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Jun. 19, 2009
BASEBALL Legion, Cougars in split
By DON McDERMOTT
Mike Gonzalez struck out 12 as Pahrump Valley defeated Henderson Coronado 6-3 to give the Trojans a split in a Silver Division American Legion baseball doubleheader Wednesday night at Honeysuckle Park. Pahrump Valley, which lost the opener 12-8, is now 4-4 in the division, with 12 games left. Manager Brandon Bietar's team is idle until June 27, when the Trojans go to Las Vegas Eldorado for a doubleheader. Pahrump Valley returns home June 30, for a twin bill against Desert Oasis. The Trojans' attack, both offensively and defensively, has been helped by the presence of two players off the Palo Verde varsity roster: outfielder Brandon Laubhan and second baseman Roman Dovbenco. Laubhan was a second team Nevada Class 4-A outfielder this past spring for the Panthers, out of the Sunset Region Northwest Division. Dovbenco has returned to action after shoulder surgery. "I can't say enough how I appreciate they are playing with us," said Bietar, who knows about how it feels to play for an outside team. A Pahrump Valley High School graduate, Bietar played American Legion baseball for Faith Lutheran for a couple seasons. Brandon and Roman both showed their defensive skills Wednesday, with the outfielder making a spectacular catch of a drive to deep center and Dovbencho playing flawlessly in the infield. Coronado led 3-1 and 7-6 before PV took an 8-7 lead in the fifth inning of the opener. The Cougars tied it in the sixth, then won with a four-run rally in the seventh. Nick Amato, Chris Blake and Jordan Kingsley got key hits in that inning for the winners. Danny Cazier was tagged for all 12 runs, but defensive mistakes kept him in constant trouble in the first four innings. In the nightcap, the Trojans led 5-1 after two innings and 5-3 going into the sixth. A fielders choice grounder by Sam Morrow drove in Tyler Lepley with the Trojans' final run in that inning. "Defense has been a problem for us all season ... we could easily be 6-2, or maybe even 8-0," said Bietar. "We have the toughest part of our schedule ahead of us." Besides Eldorado, the Trojans also have to battle playoff contenders Desert Oasis, Centennial, Bishop Gorman, Henderson Foothill and Liberty. ---- The Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken League Junior All-Stars from Pahrump are holding two fundraisers Saturday, from 8 a.m. to whenever. There is a car wash at Smith's Food & Drug Store, as well as a parking lot yard sale in the Nugget Casino-Hotel parking lot. The Major Division is holding a car wash and yard sale at Honeysuckle Park today and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Teams are going to northern Nevada for post-season tournaments in July. Anyone who wants to donate funds contact Shelly at 751-9595. The 12-and Under team is going to North Valleys Regional Park in Reno for the 2009 Nevada Cal Ripken playoffs July 3-4-5-6. Its opening game is July 3 against Sun Valley (5 p.m.). ---- The youth leagues recognized their season-long sponsors, including Cutting Edge Water Jet, Evergreen of Pahrump, Floyd's Ace Hardware, Floyd Construction and Gisela's Cafe & Deli. Also, H&M Pipe Supply, Happyland Pediatrics, Horizon Markets, Charleston Pizza, Cooper's Pools & Spas and High Impact Signs. Also, Nicole Brauner (Elite Realty), Pahrump Nugget Hotel and Casino, Universal Brass, Love Signs, Valley Electric and Sletten Construction. |
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