State preps softball roundup: Gorman earns shot at 2nd straight title

Any suspense involved in Thursday’s Class 4A state softball winner’s bracket game lasted just over half an inning.

Bishop Gorman erupted for 10 runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back en route to a five-inning 18-5 victory over Silverado at the College of Southern Nevada, earning a berth in Saturday’s state title game.

Brooklyn Hicks led the Gorman attack, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs.

The Gaels (23-10-1), the defending state champions and the No. 1 seed from the Mountain League, endured a minor scare in the fourth inning when the Skyhawks (20-9), the No. 1 seed from the Desert League, scored four runs to cut the deficit to 10-4. However, Gorman responded with eight runs in the fifth to put the game away.

Samantha Lefever and Sarah Fonseca each went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Gaels.

Keira Tibbetts homered and drove in four runs for Silverado.

The Skyhawks will face either Cimarron-Memorial or Tech in an elimination game at 4:45 p.m. Friday at Bishop Gorman for the other berth in the state title game.

— No. 2D Cimarron-Memorial 15, No. 3D Spring Valley 5: At CSN, Haileigh Siegel had three hits and three RBIs, and the Spartans (16-7) scored eight runs in the third on the way to a six-inning victory over the Grizzlies (19-9). Makenna Webber earned the win in the circle for the Spartans, who will face Tech in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. Friday.

— No. 2M Tech 5, No. 4D Chaparral 3: At CSN, the Roadrunners (17-7) eliminated the Cowboys (12-12) to stay alive.

Class 3A

— No. 1S Virgin Valley 7, No. 2N Lowry 5: At Virgin Valley, the Bulldogs (37-0) scored five runs in the sixth inning to rally for a victory over the Buckaroos (24-10). Virgin Valley will play North Valleys at 3:30 p.m. Friday for a berth in the state title game.

— No. 1N North Valleys 3, No. 2N Boulder City 2: At Virgin Valley, the Panthers (25-2) scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Eagles (18-14). Baylee Cook and Kylie Czubernat each had a hit for Boulder City, and Kelsee Grow had two doubles to lead North Valleys. Boulder City will face Lowry in an elimination game at 1 p.m. Friday. The winner will meet the Virgin Valley-North Valleys loser in another elimination game at 6 p.m. Friday.

Class 2A

— No. 1S Needles 10, No. 2N Pershing County 0: At Reno, the Mustangs (30-4) cruised to a win over Pershing County (27-5). Needles will face Battle Mountain at 8 a.m. Friday for a berth in the state title game. Battle Mountain, the North’s No. 1 seed, advanced with a 10-7 victory Thursday over White Pine.

Class 1A

— No. 1S Pahranagat Valley 14, No. 2N Oasis Academy 3: At Bishop Gorman, the Panthers (21-5) scored 11 runs in the fifth to finish off the Bighorns (14-9). Pahranagat Valley will face Coleville at 11 a.m. Friday for a berth in the state title game.

— No. 1N Coleville 2, No. 2S Tonopah 1: At Bishop Gorman, the Wolves scored two runs in the first inning and hung on for the win over the Muckers. Savanna Muns went 2-for-3 with a double to lead Tonopah, which will play Oasis Academy in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. Friday at CSN. The winner will play the Pahranagat Valley-Coleville loser in another elimination game at 4 p.m. Friday at CSN.