SUNRISE BASEBALL: Wasden makes most of opportunity

Dane Wasden doesn’t always find his name in the starting lineup for Coronado’s baseball team, but he got the nod at designated hitter on Tuesday.

The senior made the most of it.

Wasden was 2-for-2, drew two walks and drove in three runs to help the Cougars to a 9-2 road win over Silverado in the opening round of the Sunrise Region tournament.

“Wasden’s a guy who’s been coming off the bench for me all year and getting the big hit,” Coronado coach David Padilla said. “Today, I just had that feeling of hey, let’s put him in and see what he does. Great day for him and huge for our team. He really sparked us today.”

Wasden’s biggest at-bat came in the fourth inning with the score tied 2-2. He came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs and singled past first base to score two runs and give the Cougars a 4-2 lead.

“It felt good,” Wasden said of seeing his name in the lineup. “I was ready to get it done.”

Coronado (16-14) fell behind early when Silverado’s Vincent Taormina drove a first-pitch fastball onto the street beyond the left-field fence for a solo homer in the bottom of the first.

But Wasden tied the game when he lined an RBI single to right with one out in the second, and the Cougars took the lead one batter later on an RBI groundout by Jake McLean.

That rally started with a leadoff walk followed by a routine popup off the bat of Nate Ruiz. The wind blew the popup back into fair territory, and first baseman Michael Camburn couldn’t make the play, putting runners at first and second.

The Skyhawks (20-9) got a break of their own to tie the game in the bottom of the second when James Skelly lined out to second baseman Anthony Olheiser. Olheiser tried to double the runner off first, but his throw was wide and went out of play, allowing Payton Ballard to advance to second. Mitchell Ballard then bounced a single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

Coronado starter Adam Garcia was in control from there. He went the distance, allowing one earned run on five hits, to get the win.

“He was a little tight at the beginning,” Padilla said. “He gave up the one unearned run in the second, but then he settled right in. He got the curveball finally over and that set the tone once he started getting the breaking ball over.”

Donte Glover went 3-for-3, and Nicco Festa added a two-run homer for Coronado, which plays at Basic (26-4) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Cougars upset the Wolves in the final Southeast League game for both teams.

Silverado hosts Canyon Springs (10-20) in an elimination game at 3:30 Wednesday.

Liberty 10, Rancho 9 — At Liberty, Preston Pavlica’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh scored Lucas Bogues to help the Patriots rally by the Rams.

Liberty, which trailed 9-8 going into the bottom of the inning, got a leadoff walk and the next batter reached on a bunt when no one covered first.

Nick Rush was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Jonny Gilleres walked to force home the tying run.

Pavlica, who was 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI, then hit a sacrifice fly to end the game.

Justin Lutes was 3-for-4 with three doubles and two RBIs, and teammate Omar Ortiz was 3-for-3 with three runs and an RBI for Liberty. The Patriots host Green Valley (25-6) at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Robert Spinelli went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run for Rancho (9-23), which scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take the lead.

Angel Walker added a solo homer for the Rams, who play at Las Vegas (15-15) in an elmination game at 3:30 Wednesday.

Green Valley 8, Las Vegas 0 — At Green Valley, Jarrett Perns went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI as the Gators beat the Wildcats.

Drake Maningo was 2-for-3 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs, and Jimmy Montiel went 2-for-3 with a run for Green Valley.

Blake Inouye allowed two hits over four innings with three strikeouts to get the win.

Jaime Solis was 2-for-3 for Las Vegas.

Basic 11, Canyon Springs 0 — At Basic, Logan Green threw a five-inning two hitter with four strikeouts, and the Wolves scored 10 runs in the first inning to top the Pioneers.

Ryne Nelson and Jack Wold each went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for Basic, and teammate David Hudleson was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Roger Riley had two hits and two runs, and Tanner Roundy added a double for the Wolves.

Jordan Gainey and Roey Sellouk singled for Canyon Springs.