Bishop Gorman blows out Douglas to advance to state championship

By Steve Silver

Friday, May 22, 2009 | 8:30 p.m.

One day after relying on extra innings to eke out a victory over Green Valley, Bishop Gorman proved it is still the team to beat in the 4A state baseball tournament by blasting Douglas High 8-0 Friday at the College of Southern Nevada’s Morse Stadium.

Simply beating Gorman once, however, will not be enough. The double elimination format of the tournament means Cimarron-Memorial will have to topple the Gaels twice Saturday to prevent Gorman from claiming its fourth consecutive state title.

“We are always confident,” Gorman coach Chris Sheff said. “That’s part of being in this program, but we are not overconfident by any means. We know we have to play good baseball for one more day. We like the spot we’re in. It’s the best spot in the tournament. But the best spot ultimately is to win a state championship.”

Gorman’s bats came to life early Friday as the Gaels loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. Catcher Erik Van Meetren then dropped a double into shallow right field to score Joey Rickard and Stephen Manthei for the 2-0 lead.

A throwing error by Douglas first baseman Kameron Van Winkle, one of three committed by the Tigers Friday, allowed Jeff Malm to score to put the Gaels on top 3-0.

“We played well, we meshed well and we were intense out there today,” said Van Meetren, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

The Gaels were not done having their way with Douglas starting pitcher Tyler May just yet. In the top of the third, R.J. Santigate tripled off the center field wall to score Johnny Field and Van Meetren for the 5-0 lead.

The following inning, Van Meetren belted another double, this time off Tim Rudnick, to score two more runs to extend the Gaels’ lead to 7-0.

With the 10-run mercy rule in sight, Gorman struggled to drive runners home – stranding nine on base.

“We got a few breaks and got a couple big hits, but I still think we should have executed better,” Sheff said. “That’s the word we will talk to the team about today. Even though it was 8-0, I thought we had some opportunities to really make it easier on ourselves. Even at 7-0, it was still a ballgame. We get a couple add-ons with bases loaded, it makes it easier for our staff, and we just couldn’t get the extra add-on.”

Although the Gaels could not end the game early, the Gorman pitching staff dazzled once again.

Manthei held the Tigers to two hits, while striking out eight batters in five innings of work. He retired the first 10 batters he faced before Beau Davis broke up the no-hitter in the fourth inning.

Santigate came in to relieve Manthei for the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out four.

“(Pitching) has been phenomenal,” said Gaels’ catcher Van Meetren. “We just have to keep it up one more day. If we stay on our game we are in a great position to succeed.”

After falling to Douglas 9-5 in the opening round of the tournament Thursday, Cimarron recovered Friday to drop Green Valley 4-0 in the first elimination game Friday.

The Spartans then clobbered Douglas 10-1 for the chance to try to knock off Gorman twice Saturday for the state championship. The first game begins at 10 a.m.

Cimarron pulled off that upset not too long ago as the Spartans trounced the Gaels 10-2 in the Sunset Regional championship on May 15, which means Saturday’s title contest could be the perfect place for Gorman to exact revenge.

“Personally, I do want to play Cimarron, because I want to get them back, but whoever we play, we play,” Van Meetren said.

Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or [email protected].