BASEBALL: Bonanza tops Boulder City in wild one in Grizzly Invitational

As far as Bonanza baseball coach Mike O’Rourke is concerned, if his team is going to blow a six-run lead, the Bengals might as well win anyway.

After losing a big lead and falling behind in the sixth, Bonanza senior Torren Brozovich ripped a game-tying triple and scored on an error on the same play to power the Bengals to an 8-7 win in the Grizzly Invitational at Spring Valley on Tuesday.

“This team, man, they give me heart attacks,” Brozovich said. “Every time it comes down to the seventh innings, we always find a way.”

Brozovich was nearly unstoppable at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a pair of triples, three runs and an RBI. His second triple down the right field line with two outs in the sixth evened the game, but he wasn’t done. He popped up from his slide and saw the botched relay and bolted for home to score the eventual winning run.

“Pressure doen’t really get to me now,” Brozovich said. “I really slow the down game and I really keep it in my own head. If I do get out there, it’s another out and we keep going until the seventh inning. I trust my team, so I felt no pressure.”

Ugly or not, Bonanza (9-8) escaped with the win that looked like it would be a blowout. The Bengals teed off on Boulder City starter Rhett Armstrong for six hits and six runs through their first 13 hitters.

Then Armstrong settled down. He went all six innings and after the first 13 batters, only one of the next 13 reached base. He retired seven of those by strikeout. It was in that time that the Eagles’ offense, led by Armstrong’s three runs and two RBIs, clawed back to tie the game fifth and take the lead in the sixth.

In a game like Tuesday’s, it was only fitting it ended with a little drama. Boulder City pinch hitter Preston Van Diest singled, was lifted for pinch runner Noah Higgins who advanced to second on a bunt. Senior Aaron Kehoe then sent a routine fly ball to left field. Bonanza outfielder Bryce Bixby dropped it, and Higgins broke for third.

The throw beat Higgins, but the umpired ruled him safe. Bonanza third baseman Luis Lares’ reaction showed where the team stood on the umpire’s call, and O’Rourke came out to argue. The umpires huddled together and ruled him safe. Bonanza righty Matthew Cox struck out the next batter to end the game and beat Boulder City (8-11) for the third time this season.

“I thought they got the call right,” O’Rourke said. “Hats off to Bryce for just picking the ball up and making the next play. He didn’t quit, he didn’t pout about it, he made a great throw to the relay man and we executed the relay and they got the call right.”

Spring Valley 7, Bonanza 0 — At Spring Valley, Donovan Souder threw a two-hitter as the Grizzlies beat the Bengals in the Grizzly Invitational.

Souder struck out six with one walk.

Bryce Bullock was 2-for-3 with two doubles, and Jaxson Otis had a home run and two RBIs for Spring Valley.

Nick Rupp was 2-for-4 with a double, and Jack Sellinger was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Grizzlies, who moved to 3-0 in the tournament.

Legacy 6, Moapa Valley 4 — At Spring Valley, Diego Portillo was 2-for-3 with three RBIs to power the Longhorns over the Pirates in the Grizzly Invitational.

Donte Williams went 2-for-4 with two runs, and Forrest Grevelis was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

Chase Guesman was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs for Moapa Valley. Drake Staheli went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, and Dayton Wolfley drove in two runs for the Pirates.

Bishop Gorman 5, Granite Hills (Calif.) 0 — At El Cajon, California, Dutch Landis threw a four-hitter as the Gaels beat the Eagles in the Lions Tournament.

Landis struck out eight and walked two.

Nick Israel was 3-for-4 with two solo homers to lead the Gorman offense. Austin Wells went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs for the Gaels.

Sean Ross was 2-for-4 for Granite Hills.

Foothill 5, West Hills (Calif.) 3 — At Santee, California, Anthony Pannullo went 2-for-3 with two runs to lead the Falcons over the Wolf Pack in the Lions Tournament.

Brandon Armand went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Falcons. Ben Gonzalez allowed one earned run on five hits in six innings to get the win. He struck out three and walked two. Kelton Lachelt pitched a scoreless seventh to get the save.

Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) 9, Green Valley 5 — At San Diego, the Dons used a five-run fifth inning to top the Gators in the Lions Tournament.

Wyatt Hoffman was 4-for-4 with a run and an RBI to lead Cathedral Catholic.

A.J. Amelburu and Austin Primack each went 2-for-3 with a run to pace Green Valley. Primack had a triple, and Matt Gilbertson was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Gators.

Foothill (Calif.) 13, Silverado 5 — At San Diego, Griffin Selby doubled twice as the Broncos beat the Skyhawks.

Kevin Pindel was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Kyle Nixon went 2-for-2 for the Skyhawks.

Castle Park (Calif.) 15, Sunrise Mountain 1 — At Chula Vista, California, the Trojans scored five runs in the first inning to set the tone in a rout of the Miners.

Daltyn Pytrysson walked and scored a run for the Miners, and teammate Cecil Hall had two hits.

Poway (Calif.) 8, Desert Oasis 3 — At Poway, California, the Titans used 10 singles and nine walks to top the Diamondbacks in the Lions Tournament.

D.J. Blaszyk threw a three-hitter to get the win for Poway.

Kyle Fuentes doubled for Desert Oasis.

Palisades (Calif.) 6, Liberty 3 — At Encinitas, California, the Dolphins topped the Patriots in 10 innings at the Lions Tournament.

IMG Academy (Fla.) 7, Coronado 1 — At Fullerton, California, Matt Mitchell fired a no-hitter as the Ascenders beat the Cougars at the National Tournament.

Mitchell, who transferred from Bishop Gorman, allowed an unearned run in the sixth. He struck out 10 with no walks.

Tyler Esplin went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run and two RBIs for IMG.

Boulder Creek (Ariz.) 4, Basic 3 — At Fullerton, California, the Jaguars plated a run in the bottom of the fifth to edge the Wolves in the National Tournament.

Trace Evans had two hits for Basic.