Skyhawks earn state softball bid

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 9:37 a.m.

After reaching the 4A state softball tournament for four straight years, it would be understandable for Silverado coach Chuck Pope to take his club's success in stride.

But after watching his Skyhawks defeat Eldorado, 3-1, in Thursday's Southern Zone Tournament at Sunset Park to claim their latest state berth, Pope's attitude was anything but matter of fact.

"This one was so important for these kids," an emotional Pope said. "They had to play together as a team this year, versus all the talent we had in the past. And they've been under such pressure to repeat."

The Skyhawks will meet Sunrise Division rival Green Valley in today's winner's bracket contest. The Gators' earned their way into the game -- and picked up their second consecutive state bid -- with an impressive 6-0 win over Basic.

Silverado (30-6), which defeated Bishop Gorman, 9-3, in morning action, got past the Sundevils thanks to solid pitching from starter Keely Commerford and reliever Tiffany Finateri.

The Skyhawks took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning, but three consecutive Eldorado singles loaded the bases with one out and chased Commerford from the mound.

Finateri, who pitched all seven innings in her team's first win, entered the game and, after giving up an RBI single to Nikki Mosthaff, retired the next two batters to preserve the win.

"That sixth inning was the ballgame," Pope said.

The Gators (25-10) also got a dominating pitching performance from their ace. Senior Nicole Truax tossed a four-hitter in her club's 4-0 victory over Durango in the morning and followed that with a complete-game no-hitter in the win against Basic.

"She has definitely been on the rise the last three weeks," Green Valley coach Cindi Davis said. "She's been more accurate, and she's hitting her spots better. She's just a more complete pitcher."

* Basic 3, Bonanza 1: The Wolves (17-14) stunned the Sunset Division champion Bengals (20-5), thanks in large part to five Bonanza errors. Basic's Jen Redding pitched a three-hitter for the win.

* Eldorado 2, Cimarron 1: The Sundevils (17-10) won despite failing to generate a hit off Spartan pitcher Kristen Jasper. Eldorado's Jennifer Richards limited Cimarron (17-10) to four hits.

* Cimarron 10, Gorman 0: The Spartans knocked the Gaels (15-17) out of the tournament behind a two-hit shutout from Jaime Hughes.

* Bonanza 13, Durango 5: The Bengals staved off elimination and sent the Trailblazers (23-12) packing with 12 runs in the first two innings. Durango committed eight errors.