Sundevils’ dream dashed by Gators

Tim Graham

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

HENDERSON -- It quickly became clear to the Sundevils that their honeymoon was over.

Just two days after winning two games to slip into the American Legion state tournament despite an 11-15 regular-season record, the Las Vegas Sundevils, comprised of players from Eldorado High, were whipped by Green Valley 20-3 at Arroyo Grande Sports Complex Monday in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.

The game ended when the Sundevils' veteran coach, Henry Robinson, made two trips to the mound in the top of the seventh inning and didn't have a player on the bench to replace pitcher Ricky Ferreira.

"I made a mistake and went out to the mound, but I didn't have enough players. I forgot I didn't have another player," said Robinson, who entered the game with only two on the bench in addition to a pitching staff still tired from the weekend action.

"But you gotta credit Green Valley. They're a good ballclub and you can't make mistakes against them, but we did. We didn't play. We didn't pitch. We didn't hit. But I lost the game."

Green Valley helped. The Gators scored 10 runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by Robert Pierce's grand slam to right center off Sundevils starter Aaron Hee. Robinson yanked Hee in favor of Ferreira and one pitch later, Scott Yahraus yanked the ball over the left-field fence.

All told, Hee gave up 15 runs on six hits and nine walks, with two strikeouts, in 3 2/3 innings.

The Gators added five more runs off Ferreira in the fifth behind a bases-loaded triple from Yarhaus, who went 2 for 4 with four RBIs. Pierce was 2 for 3 with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored.

Also for Green Valley, Wesley Mosman went 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 4 runs scored and David Jensen went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run.

Richard Chatwin got the win, giving up three runs in four innings with two strikeouts and a walk.

"They had the momentum," Green Valley coach Sam Thomas said of the Sundevils. "They won their games over the weekend and earned their spot in the playoffs. We had to show them the same respect we'd show anyone else."

With the comfortable lead, Thomas had the luxury of doing exactly what Robinson couldn't: experiment with position players on the mound. He was able to use Jensen in relief, despite the fact he never saw official action on the hill all year.

"I was disappointed the game ended early because I wanted to see some other kids pitch," Thomas said. "But more importantly, you just hate to see that happen to Eldorado."

One more tourney loss will end Robinson's managerial career. The 73-year-old has coached teams at various levels in Las Vegas the past seven years. Prior to that he spent nearly four decades playing, coaching and managing in the minor leagues.

In other games:

* The Las Vegas Knights (a k a Bishop Gorman), bombed Valley 12-3. Knights starter Nate Fouts got the complete-game victory, striking out seven. Fouts allowed a two-run home run to Jimmy Jones in the fourth inning, but held the Vikings hitless the rest of the way, giving up a total of seven. Matt Smith belted a three-run shot -- his only hit -- to highlight an eight-run seventh inning for the Knights. Marc Morse smacked three singles, scoring on each, while Nick Didier went 2 for 4 with a triple and three runs.

* Western defeated the Hawks Baseball Club (a k a Silverado) 8-3. The Warriors plated a pair of runs in each of the first two frames to get all the support they would need as starter Justin Lucero cruised to victory.

* Cheyenne AAA surprised Durango-Tufflite for much of their game, as the Desert Shields led 4-3 after four innings. But Durango tied the game with a run in the sixth and made it 14-4 in the top of the seventh to cause an early stoppage via the 10-run rule.

Action continues tonight at Arroyo Grande with two games each at 5:05 p.m. and 8:05 p.m.