Rally puts Bulldogs in Sunset final

Jeff Butler

Friday, May 13, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

The fans headed for their automobiles. The school bus engines had already started to roar and the late tailgaters folded up their lawn chairs. But the only people who didn't fold at the Centennial High School baseball field Thursday were the Centennial Bulldogs.

Centennial scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to squeak by Bishop Gorman 5-4 in their Sunset Region elimination game.

"I just told our guys to try to make contact with everything that comes into their hitting zone and not to get down on themselves because we were down by three runs late in the game," Centennial coach Charlie Cerrone said.

The comeback victory vaulted Centennial into the tonight's region championship against Sierra Vista, starting at 7 p.m. at Durango.

The rally started with Centennial pitcher Jordan Salazar led off the inning with a walk. The next batter, Jake Seifman, hit a hard groundball past first baseman Jon Berger. Then Tyler Lavigne drew a walk from Taylor Preston to load the bases.

"Taylor had pitched a great game for us. Late in the game he lost some of his control," Gorman coach Chris Sheff. "I have confidence in both our pitchers to put them in any situation."

Sophomore Taylor Cole replaced Preston on the mound for the Gaels and that's when the flood gates opened up for the Bulldogs.

A wild pitch got away from sure-handed catcher Andy Matthews, which allowed Salazar to score from third.

John Matey then hit a grounder toward center field past Gorman shortstop Scott Dysinger that brought home Seifman, and then another single to center by Casey Knerr brought Mike Jagannath in to tie the game at 4.

The winning run came on the second wild pitch of the inning. A slider veered off to the right and past the extended arm of Matthews. Speedy Matey ran from third and beat Matthews to the plate to secure the Centennial win in dramatic fashion.

"When I saw the ball sail past their catcher, I couldn't believe it," Matey said. "It was so unexpected. I just tried to run as hard as I could and slide in."

Eleven of Bishop Gorman's 16 players are underclassmen and the Gaels should return a strong team next season.

"We had a good season and I am proud of this young group of players and are seniors were outstanding leaders all season long," Sheff said.

Bishop Gorman defeated Bonanza 4-1 in the early game, setting up the nightcap with Centennial.