Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Kirby hurls five-hitter in state Legion game
By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Lane Kirby threw a five-hitter to help Palo Verde avoid elimination in the American Legion state baseball tournament with an 8-1 victory over Bonanza at UNLV’s Wilson Stadium on Tuesday.
Kirby struck out nine and walked one.
“It all started with pitching and defense,” Palo Verde coach Artie Besser said. “No errors, five hits — that’s where it started right there. We didn’t give them any extra at-bats. If you pitch and play defense, you’ll be successful.”
The Panthers (28-12) also got more production from the middle of their order. Their 3-4-5 hitters went 1-for-12 in their tournament opener, a 4-2 loss to Reno on Sunday.
On Tuesday, they were 7-for-13.
“We had some timely hitting,” Besser said. “That’s what we were lacking the other day.”
No. 3 hitter Joe Intiso, 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the opener, went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer. No. 5 hitter Chris Cassell, a freshman at Feather River College in the spring, went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a triple, three runs and one RBI.
“It was nice to have him in there to provide some added punch,” Besser said. “Just to get some added pop in the lineup is nice.”
Kirby gave the Panthers their second consecutive complete game. Jerry Gamez pitched a complete game in the opener.
“If you’re in the losers’ bracket, you’ve got to have some arms,” Besser said. “And our starters have done a heck of a job getting through nine innings.”
Jake Danneffel had an RBI groundout in the fifth for Bonanza, which finished 24-16.
• Reno 4, Durango 2 — The Knights scored four runs in the first three innings, then held off Durango to move to 2-0 in the tournament.
Starting pitcher John Rice went 7 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on nine hits, to get the victory.
Reno took advantage of two Durango errors to score an unearned run in the top of the first, then scored two in the second on Alex Gardner’s squeeze bunt and Bryan Hill’s RBI groundout. Michael Brown had an RBI single in the third.
Durango (64-19) will play Palo Verde in an elimination game at 8 p.m. today. Reno will play the winner of that game at 5 p.m. Thursday.