Blazer Bash: Las Vegas High’s dramatic win too close for comfort for coach

Trace Everett was not scheduled to play in Monday’s game. But the Las Vegas High junior catcher was forced into action in the seventh inning as a defensive replacement after the starter was ejected.

And he surely wasn’t scheduled to get the game-winning hit.

Everett’s single capped a five-run seventh inning to help the host Wildcats steal a 10-9 walk-off victory from Rim of the World (California) in the Blazer Spring Bash.

It was exciting for the players and fans, but not so much for Las Vegas coach Sam Thomas. He was visibly upset after the rally.

“It should have never gotten to that,” Thomas said of the nail-biter. “We put up (five runs), and now they think everything’s OK.”

Until the bottom of the seventh, it wasn’t the cleanest game the Wildcats (5-6) had played. They only made one error, but it led to a run. They had five wild pitches, including one on a strikeout that allowed Rim of the World’s No. 9 hitter to reach in the third inning. He later scored on a botched rundown. Miscommunication also allowed the Fighting Scots to steal home in the seventh.

“We gave them a lot of runs,” Thomas said. “It’s not even a win where you say we can play bad and still win, and that means we’re doing good. We’re not.”

But Las Vegas fought back when it mattered most. After a lead-off popout in the sixth, the next six Wildcats reached base. Kevin Verduzco collected his third hit on a two-RBI single, then scored his third run on Joel Lindahl’s third RBI to tie the game.

Jose Martinez was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs and two RBIs for the Wildcats, and Lindahl had a double.

Brandon Culmo started for Las Vegas, and although he was charged with five runs (four earned), he only allowed three hits and fanned six in five innings.

San Pedro (Calif.) 6, Las Vegas 2 — At Las Vegas High, Andrew Castellon and Alex Pacheco each went 2-for-4 as the Pirates defeated the Wildcats in the Blazer Spring Bash.

San Pedro’s Anthony Scognamillo pitched four innings and allowed only two runs to earn the victory.

Las Vegas’ Daniel Jimenez went 2-for-4 with a double, and teammate Payton Miller went 2-for-4.

Basic 2, Chatsworth (Calif.) 1 — At Durango, Nick Thompson scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Turner in the bottom of the eighth to give the Wolves the win over the Chancellors.

Thompson also got the win in relief or C.J. Dornak, who allowed one run in six innings of work.

Dalton Miller pinch hit for Thompson to start the eighth-inning rally, and Thompson re-entered the game to run for Miller.

Basic 10, Garfield (Calif.) 0 — At Centennial, Kyle Turner was 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs and two RBIs as the Wolves rolled to a five-inning win over the Bulldogs.

Garrett Giles was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, and Dominik Tavares went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Basic.

Jesse Fonteboa threw a three-hitter with eight strikeouts to get the win. He also went 2-for-2 with two doubles.

Shadow Ridge 5, Sylmar (Calif.) 1 — At Shadow Ridge, Ashton Caniglia was 2-for-2 with a triple, RBI and run scored as the Mustangs topped the Spartans in the Blazer Spring Bash.

Tyler Vizcarra threw the first six inning for the Mustangs, and Caniglia pitched the seventh.

Dillon Kathrein tripled for Shadow Ridge, and Brandon Tressler had a double.

Faith Lutheran 22, Locke (Calif.) 1 — At Cimarron-Memorial, 15 Crusaders scored as they rolled over the Saints in three innings at the Blazer Spring Bash..

C.J. Jaramillo had a double and three runs for the Crusaders, and Dylan Howell scored three times.

Dylan Schafer, Jacob Ortega, Parker Sylvester and Shane Taylor all doubled for the Crusaders, who scored 13 runs in the second inning.

Poly (Calif.) 9, Shadow Ridge 8 — At Shadow Ridge, Tyler Black had a triple, double and two runs for the Mustangs, but they fell to the Parrots in the Blazer Spring Bash.

Jax Holzem had a triple, two runs and two RBIs for the Mustangs, who scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh but left the tying run on second base to end the game.

Kristian Saldana had a triple for Shadow Ridge, and Andrue Sanchez and Jacob Schilder each doubled.

Arbor View 10, Banning (Calif.) 8 — At Durango, Bradley Stone doubled to knock in two runs, and Ryan Lystlund had a pair of RBIs via walks to lift the Aggies over the Broncos in the Blazer Spring Bash.

Austin Pfeifer went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Arbor View.

Frank Hernandez was 3-for-3 with an RBI for Banning.

Chatsworth (Calif.) 12, Arbor View 2 — At Durango, the Chancellors scored nine runs in the sixth inning to incur the 10-run rule against the Aggies.

Deangelo Smith was 2-for-3 with a double for Arbor View.

Starter Austin Carillo allowed four hits while striking out six over six innings.

Banning (Calif.) 13, Durango 2 — At Durango, the Trailblazers surrendered three runs in the sixth inning to succumb to the 10-run rule.

Duke Pahukoa was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI for Durango, and Jacob Bavaro was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Derek Chavez was 3-for-4 with three RBIs for Banning.

Cimarron-Memorial 18, Locke (Calif.) 2 — At Cimarron, Derek Delcolati homered and drove in three runs to help the Spartans take care of the Saints.

Trevor Doyle was 1-for-1 with a triple and two RBIs for the Spartans, and Seth Hoffman was 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Chris Vasquez was 1-for-1 for Locke.

Cimarron-Memorial 13, South Gate (Calif.) 3 — At Cimarron, Decolati went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and the Spartans 10-runned the Rams in six innings.

Andrew Johnson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs for Cimarron, and Zach Culver went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Javier Mendoza went 3-for-3 for South Gate.

San Fernando (Calif.) 5, Moapa Valley 0 — At Sierra Vista, Tony Meza fired a five-hit shutout as the Tigers beat the Pirates.

Meza struck out six and walked three.

Moapa Valley 8, Garfield (Calif.) 0 — At Centennial, Chase Hadley threw a one-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Pirates earned the win.

Hadley and Chase Guesman each had two hits, a run and an RBI, and Coby Longman drove in two runs for Moapa Valley.

Centennial 7, Prairie (Colo.) 2 — At Centennial, Kris Bow drove in three runs, and the Bulldogs held off the Mustangs.

Austin Kryszczuk went 3-for-3 with two doubles for Centennial, and Kian Wilbur added an RBI.

Birmingham (Calif.) 7, Centennial 4 — At Centennial, the Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but couldn’t overcome the Patriots.

Bow was 1-for-3 with three RBIs, and Wilbur was 2-for-4 for Centennial.

Sierra Vista 4, Desert Chapel 3 — At Sierra Vista, Ryan Loy was hit a by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Mountain Lions a walk-off win over the Eagles.

Noy finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Alex Chavira went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Sierra Vista.

San Fernando (Calif.) 3, Sierra Vista 2 — At Sierra Vista, Tyler MacIntyre went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, but the Mountain Lions couldn’t topple the Tigers.

Cooper Kitrel went 2-for-3 for Sierra Vista.

Poly (Calif.) 8, Faith Lutheran 0 — At Shadow Ridge, the Parrots limited the Crusaders to four hits and pulled out the six-inning win.