif.) 0 — At Desert Oasis, Austin Strong tossed a four-hitter and struck out seven to help the Diamondbacks blank Arleta.

Tyler Kitrel had a two-run triple, and Ryan Henderson had a pinch-hit, two-run single in Desert Oasis’ six-run fifth inning. Tafesh was 1-for-2 with an RBI for the Diamondbacks.

Centennial 17, Moapa Valley 1 — At Centennial, Tanner Wright went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, and Tyler Baca was 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI to help the Bulldogs rout the Pirates in five innings.

Josh McKibbin was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Zachary Dixon tossed a three-hitter for Centennial.

Centennial 6, Carson (Calif.) 4 — At Centennial, McKibbin’s leadoff triple in the bottom of the sixth inning sparked a three-run rally that lifted the Bulldogs by Carson.

Will Loucks and Jaycob DelBarrio combined on a six-hitter for Centennial.

Cimarron-Memorial 6, Liberty (Calif.) 1 — At Cimarron, Logan Bottrell was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored to help the Spartans top Liberty.

Adam Mitchell went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, and Parker McHale was 1-for-3 with two RBIs for Cimarron.

Larry Quaney allowed just three hits and struck out eight in six innings of work for the Spartans.

Cimarron-Memorial 5, Alta (Utah) 1 — At Cimarron, Tyler Giovinco tossed a four-hitter, striking 0ut 10 and walking three, as the Spartans downed Alta.

Bottrell was 3-for-4, and Jamie Yanchisin was 2-for-3 with an RBI for Cimarron. Niko Decolati was 2-for-4 for the Spartans.