Green Valley’s Josh George (11) slides home for a score against Liberty during the seventh inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty’s Zanden Shim (10) is tagged out by Green Valley’s Carter Gehlken (10) at second base during the first inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Garrett Nelson (4) runs home for a run against Liberty during the seventh inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Chris Clark (27) pitches against Liberty during the second inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty’s Andrew Gallegos (21) runs for a score against Green Valley during the second inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Max Leuga (7) watches the ball fall in the outfield against Liberty during the second inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty’s Tyler Williamson (12) bunts the ball against Green Valley during the second inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Carter Gehlken (10) is beat to the plate for an out by Liberty’s Andrew Gallegos (21) during the third inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty’s Tyler Williamson (12) slides home for a run against Green Valley during the fourth inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Gavin Amelburu (5) tags out Liberty’s Mason Bowden (1) during the fifth inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty’s Mason Bowden (1) misses the ball in the outfield against Green Vally during the seventh inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Liberty Dylan SanNicolas (3) reaches for a catch before throwing to first base for an out against Green Valley during the event inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Green Valley won 7-6. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s Garrett Nelson (4) pitches against Liberty during the seventh inning of the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley’s coach Clay Mauro, left, celebrates with Gavin Malcolm (2) after winning 7-6 against Liberty in the baseball game at Liberty High School in Henderson, Friday, April 20, 2018. Erik Verduzco Las Vegas Review-Journal @Erik_Verduzco
Green Valley baseball players stood in the dugout as they mounted a comeback against Liberty on Friday.
They jumped for joy when they finally completed it.
The Gators overcame a three-run deficit by scoring four runs in the seventh inning to claim a 7-6 road victory over the Patriots.
Senior Garrett Nelson pitched four scoreless innings of relief for Green Valley (13-10, 10-4 Sunrise League) and had an RBI double to trigger the rally.
He also scored the tying run on an overthrow by Liberty catcher James Katona moments before Gavin Amelburu scored the winning run on the same play.
“You’ve got to win every inning, win pitches,” Nelson said. “We’re trying to fight for higher playoff seeds, get home-field advantage. It makes all the difference.”
The Gators trailed for most of the game — despite an early 2-0 lead — after allowing five runs to the Patriots (9-13, 7-6) in the second inning. Green Valley then scored once in the fourth to set the scene for its dramatic seventh inning.
Nelson smoked a line drive to right for his double, scoring Josh George. Jake Empey added an RBI groundout, Katona overthrew the third baseman with the bases loaded as Green Valley completed its comeback.
The Patriots loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Nelson induced a harmless groundout to end the game.
“It went our way for sure when it mattered,” Gators coach Corey Gehlken said. “That’s why you play every strike, every pitch in a seven-inning baseball game … It worked out our way, but it shouldn’t have.”
