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Tanner Lewis, Summerlin Panthers roll to Connie Mack win

Tanner Lewis didn’t ask for much support Wednesday, but he got plenty.

The big left-hander tossed a one-hitter, and his team pounded out 13 hits to help the Summerlin Panthers rout the Las Vegas Crusaders 10-0 in the second round of the Connie Mack state baseball tournament at the College of Southern Nevada.

Lewis struck out eight while holding the Crusaders to a second-inning hit in the five-inning victory.

Panthers coach Joe Hallead said Lewis’ performance was the key to his squad’s win.

“Tyler stayed in the zone today, and he helped set the tempo,” Hallead said. “His pitching translated into good defense and some good at-bats.”

Lewis missed much of the season with outside obligations. Hallead said that rest helped his lefty remain fresh for the tourney.

“We rested him a lot this season,” Hallead said. “I think he only pitched 20 innings for us. His arm was ready.”

Lewis never struggled. Instead, the Panthers jumped ahead early with a run in the first inning and three more in the third. They blew the game open in the fourth by scoring five runs on five hits, two walks and two Crusaders errors.

Lewis helped himself at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. His teammates followed suit.

“When you put the ball in play, it makes the other defense work and allows us to play our game,” Hallead said. “Once our first guy got on, that got us going offensively and we just rolled throughout the game.”

Kristian Garcia had three hits for the Panthers, and teammates Scotty Crosby and Wes Crosby each added two hits.

Lucas Dockery had the Crusaders’ only hit.

With the win, Summerlin remained in the winners’ bracket, where they will face will face the Southern Nevada Falcons at 8 p.m. Thursday.

Hallead said his team’s goal was to avoid extra losers’ bracket games.

“This bracket is a bonus,” he said, noting his desire to minimize his players’ exposure to the heat. “It’s nice to get a day off here and there.”

The Crusaders fell into the losers’ bracket and will face the Las Vegas Cats at 2 p.m. Thursday

Southern Nevada Falcons 2, Green Valley Elite 1 — Tommy Dirk drove in two runs with a double to center field in the top of the seventh inning to help the Falcons rally for a victory over the Elite.

Green Valley’s Matt Gilbertson broke open a pitchers’ duel with an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Elite a 1-0 lead that would hold until the seventh.

But a Green Valley error and a walk gave Southern Nevada two baserunners with one out in the final inning. Gilbertson came on in relief for the Elite and immediately surrendered the key hit to Dirk.

Kelton Lachelt went the distance for the Falcons, holding Green Valley to four hits.

Frankie Fitzgerald suffered the loss despite striking out 11 while holding the Falcons to five hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Green Valley will play the Las Vegas Grizzlies in an elimination game at 5 p.m. Thursday.

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