Cimarron falls in regional opener

Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 | 10:04 a.m.

OGDEN, Utah -- The Cimarron-Memorial Spartans found themselves behind the 8-ball at the American Legion Western Region Baseball Tournament on Thursday after falling 8-7 to Hawaii's West Oahu.

Now the Spartans need consecutive victories over Arizona champion Tucson and Utah champ Taylorsville today and Saturday, or lots of help in a tiebreaker scenario, to advance to Sunday's final four and have a chance at a Legion World Series appearance.

"I don't know if we came out overconfident or what, but it was pretty disappointing," Spartans assistant coach Kevin Kohler said. "(West Oahu) just put the ball in play all day long."

The Hawaiians (16-8) pounded out 17 hits against three Cimarron pitchers and scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning in a come-from-behind win. The Spartans (40-9) plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth and got the tying run to third base, but winning pitcher Derek Costigan got Brad Thompson to ground out for the game's final out.

After scoring a run in the first and leaving the bases loaded in the second, Cimarron failed to advance a runner past first base from the third inning until the eighth against West Oahu starter Weston Kurisu.

The Spartans scored four runs in the eighth to take a brief 5-4 advantage, but relievers Mike Luczynski and Thompson were unable to hold the lead in the ninth.

Matt Wagner finished 4-for-5 with two RBIs in the losing cause, while Bryce Watanabe contributed two doubles for the winners.

Cimarron took the field for Game 2 against Tucson this morning at 9 and will play Taylorsville Saturday at 4 p.m. The Arizonans picked up a 9-4 victory over the Utah state champions Thursday night.

In other games Thursday, Chino (Calif.) downed Pueblo (Colo.) 14-4 and Albuquerque outlasted host squad Copper Hills (Utah) 16-15.