SMALL SCHOOLS: Repp keys Pirates’ rise

Jared Repp has been a key ingredient in the sudden rise of Moapa Valley’s long-suffering baseball program.

So it seemed fitting when the sophomore catcher scored the winning run to give the Pirates their biggest victory in years Saturday.

Repp scored from third base on an error with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Moapa Valley a 6-5 win over host Boulder City in the Class 3A Southern League tournament final.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m stoked,” Repp said. “I’m just real happy, can’t wait for state.”

Moapa Valley (10-19) won its first league tournament title since 2001, also the last year the Pirates advanced to the state playoffs. Moapa Valley clinched the South’s lone bid to the 3A state tournament, which begins Thursday in Reno.

“I have never felt anything like this before. It’s just unreal,” Pirates coach Justin Williams said. “This is my third year as coach. We keep improving. My first year here, we barely could get a win in this division. To come out this year and we went 5-3 in league, we knew we were going to peak at the right time.”

Moapa Valley’s Shane Terril hit an RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 4 in the bottom of the seventh.

Thomas Shelley’s sacrifice fly to right field plated Tanner Howell to give Boulder City (16-12) a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth.

But Dillon Sullivan drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half and eventually scored when Dylan Mortensen reached on a fielding error by Boulder City’s shortstop to tie the game at 5.

When Mortensen broke for second with one out, an errant throw from Boulder City’s catcher to second base went into center field, bringing home Repp with the winning run.

“At that moment, I just chased (Repp) home and gave him a big hug at the plate,” Williams said. “I knew he was going to score as soon as I saw the throw.”

Moapa Valley’s Kasen Hughes was 2-for-4 with two runs and led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to the right-field corner.

Terril, Repp and winning pitcher Mortensen each had two hits for Moapa Valley, which enters the state tournament riding a six-game winning streak.

Michael Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a double and a run for Boulder City, which lost six of its final nine games. Shelley and Howell each added two hits.

CLASS 2A

The Meadows (22-7) defeated Needles 12-10 in the deciding game of the Class 2A Southern League tournament in Laughlin.

Needles (21-7) had beaten The Meadows 16-2 earlier on Saturday to force a second game.

Both teams advance to the state tournament, which begins on Thursday in Lovelock.

CLASS 1A

Jeffery Jones went 3-for-4, Paden Higbee pitched a complete game with two strikeouts, and Pahranagat Valley rolled to an 11-3 win over Round Mountain in the Class 1A Southern Region tournament final at Sunrise Mountain.

Derek Hansen was 2-for-4 for Pahranagat Valley (13-9), including a two-run triple as part of a four-run third inning.

Round Mountain (12-9) hurt itself with eight errors.

Both teams advance to the 1A state tournament, which begins Thursday at UNR.