Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 10:21 a.m.
Thomas Miller crushed a two-run single to get Sierra Vista back in the game in the third inning, but he would have settled for less when he batted with the game on the line in the seventh.
"I was actually just trying to get barrel contact, maybe hit a sac fly or something," the Sierra Vista junior said.
With the bases loaded and one out, Miller chopped a ball high off the plate for a run-scoring fielder's choice. It did not look pretty, but the bouncer was enough to propel Sierra Vista (SW-3) to a 6-4 victory against Cimarron-Memorial (NW-2) in the opening round of the double-elimination Sunset Region baseball playoffs Wednesday afternoon at Palo Verde High School.
"Nothing spectacular, but at the end of the day, I guess a win is a win," Sierra Vista coach Nate Selby said.
The unspectacular combination of a leadoff infield single by Austin Stout, followed by three fielder's choices and a walk, accounted for the Lions' two-run seventh. Sierra Vista tied the game at 4 in the sixth on a wild pitch.
"The short game came into play," Selby said. "We caught a couple of breaks. I think everybody that watched the game would say that. We made a couple of plays and got a couple of things done."
Justin Garcia preserved the lead to earn the win in relief of starter Mike McLaren. Garcia came on in the bottom of the sixth and struck out Cimarron's Mike Dunn with a runner at third, then retired the Spartans in order in the seventh.
Garcia allowed one hit in an inning and a third after McLaren gave up four runs on nine hits into the sixth, striking out three and walking one.
"That's as well as (McLaren) has pitched in a couple weeks," Selby said.
The Lions scratched and clawed against Cimarron starter Dunn, getting just two extra-base hits among their 10. Dunn allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings and took the loss.
Cimarron jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but Sierra Vista put up three in the third to get back in the game.
"We scrapped a couple together with two outs," Miller said. "That's the good thing about our team. We don't give up with two outs."
The Lions advance to face Southwest top seed Bishop Gorman, which outlasted Cheyenne (NW-4), 5-4, in 12 innings. On the other side of the Sunset bracket, Centennial (NW-1) ripped Western, 11-0, in five innings, and Durango (SW-2) beat Palo Verde (NW-3), 11-5.
The Southeast Division swept through the opening round of the Sunrise playoffs Wednesday. Southeast fourth seed Basic upset Las Vegas (NE-1), 9-8. Justin McDaniel doubled twice, drove in a run and picked up the save for Basic. Luis Herrera also went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Wolves. Basic faces Silverado (SE-2), a 21-0 winner in five innings against Chaparral (NE-3).
The bottom of the bracket features Green Valley (SE-1) and Foothill (SE-3) on the winners' side. The Gators rebounded from a bad final week by blasting Rancho (NE-4), 11-1, in five innings. Jordan Parraz homered, tripled and drove in five runs to pace Green Valley.
The Falcons moved on by outlasting Eldorado (NE-2), 7-4. Green Valley and Foothill split their two division meetings this season. We caught a couple of breaks. I think everybody that watched the game would say that. We made a couple of plays and got a couple of things done."
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