Legion AL stars rally for victory

Ray Brewer

Thursday, July 24, 1997 | 9:22 a.m.

For Green Valley infielder Russ Schmitt, the American Legion All-Star game at UNLV's Wilson Stadium provided a pleasant sense of deja vu.

It was just last month when Schmitt had the game-winning hit, a run-scoring single to right-center, in the Gators' state high school championship victory against Silverado at Wilson Stadium.

Wednesday night, Schmitt connected on a two-run single to highlight a four-run eighth inning for the American All-Stars, as they came from behind to defeat the National All-Stars 6-5.

"I was just thinking to put the ball in play and getting a hit," Schmitt said. "Getting picked out of the whole league for the All-Star game is a big confidence builder."

Gino DiMaria, the Valley Legion coach and manager of the American squad, was impressed with Schmitt's effort.

"That hit shows the kind of caliber kid he is," DiMaria said. "He came into a tough situation and did a good job for us."

Tommy Krier of Cheyenne and Gerry Alesia of Green Valley, who both scored on Schmitt's single, also had run-scoring singles in the American rally.

Once the Americans battled back to get the lead, their defense came alive to preserve the win.

After giving up a run, Timet's (Basic High School's Legion team) Eric Wise struck out two batters in the bottom of the eighth with the tying and winning runs on base.

In the bottom of the ninth, the American squad retired the National team in order for the victory.

National coach Tim Chambers of the Bishop Gorman Legion team says this event is an example of how quality baseball is growing in Southern Nevada.

"The kids love to play in front of fans and the fan support was great," Chambers said. "Vegas baseball is blooming and you could see that by this year's (major league) draft."

The American squad took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Bonanza's John Strong doubled and scored on a single by Durango's Nick Aiello.

The National All-Stars came back with two runs in the second and one in the third to take a 3-1 lead. Sean Vann of Las Vegas and Chris Martinez of Cimarron-Memorial singled and scored in the second, and Silverado's Steve Lester tripled to lead off the third, later scoring on another single from Vann.

Chris Taylor of Green Valley walked and scored in the top of the fourth to cut the National lead to 3-2, then Gorman's Dane Ball scored for the National team in the bottom of the fourth to increase its lead to 4-2.

"I thought this was as good as any All-Star game in the past," Chambers said. "Both teams played pretty good, it was a tight game."

* NOTES: Chaparral's Nick Hobbs hit five home runs to win the home run derby over Bonanza's Gator Quaney (4) ... The National squad picked up a 4-2 victory over the American All-Stars in the junior game. Chaparral's Dan Habel got the win and had a run-scoring single. Travis Grove hit a two-run home run for the American squad ... The American team consisted of Green Valley, Durango, Cheyenne, Bonanza, Valley, Basic, Rancho, Kingman, Ariz., and St. George, Utah. The National team included players from Bishop Gorman, Cimarron-Memorial, Silverado, Chaparral, Boulder City, Western, Eldorado, Las Vegas and Cedar City, Utah.