Northern teams get off to a fast start

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 9:13 a.m.

Northern Nevada has only two teams in this week's NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Softball Tournament, but the state's upper half still has two critical factors on its side: history and the mystique that comes with it.

On Wednesday at Henderson's Stephanie Lynn Craig Fields, Reno schools Wooster and McQueen used those elements in taking the first step to keep the state title in the north for a ninth consecutive year.

The Reno Colts, two-time defending state champions, blanked Bonanza 5-0 in round one behind pitcher Brianne McGowan's seventh no-hitter and 25th shutout of the year.

Later in the day, McQueen routed Eldorado 10-0, scoring eight runs in the first inning and getting a one-hitter from pitchers Katie Ward and Michele Bochenski.

"We were confident coming in, but we started off on the wrong foot and that makes it tough," Eldorado coach Anthony Elliott said. "Especially against the two teams from the north, because they have that mystique coming in."

Eldorado's Brently Bridgeforth, one of Southern Nevada's most effective pitchers all season, looked unsettled from the start. She walked the first three batters, hit two more and did not record an out until the Lancers had scored six runs and sent 10 hitters to the plate.

McQueen (28-12) went on to score eight runs in the first, despite producing just four hits -- all singles -- in the inning.

"(Bridgeforth) wasn't getting the low pitch," Lancers coach Stacy Allinson said. "We're free swingers, but we're also disciplined."

Those early runs were more than enough for Ward and Bochenski, who surrendered only a second inning single by Stephanie Ollila.

Eldorado (28-10) bounced back from the loss, staving off elimination with a 4-3 come-from behind win over rival Las Vegas in the loser's bracket later on Wednesday.

Wooster (39-2) had no trouble with Bonanza, as McGowan struck out 12 and walked one. The junior -- the 2001 Sun State Player of the Year -- also homered, as did teammate Andrea Lazzari.

"(McGowan) has had a tremendous year," Colts coach Dick Allen said. "She's a competitor; the pressure doesn't get to her. She really handles it remarkably well for a 16-year-old."

Also advancing with a no-hit victory was Centennial (34-2), which got seven near-perfect innings from pitcher Shannon Crisp in a 2-0 win over Las Vegas. Crisp struck out 10 and walked only one as the Bulldogs advanced to play McQueen today at 1 p.m.

Silverado (34-9) also moved on with a 8-2 triumph over Palo Verde. The Skyhawks will play Wooster at 1 p.m.

Palo Verde (17-17) stayed in the double-elimination event with a 2-0 shutout of Bonanza later in the day.