Preps: Freshman pitchers stay hot

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 15, 1998 | 10:22 a.m.

In a Southern Zone softball tournament that has featured the postseason debut of Las Vegas' strong freshman pitching corps, Silverado ninth-grader Keely Commerford took center stage Thursday at Sunset Park.

Commerford, one of six freshman pitchers in the event, entered her club's game against rival Green Valley in the sixth inning with Silverado clinging to a one-run lead, Gators on first and second and nobody out.

And the first-year Skyhawk came through with flying colors, relieving junior Tiffany Finateri and getting three quick outs -- two by strikeout -- to propel Silverado to a 1-0 victory.

"I wasn't too nervous," Commerford said. "I knew I could handle it. I've been playing all year for this."

The Skyhawks (31-6) advance to play the winner of today's Green Valley-Cimarron-Memorial contest for the zone championship. And if the Skyhawks lose in the final, they'll force a rematch for the title in the double-elimination format.

"The kids who can play are coming through for us now," Silverado coach Chuck Pope said. "We like to say that my practices are the toughest things to go through and the games are fun."

The Skyhawks scored the game's only run in the first inning, when leadoff batter Kristen Toner reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Christi Moores' bloop single.

From there, Finateri and Commerford combined for a five-hit shutout, striking out six Gators (25-11).

In other action Thursday:

* Cimarron-Memorial 10, Basic 0: The Spartans (19-10) earned a berth in next weekend's 4A state tournament, scoring eight runs in the sixth inning to put the game away. Freshman Kristen Jasper threw a three-hitter for the victors. The Wolves (17-15) nearly got out of the sixth unscathed, but Cimarron's Jennifer Tassoni reached on a third-strike wild pitch to extend the critical inning.

* Bonanza 2, Eldorado 0: Freshman Christy Carrasco tossed a four-hitter to lead the Bengals (21-5) into the 4A state tournament for the second year in a row. The Sundevils (17-11) threatened in the final inning, but Christina Romo grounded back to Carrasco with runners on second and third to end the ballgame. "There was no fear that we couldn't do this," said Bonanza coach Cheryl Speer, whose club rebounded from Wednesday's first-round loss to Basic.

* Cimarron-Memorial 6, Bonanza 4: The Spartans advanced to today's consolation final against Green Valley behind a six-hitter from freshman Jaime Hughes. Cimarron took a 6-2 lead into the final frame before Bonanza's Lindsey Johnston made things interesting with a two-out two-RBI double. Johnston was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, though, ending the threat and the game.