SMALL SCHOOLS: Battery powers Boulder City past Moapa Valley

Boulder City softball coach Bruce Reid broke into a big smile when asked about Karlee Koopman and Taylor McKeever.

After the game the batterymates had Saturday, just about any coach would feel giddy.

Koopman pitched a five-inning one-hitter, McKeever went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and three RBIs, and Boulder City rolled to a 12-0 win over Moapa Valley in the Class 3A Southern League title game in Overton.

“It’s a blessing to be able to have a pitcher and catcher like this,” Reid said. “I’ve got a good group of kids who have worked their tails off.”

Boulder City (29-4) advanced as the lone Southern Nevada team to the Class 3A state tournament, which begins Friday in Mesquite. The Eagles will try to repeat after winning their first state title last season since 1999.

“This is our second goal,” McKeever said of winning the league tournament. “We have one more: win state. But this is big for momentum.”

Koopman (24-3) lowered her ERA to 1.37. The junior walked two and struck out two. Her last three innings were perfect, including a three-pitch third.

Boulder City scored five runs in the second before McKeever led off the third with a home run to left field.

The Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the third, which also included a two-run double by McKeever.

Ali Rants went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs for Boulder City, and teammates Kacey Ochoa, Alex Frye and Janet McQuillan each were 2-for-2.

Reid credited McKeever, a junior, with becoming a leader after moving from shortstop to catcher to replace Paxton Fleming, last year’s 3A Southern League Most Valuable Player.

“Losing Paxton, you’re losing someone who understands the game, but Taylor is just about there,” he said. “She’s done the job.”

Tiffany Houston had the lone hit for Moapa Valley (7-21), which went winless in league play but won twice Friday to reach the finals.

K.C. Jensen pitched a three-hitter with two walks and seven strikeouts to lead Lincoln County (23-6-1) to a 10-2 win over Needles (22-9) in the Class 2A Southern League final at Needles, Calif.

Chanel Adams went 3-for-3 with four runs and two RBIs for Lincoln County, and Kourtney Gloeckner and Taylor Reifsnyder added two hits and two RBIs each.

Both teams advance to the state tournament, which begins Thursday at The Meadows.

Brandi Bryl singled home Heather Thormahlen with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a two-run rally and send Indian Springs to an 8-7 victory over Tonopah in the Class 1A Southern League championship game at Alamo.

Tonopah broke a 6-6 tie with a run in the top of the seventh and retired the first two Thunderbirds in the bottom of the inning before Baylee McCormick singled. Thormahlen tripled to tie the game, and Bryl followed with the game-winning hit.

Thormahlen and McCormick each went 3-for-4, and Bryl and Kristina Espinosa each were 2-for-4 for Indian Springs (19-7).

Harley Maughan was 3-for-4 with a triple and a double, and Deanna Van Poucke was 2-for-3 with a triple for Tonopah (15-7).

Both teams advance to the state tournament, which begins Thursday at Sunrise Mountain.