Bulldogs survive rally to advance

Adam Candee

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 9:52 a.m.

Forget the adage: For the Centennial baseball team, it is all about the destination, not the journey.

Good thing, because the Bulldogs have taken a long and winding road to get into the prime position in which they continue play this afternoon at home in the Sunset Region playoffs.

Six innings of Centennial's 8-6 victory over Palo Verde went according to script for the Bulldogs. Andy Primas stifled the Panthers' tough lineup and Casey Knerr belted two homers as Centennial built a six-run lead heading into the seventh inning.

Primas tired after more than 100 pitches, though, allowing a run and loading the bases before giving way with two outs to closer Tyler Pickett, who quickly gave up a three-run double to Joe Intiso. Pickett then hit Jerry Gamez before ending the sudden tension with a strikeout of Mark Sayas.

A day earlier, the Bulldogs (NW-1) fell behind Bishop Gorman (SW-4) by two runs in extra innings, only to scratch out an 8-7 win to stay in the winners' bracket.

"We were staring a pistol in the face (Wednesday) and we dodged a bullet," coach Charlie Cerrone said.

He later said, "There's no quit in them. They'll keep playing until the last out."

The Bulldogs await the winner of an elimination game between Sierra Vista (SW-2) and Palo Verde (NW-3). The Panthers already defeated the Lions, 9-5, in first-round action. Sierra Vista eliminated the Gaels, 7-3, on Thursday.

On the other side of the Sunset bracket, Cimarron-Memorial (NW-1) belted Cheyenne (NW-4), 19-9 in five innings, and the Spartans will face the winner of a game between the Desert Shields and Durango. The Blazers (SW-3) ended the season for Bonanza (SW-1), 7-5.

Foothill (SE-1) and Silverado (SE-4) are the remaining winners' bracket teams in the Sunrise Region. The Skyhawks bested Basic (SE-2), 7-2, while the Falcons blanked Eldorado (NE-2), 7-0.

The Wolves are to face Las Vegas today (NE-1) in an elimination contest after the Wildcats sent home Chaparral (NE-4), 8-4. Eldorado enters a first-round rematch with Green Valley (SE-3), a 10-3 victor over Rancho. The Sundevils scored a 3-2 win Wednesday over the Gators.

For Centennial, the 2002 state runner-up and a state qualifier last year, the veteran presence of Primas made the difference against Palo Verde. Primas, a senior right-hander, threw hard with good movement, confusing the Panthers from a number of arm angles. The Panthers managed just a pair of runs on six hits through the first six innings

And while Primas' final line (6.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 5 K, 3 BB) is not overwhelming, his performance was much better than the numbers.

"The last three times out, he's been great for us," Cerrone said. "I mean, he's been good all year, but he's stepped it up a notch in league play and playoffs."

Knerr provided the offensive spark for Centennial. Following Bryce Massanari's second homer of the playoffs in the opening frame, Knerr launched a pitch from Lane Kirby in the second inning for a 2-1 lead. Knerr struck again in the fourth with a two-run shot, depositing a hanging curve well beyond the wall in left field for a 4-1 edge. Knerr finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs.

Centennial rolled on in the fourth, sending eight batters to the plate and collecting three more runs on an error and two wild pitches to build a 7-1 edge.