SUNRISE REGION: Gators survive Silverado, advance to play Rancho for title

Green Valley baseball coach Nick Garritano had trouble staying positive following his team’s 8-7 victory over Silverado on Friday night.

But at least his team stayed alive.

“A win is a win in the playoffs,” Garritano conceded.

Green Valley (28-6) survived to play Rancho (29-3) for the Sunrise Region championship at 10 a.m. today. The Gators would have to beat the Rams twice to win the crown and earn the region’s lone berth in next week’s Class 4A state tournament in Reno.

“Fortunately we move on to tomorrow,” Garritano said. “It’s a tough task ahead of us.
“It’s definitely tough when you’re playing the way we are.”

The Gators, who averaged 10.9 runs in Southeast League play, struggled offensively for the second day in a row. A day after Rancho’s Zak Qualls threw a no-hitter against Green Valley, the Gators managed only five hits against Silverado.

“I just told the kids that I don’t recognize this team right now,” Garritano said. “I’m not sure what it is, but we just don’t have a lot of confidence in the box. And they have 16 hours to try and gain some confidence.”

Green Valley took advantage of five walks and three hit batters to take an 8-1 lead after four innings. Cameron Harper and Bobby Shiroky each drove in two runs.

But the Gators suffered from their own wildness in the fifth, walking four, hitting a batter, throwing four wild pitches and balking home a run as the Skyhawks cut the lead to 8-7.

James Durbin finally shut down the Silverado comeback, pitching 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed two hits and struck out four before giving way to Anthony Uran with two outs in the seventh.

“James did a phenomenal job,” Garritano said. “He didn’t want to come out.”

Though the Gators need to win twice today, they have some pitching remaining. Uran has thrown only one-third of an inning in the tournament, and Shiroky, who started the tournament opener, can come back on three days rest.

Garritano admitted he probably will have to lean on pitchers who have already thrown in recent days.

“Guys are just going to have to gut it up,” he said. “We’re going to throw guys that are on short rest. I told the kids we take care of them all year long, and now it’s time to pay the program back.”

Drew Robinson went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for Silverado, which finished 23-11.

Silverado 19, Coronado 5 — At Green Valley, the Skyhawks scored 15 runs in the second inning, with Bobby Johnson and A.J. Ford combining to drive in nine runs in the inning.

Johnson finished 4-for-4 with a double, four runs and four RBIs. Ford was 3-for-4 with a grand slam, a double and six RBIs.

Zane Korth and Steven Pollex homered for Coronado, which finished 17-9-2.