SUNSET REGION: Gaels dig deep to oust Bulldogs, rout Trailblazers

Champions need to dig deep when their backs are against a wall.

Bishop Gorman’s baseball team flirted with elimination Friday at Centennial, before edging the Bulldogs 3-2. The Gaels then beat Durango 16-1 to move into the Sunset Region finals.

Gorman (34-3) plays Arbor View (32-4) at 1 p.m. The Gaels would have to beat the Aggies twice to claim the title and advance to state. Arbor View defeated Gorman 9-8 on Wednesday to put the Gaels in the losers’ bracket.

“I told our guys that we just want a shot at Arbor View again; we got it, and hopefully we make the most of it,” Gorman coach Nick Day said.

The Gaels were tied with the Bulldogs at 2 in the bottom of the seventh when Tyler Baker walked with one out. Johnny Sewald then hit a routine pop-up to left field that was dropped by Christian Portaro, putting runners at first and second.

Justin Jones hit a dribbler to shortstop Casey Moses, who threw to second baseman Austin Nelson to try to force out Sewald, who was called safe. Nelson then threw wide of first, allowing Baker to trot home from second with the winning run.

“That was a really tough game and a real heartbreaker for Centennial,” Day said. “It’s unfortunate for them to lose that way when they played such a great game.”

The costly drop was similar to another error in left field committed by Centennial’s Ian Ogurek in the fifth inning. Baker reached on a one-out single and promptly stole second base. Jones then lifted what should have been the final out of the inning, but the error allowed Baker to score, tying the score at 2.

Matt Roth started the game for the Gaels, giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, but it was Day’s decision to go to freshmen Cadyn Grenier with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning that paid off. Grenier got senior Michael Rosenkrantz to ground out to first to end the threat.

“He has great stuff, but it’s always hard to bring a freshmen in with the bases loaded,” Day said. “Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling, and it ended up being a good move.”

Centennial’s Casey Congleton tossed seven solid innings, scattering six hits, as he kept Gorman’s lineup off balance.

“He changed speeds really well,” Day said. “We’re used to scoring more runs and swinging the bats better than that, but we just couldn’t get anything going. We were trying to get some pressure on them when we got guys on base to hope something would work in our favor, and it did.”

After squeaking by Centennial, Gorman unloaded on Durango.

Kenny Meimerstorf belted a fastball into the netting above the left field wall for a grand slam in the first inning, and the rout was on.

“We came out really well swinging the bats early,” Day said. “We got on the board quick. Meimerstorf’s grand slam in the first really got us going. It was good after being held to three runs, to see our bats come alive, and hopefully it’ll carry over until tomorrow.”

The Gaels then batted around in the bottom of the second to score nine runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Joey Gallo.

Gallo added a two-run shot in the fourth.

“I felt pretty good at the plate trying to put the ball in play to make things happen,” Gallo said. “As a team we were more settled in and confident at the plate than we were earlier against Centennial.”