Cimarron manufactures a victory

Adam Candee

Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 10:20 a.m.

Catcher's interference, sacrifice bunt, batter's interference, passed ball, wild pitch, walk, error.

That reads like a baseball rule book index, but it is the transcript of the only two runs in Cimarron-Memorial's 2-0 victory against Bishop Gorman in the double-elimination Sunset Region softball playoffs Wednesday night at chilly and windswept Stephanie Lynn Craig Fields.

Spartans coach Joe Sarro said that weaving a tapestry from small pieces defines the Cimarron offense.

"Our season has been trying to manufacture runs," Sarro said.

Without using the bat, Sarro manufactured the most crucial result of the bottom of the fifth inning. Caitlin Smille reached on catcher's interference to lead off, and appeared to be picked off when Gorman catcher Renee Templeton fired behind Smille at first.

Umpires signaled an out, conferred on the decision and confirmed the out call. That spurred Sarro into an animated discussion with the officials, who surprisingly conferred once again and finally overturned the call, ruling that Gorman's Jamie Sullard dropped the ball after tagging Smille.

"She dropped the ball and in my opinion, that's the right call," Sarro said.

The next two Spartans made outs, but with the inning extended, Cimarron took advantage when Smille advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch by Theresa Liedlich. Christine Terrazas walked and advanced to second on the wild pitch, and Cimarron took advantage of a Gorman error on the next play to push across an insurance run.

"It's a shame that a game gets decided on a decision (the umpires) are not really sure about," Gaels coach Kelsey McCall said.

Kim Adams made those Spartans runs stand up with a sterling pitching performance. She struck out 13 and allowed just one hit en route to the win. She also walked two and hit two batters.

"I started a little shaky," Adams said. "It took me a couple of innings to get in my game, but the team was there to back me up."

The young Spartans, who have no seniors, struggled through the first two innings, where Adams faced runners in scoring position in both frames. Adams escaped both with some strong defensive help from third baseman Lindi Kennedy, who cut down runners at third base on consecutive sacrifice attempts in the second inning.

Adams then adjusted to the whipping wind and settled in.

"After the second inning, she was ready to go," Sarro said.

Liedlich also pitched a strong game in defeat, allowing only one hit and two runs, both of which were unearned. She struck out nine, walked two and hit one batter.

The Spartans move on to face Southwest top seed Sierra Vista, which struggled but survived against Cheyenne (NW-4), 6-4. In the other Sunset winners' bracket semifinal, Centennial (NW-1) will take on Palo Verde (NW-3).

The Bulldogs used sixth-inning RBI singles by Tori Healy and Whitney Hance to escape against Durango (SW-4), and the Panthers made short work of Bonanza (SW-2), 8-0.

On the Sunrise side, Northeast top seed Las Vegas easily dispatched Basic (SE-4), 9-1. Caroline Fernandez scored three times and drove in two runs, and Kelsey Klein also had two RBIs. The Wildcats face Silverado (SE-2), a 4-0 winner over Desert Pines (NE-3), in the winners' semifinals.

Southeast top seed Green Valley advanced to the other semifinal by downing Rancho (NE-4), 5-0. The Gators face Coronado (SE-3), as the Cougars overwhelmed Eldorado (NE-2), 15-1.