I-A BASEBALL: Morelli’s double moves Boulder City into title game

Michael Morelli’s RBI double scored Zach Murphy with the go-ahead run in the sixth inning Friday to help Boulder City’s baseball team rally for a 6-4 win over Elko in the winners’ bracket final of the Division I-A state tournament at Galena High in Reno.

The Eagles, who trailed 4-3 after five innings, scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and got a complete game from Steve Wagner to advance to the championship game unscathed.

Boulder City (27-7) will face Sierra Vista (21-19) in the state final at 9 a.m. Saturday at Bishop Manogue. The Mountain Lions have to win twice to take the double-elimination tournament.

Elko had runners on second and third base with one out in the top of the seventh, but Wagner escaped the jam with a strikeout and groundout to end the game. The senior struck out three, walked one and gave up three earned runs.

Kodey Rahr went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and three RBIs to lead Boulder City. Murphy was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Nolan Desantis and Alex Mathis each doubled for the Eagles.

Brenden Yocum was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs for Elko, and teammate Kyle Whitted went 3-for-4 with a homer.

Sierra Vista 8, Elko 2 — Matthew Vanderburg’s three-run triple highlighted a five-run first inning as the Mountain Lions downed the Indians in the loser’s bracket final.

Ryan Carroll was 2-for-4 with a double, and Cooper Kitrel singled twice for Sierra Vista, which led 7-2 after three innings.

Braxton Anderson threw a six-hitter with three strikeouts to get the win. He walked four.

Whitted was 2-for-3 for Elko (23-14-1).

Sierra Vista 4, Churchill County 3 — DaVion Hollis’ sacrifice fly to center field scored Kitrel with the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth inning to lead the Mountain Lions by the Greenwave in an earlier elimination game.

Kitrel went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI, and Dylan White was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for Sierra Vista, which led 3-0 after the top of the third inning.

The Greenwave scored three runs in the bottom of the third to tie the score.

Blake Kaplan gave up one earned run and struck out five in five innings to get the win for the Mountain Lions.

Trae Workman doubled, and Jack Swisher had an RBI for Churchill County (22-13).