Gorman advances to Legion World Series

By Case Keefer (contact)

Monday, Aug. 10, 2009 | 10:16 p.m.

Add another championship to the ever-increasing Bishop Gorman baseball dynasty.

Gorman's American Legion affiliate, the Southern Nevada Titans, defeated Fairfield, Calif., 14-7, Monday night in Fairfield to win the Western Regional championship. The victory clinched a spot in next weekend’s American Legion World Series in Fargo, N.D., where Gorman will defend last year’s World Series title.

“We’re excited. It’s hard getting to the World Series,” Gorman coach Chris Sheff said. “We’re excited to get back and see if we can do it two years in a row.”

After winning last weekend’s state championship, Gorman coach Chris Sheff said his team would have to play better in Fairfield to head to the World Series. No problem for the Titans.

They were nothing short of dominant in their five regional games. Gorman started the tournament with a 10-0 rout of Albuquerque, N.M., last Thursday and went on to outscore its opponents 59-26.

“I still think we’re going to have to play a little bit better in the World Series,” Sheff said. “We started to swing bats really well, but we’re going to have to play a little bit better defense.”

As is custom with Gorman, almost every night a different player emerged as the star. In the championship game, it was second baseman Johnny Field. Field went 2-for-5 with four RBIs against Fairfield.

He hit a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to give Gorman an 8-4 lead.

“He’s pretty much led us all summer with big hits,” Sheff said. “It’s typical with the way his summer has gone.”

The Titans only led 5-4 entering the fourth inning after starting pitcher Joey Gallo had trouble. Gallo gave up four runs and walked four in 2 and 1/3 innings.

Joey Rickard came in as a reliever and had no such difficulty. Rickard pitched six innings, struck out six and gave up only one run. Jeff Malm finished Fairfield off with three scoreless innings.

“He came in 5-4 with the bases loaded and got the kid to ground out,” Sheff said. “It was a pretty strong effort.”

Gorman, which has won four straight high school state titles and was ranked as the nation's top team by multiple publications this spring, never trailed in the title game. Catcher Neil Lawhorn catapulted the Titans to a fast start with a bases-clearing double in the first inning. It was his only hit of the night, but perhaps the most important of the game.

Gallo went to shortstop after his stint on the mound and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Outfielder Ken Meimerstorf went 3-for-5 with two RBIs.

“That’s the important thing for championship teams to advance,” Sheff said. “You rarely have just one guy. You need other parts of the puzzle contributing.”

It will take a similar team effort for the Titans to escape Fargo with a national championship. If they can pull off the feat, they will be only the second team in more than 30 years to win consecutive World Series crowns.