Las Vegas outlasts Basic in 13

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002 | 9:58 a.m.

State Legion

At Lied Fied, Henderson

Saturday's Results

Bishop Gorman 14, Las Vegas 11

Centennial 11, Basic 10, 10 inn.

Sunday's Results

Reno 13, Palo Verde 1

Cimarron-Memorial 3, Silverado 2

Monday's Results

Las Vegas 12, Basic 11, 13 inn.

Centennial 9, Bishop Gorman 8

Today's Games Game 7: Palo Verde vs. Silverado, 5 p.m.

Game 8: Reno vs. Cimarron-Memorial, 8 p.m.

Wednesday's Games

Game 9: Las Vegas vs. Bishop Gorman, 5 p.m.

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 8 p.m.

Thursday's Games

Game 11: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 5 p.m.

Game 12: Centennial vs. Game 9 winner, 8 p.m.

If Bud Selig had been at the Community College of Southern Nevada Monday night, the game might have been called a draw.

Instead, Las Vegas and Basic played long into the night on day three of the American Legion State Tournament, trading extra-inning runs, bashing 43 hits and combining for eight errors in a four hour 15 minute marathon.

Finally, in the 13th inning, the Wildcats scratched out the tiebreaking run to earn a 12-11 victory and keep their state championship hopes alive.

"These kids gave us all their heart tonight, and that's why I love them," Las Vegas coach Izzy DiMaria said. "They battled like crazy. They never gave up."

Las Vegas nearly won the game in nine innings, holding a 10-8 lead with two outs. But on what looked to be the game's final play, Wildcat shortstop Sean Kazmar fielded a groundball and fired the ball low and wide of first base, allowing two runners to come home and knot the score.

Kazmar didn't have to wait long for a chance at redemption, however.

After the Wolves went up 11-10 in the top of the 12th on Luis Herrera's sacrifice fly, Kazmar came to the plate in the bottom of the inning with two out, none on base and his team's season on the verge of ending.

The all-state shortstop responded by blasting a first-pitch homer to deep left-center, tying the game at 11.

"(After my error) I had a talk with my coach and he settled me down," Kazmar said. "I had a feeling (the pitcher) would throw me a fastball on the first pitch, so I just reacted to it."

One inning later, the Wildcats broke through with the game-winner when Zackary Bradley singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, went to third on Tim Mott's sacrifice bunt and scored on Herrera's second wild pitch of the inning.

Las Vegas (33-15) advances to play Bishop Gorman (31-18) Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Gaels fell 9-8 to Centennial in Monday's nightcap.

"Come Wednesday, I think you'll see us play better ball," DiMaria said. "We still have some good pitching left, and I think they want it now."

Kenny Hargrow and Troy Remer paced the Wildcats' 21-hit attack with four hits apiece, while Kazmar and Ashworth each had three hits. Leland Montoya was the hitting star for Basic (21-21), going 5-for-7 with two homers, a double and three RBIs.

Top-seeded Centennial (33-7) also scored its game-winning run on a wild pitch Monday night (actually early Tuesday morning), this one in the bottom of the ninth.

Trailing 8-7, the Bulldogs tied the score when Bryce Massanari reached on an Gorman error and scored moments later on another Gaels' error. Andy Primas singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and came home on back-to-back wild pitches by Gorman pitcher Robert Templeton.

Massanari finished with three hits, including a two-run homer, three RBIs and three runs to lead Centennial. J.C. Leach also homered for the victors, while Robert Arata contributed three hits. Andrew Matthews and Nicholas Sansone had two hits apiece for Gorman.

In tonight's action, Palo Verde (36-15) will face Silverado (34-18) in an elimination game at 5 p.m. At 8 p.m., Reno (46-20) will take on Cimarron-Memorial (39-7) in a matchup of first-round winners.