Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Unbeaten Bengal golfers primed to take next step

Dave Varrato would like to believe this is the year his Bonanza High School golf team finally steps out of the shadows and into the limelight.

After finishing as state runner-up to Green Valley the past two seasons, Varrato's squad boasts the lone unblemished record in the area at 13-0, and sits atop the Sunset Division with an 11-0 mark.

Varrato, in his 10th season as Bonanza coach, said the time has come for his Bengals to step up.

"It takes everyone playing well at the same time to do it," he said. "But in the end all we can do is play the best we can play and hope it's good enough."

Even though Green Valley has foiled Bonanza's title plans in recent years, Varrato said his team is focused on its own steady improvement and not on defeating one select opponent.

"We have no control over any other team," he said. "It's a gentlemen's game. We play our game and they play theirs and we see what happens. You shake hands when it's done and you hope your best was good enough."

So far, Bonanza's best has been quite good.

The Bengals boast an experienced squad, led by the junior trio of Billy Harvey, Scott Piercy and Lann Higa. Sophomores Ben Auten and Steve Simister are complemented by the team's lone senior, Tyler Bayne, and another junior, Tommy Christensen.

Earlier in the season, Bonanza defeated Green Valley in a dual meet, handing the Gators their only loss.

"We knew we were going to be a pretty good team, but we also knew we were going to play in a very tough conference," said Varrato.

"You really don't know what's going to happen until you start the season. We looked good on paper, but so did everyone else. With the experience our kids have, and the amount of golf they play, the cream eventually rises to the top."

Gator Bait?

Meanwhile at Green Valley, the defending state champs quietly have gone about their business, leading the Sunrise Division at 8-0, 10-1 overall.

"We're having a good season again," Coach Del Sagers said. "Our division is not as strong as the other division, so right now we're just focusing on preparing for zone. Last year we set a state record for low score, and this team, I think, is comparable."

The Gators are paced by three seniors who will be taking their talents to the collegiate level next year: Russell Nygard, the two-time defending state champ (UNLV), Mike Louden (Fresno State) and Casey Hall (leaning toward the Air Force Academy).

Green Valley shot 178 at Sunrise Golf Club three weeks ago, the site of both the zone tournament May 9 and the state tourney May 17.

"I think all of us are just trying to get the best scores possible out of our teams and hope that they can produce them at state," said Sagers.

"There are four or five teams in the other division that are state champion contenders. It's going to be a real dogfight in that division since only three can go."

Prep pickings

* GATORS REMAIN RANKED: Green Valley, 22-1 after defeating Valley on Tuesday, remains 10th-ranked in the West Region in this week's USA Today prep baseball poll. The Gators hold a two-game lead in the Sunrise Division and will go for their fourth consecutive AAA state title in May.

* MAKING THEIR MARK: A pair of Las Vegas natives have played key roles on the Saddleback College baseball team of Mission Viejo, Calif. George Bedich, a 1994 Bonanza High graduate, is batting .276 after earning an all-Orange Empire Conference honorable mention selection a year ago. Bedich was a first-team all-Sunset Division honoree in football and baseball at Bonanza. Ryan Tack a freshman from Durango High, has stepped into the Saddleback pitching rotation, posting a 1-3 record through nine appearances and four starts. Tack went 7-0 with a 1.20 ERA in 1995 at Durango.

* VEGAS TRIO INKS WITH UVSC: LeLand Osborne, a member of Cimarron-Memorial's 1994 state basketball champions, has transferred to Utah Valley State College. Osborne, who sat out a season before playing one year at South Alabama, will join David Sawyer of Bishop Gorman and Jared Call of Durango at UVSC next season. The Wolverines also have signed all-state selection Danny Brotherson of Virgin Valley High in Mesquite.

* BLAZER BASKETBALL CAMP: Durango High School basketball coach Al La Rocque will host the annual Blazer Basketball Camp this summer. Two sessions are scheduled, the first June 10-13, with the second set for June 17-20. Cost is $100, which includes a T-shirt, shorts, posters, and a Blazer basketball. Camp counselors include UNLV's Damian Smith and Wes Reed, Yale's Gabe Hunterton, Nathan Miller of Weber State and Durango's Ra'oof Sadat. Further information is available by calling 363-7805.

BONANZA golfer Tyler Bayne

R. MARSH STARKS / STAFF

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