Centennial eyes spot in state finals

Spencer Patterson

Friday, May 17, 2002 | 10:22 a.m.

Tell most Basic baseball fans their team would hold the four, five and six hitters in Centennial's lineup hitless, and they probably would have loved the Wolves' chances of winning Tuesday.

The Bulldogs' Bryce Massanari, J.C. Leach and Tim Wheeler came into the contest with a combined 140 RBIs -- a major reason their club averaged more than 10 runs per game.

But while that trio went 0-for-9, the Wolves still couldn't hold Centennial's high-octane offense in check, falling 10-6 in the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Tournament at Burkholder Field.

"We've got guys up and down the lineup we can count on for RBIs," Bulldogs coach Charlie Cerrone said afterwards.

On this night, No. 2 hitter Rob Arata slammed a two-run homer in the first and drove home two more runs with a single in the fourth.

The Bulldogs (33-6), who defeated Green Valley 4-2 earlier in the day, need just one more win to reach Saturday's state final and will have two chances to get it. They will play the winner of today's 3 p.m. contest between Basic (25-12) and Reno (32-5) tonight at 6 p.m., with a Centennial loss forcing a rematch on Saturday.

On the other side of the bracket, Northern Region champion Wooster (28-9) sits in the driver's seat after stunning both Bishop Gorman and Silverado on Thursday at CCSN's Lied Field. The Colts defeated the Gaels 2-0 in the morning, then held off the Skyhawks 7-6 in the evening.

Wooster awaits the winner of today's 3 p.m. game between Silverado (25-12) and Gorman (28-12), with a second chance awaiting the Colts on Saturday should they fall tonight at 6 p.m.

Things began well enough for Basic on Thursday, with ace Matt Elliott tossing a one-hitter in the Wolves' 4-0 early win over Reno. Elliott struck out 12, walked two and also went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

But in their second contest, the Wolves didn't have an answer for Centennial's relentless attack. The Bulldogs banged out three triples, two doubles and three singles to go with Arata's homer, and were aided by five walks and a hit batter.

Along with Arata, Chris Bonnell and Andy Primas had two hits apiece, while Josh Wheeler and Daniel Ramirez each scored two runs.

The Wolves took a brief 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth on an Elliott RBI triple and Micah Schnurstein's sacrifice fly.

But the Bulldogs answered back with five of their own in the bottom of the fourth, chasing two Basic pitchers from the mound before the inning was over.

Elliott finished 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while teammates Brian Lake and Tyler Stacy had two hits apiece.

Brian Simpson picked up the win for Centennial in relief.

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