BASEBALL:

Boulder City American Legion team downs Faith for first win

Stephen R. Sylvanie / Special to the Home News

Boulder City baserunner Aubrey Wrightsman, right, peels back toward first base as Green Valley second baseman Alex Bless bobbles the ball during a Legion baseball game earlier this month.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 | 11 p.m.

Boulder City High's American Legion baseball team picked the right team to beat for its first win of the summer.

The Junior Division Eagles rallied in their final at bat June 18 against visiting Faith Lutheran for a 7-6 victory. Tanner Howell had a game-ending single to score Corbett Fleming with the winning run.

Boulder City and Faith Lutheran are heated rivals during the high school season. The game helped give the Eagles' younger players a taste of what it is like to play in a meaningful high school game.

"To get our first win against Faith Lutheran, a team that has kind of worked into being our rivals, really helps motivates them," Boulder City Legion coach Brian Shea said. "It shows them we are going to win some games this summer."

It didn't take long for Boulder City (2-4) to win its next game.

The Eagles' bats came alive the following day in a 17-5 victory against Centennial in five innings.

"We hit the ball all over the place," Shea said.

Robby Jackson went 3-for-3, Nick Morelli was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and Nate Hafen belted a run-scoring double. Hafen earned the win, striking out eight in a complete game effort.

Boulder City dropped its last two games, falling 9-6 to Rancho on June 22 and 13-5 against Spring Valley on June 21.

"We gave up one big inning in each of those games," Shea said. "If you take away those innings we would have won both games."

Hafen hit a home run over the fence in right field at Boulder City in the setback to Rancho.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.