Gators don’t let history repeat in Sunrise romp

One year ago, Green Valley reached the Sunrise Regional Championship baseball game against Silverado and lost by 13 runs.

This season the Gators were determined not to let history repeat itself.

Green Valley defeated the Skyhawks 15-6 at Basic High School on Friday to take the title and move on to the state tournament next week.

"Last year, on this same night, we got absolutely boat-raced," Green Valley coach Nick Garritano said of the Gators' 17-4 loss.

Green Valley got timely hitting Friday and turned a close game into a blowout in the late innings.

The Gators (25-10) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on RBI doubles by Nick Melino and Kevin Stethem. The Skyhawks (23-12) came back in the bottom of the inning with Kevin Rath's two-run homer.

As starting pitcher Nick Underwood settled in for Silverado, the Gators fell behind, 4-3.

Green Valley then surged ahead 8-4 with five runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Stethem and a pinch-hit, two-run single from Marshall Kennebrew.

"It was a matter of swinging at good pitches," Garritano said. "Underwood settled in, and we ran him out and then got to their relievers."

Silverado closed the gap to 8-6 with a two-run homer from Justin Rainville in the bottom of the inning.

The Gators added four runs in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Reliever Evan Kallas made sure the Silverado bats went quiet, coming in for Max Javate, who notched the win. Underwood took the loss.

Stethem fueled the Gators, going 4-for-5 with three doubles, five RBIs and three runs.

"I just went out there trying to hit the ball hard up the middle and I got pitches to hit," Stethem said.

Said Garritano: "Stethem is the unknown hero out here. We have a lot of big name guys, and he kind of goes unnoticed.

"I'm real proud of him and more excited for this baseball team."

Melino finished 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, four runs and two RBIs.

"All I wanted to do was win today. I was focused and just tried to do anything to get on base," Melino said.

Green Valley moves on to the state tournament next Thursday through Saturday at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"It's a new season," Garritano said. "Every year you play to get to the state tournament, and you hope your team plays its best baseball there."

The Gators agree this berth means something more because of how last season ended.

"Silverado beat us pretty bad last year," Melino said. "I'm even more satisfied that we beat them in the regional championship to go to state."

Silverado plays Sunset runner-up Arbor View at 11 a.m. today at Durango for the South's final berth in the state tournament.