Gorman rolls to win in opener

Friday, Aug. 14, 1998 | 11:08 a.m.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Three years after falling in the American Legion Region 8 title game to a team from Hawaii, Bishop Gorman opened regional play with a victory over another club from the nation's youngest state.

The Gaels (46-12) scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a deadlock and post a 12-5 win over West Oahu at Apodaca Park Thursday.

"We really came out flat, but once we smelled defeat, we started to play baseball," Gorman coach Tim Chambers said.

Trailing 5-4 in the eighth, the Gaels tied the game when Brandon Boesch (4-for-5, 3 RBIs) singled home Nino Mantico, who had reached on a leadoff double.

Closer Paul Wurts kept West Oahu off the board in the bottom of the inning, and the ninth belonged to Gorman.

Boesch knocked home what proved to be the game-winning run to get things started, and teammate Jason Van Meetren capped the explosion with a three-run homer, his 16th of the summer.

Wurts -- one of four graduated seniors who played in the 1995 regional title game -- continued to thrive in his new closer's role. The right-hander worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win in relief.

Gorman starter Nate Fouts recovered after giving up a three-run single and a solo home run to West Oahu slugger William Rayl. Fouts pitched into the seventh inning before Brandon Hookala's solo shot had Chambers calling for Wurts.

The Gaels will take on Las Cruces in another pool play contest today at 4 p.m. PDT. Chambers will likely throw either right-hander Ryan Lee or right-hander Pat McBride against the host team.

Gorman is representing Nevada in an eight-team tournament to determine the Western Region's entry in the upcoming Legion World Series, which will be held in Las Vegas Aug. 21-25.