Centennial’s Crisp sparkles

Adam Candee

Friday, May 14, 2004 | 9:51 a.m.

Run down the checklist and it becomes apparent that Centennial and Sierra Vista stack up as two of the best -- if not the two best -- softball teams in Southern Nevada.

That is, until you get to the pitching column, because Shannon Crisp is where the Bulldogs have the edge on just about everyone this year.

Crisp came within one out of a no-hitter Thursday night and notched 10 strikeouts as the Bulldogs (NW-1) handled the Lions (SW-2), 4-1, in the Sunset Region playoffs at Stephanie Lynn Craig Fields. The win advances Centennial to the winners' bracket final, where the Bulldogs take on Cimarron-Memorial (NW-2) tonight.

The Spartans blanked Durango (SW-1), 3-0, to advance. The Blazers face Palo Verde (NW-3) and Sierra Vista takes on Bonanza (SW-3) this afternoon in elimination games.

The Sunrise Region winners' bracket final features Silverado (SE-1) and Green Valley (SE-2). The Skyhawks scored their second one-run victory of the playoffs, 2-1 over Coronado (SE-3). The Gators used strong pitching and a homer from Meaghan Haley to down Las Vegas (NE-1), 5-1.

The Wildcats take on Eldorado (NE-2) while Coronado faces Foothill (SE-4) in losers' bracket games today.

Only Karlie Gabour's RBI triple in the seventh inning separated Crisp from a no-hitter and a shutout. Seeming more peeved than rattled by the hit, Crisp responded by striking out Christina Dixon to end the game.

For a pitcher who has started in both of the past two state championship games, trying to hold onto a no-hitter in a region semifinal barely qualifies as pressure.

"I'm pretty used to it," Crisp said. "I know that I have to be on top of my game. I get pumped up even more, so I know it's going to be tough to hit me when I'm pumped up."

Crisp allowed just four baserunners -- one hit, one walk, one hit batter and one error. She also contributed a two-run double in Centennial's only scoring inning.

The Bulldogs entered that fifth inning with just two hits against Sierra Vista's Rebecca Rumsey, who retired the first 10 batters she faced. The Lions even seemed to have some momentum after center fielder Kylie Kissane mowed down Erica Dresel -- trying to score from second on Tory Healy's single up the middle -- at the plate to end the fourth inning.

Centennial put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, and plated both without hitting the ball out of the infield. A Sierra Vista error and an infield single off Rumsey's leg by Brandy Ashford gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Crisp ripped a double to center off reliever Stacey Dilts to complete the Bulldogs' scoring before making it stand up in the circle.

"Shannon is the difference," Centennial coach Michael Livreri said. "They got one legitimate hit."

Livreri later said: "She gets pumped up for games like this. She thrives off this. It's what she loves."

Crisp expects that the Lions will come looking for her again before the playoffs are over.

"I know we'll probably face them again Saturday for the championship," Crisp said.