Las Vegas Sun

February 12, 2012

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LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL:

Mountain Ridge headed to Little League regionals in California

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Las Vegas will be represented in this week’s Little League western regional championships in San Bernardino, Calif.

Mountain Ridge rolled through the state tournament in Carson City last week for the right to play in the regional, with the winner advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

“We started pushing this months ago,” said Mountain Ridge coach Larry Quaney Jr. “We got everyone on an early mindset since January or February with San Bernardino. We said if we get there, then we’ll have a good chance to get to Williamsport.”

Quaney only became more confident with his team’s chances after its dominant performance in the state tournament. Mountain Ridge took down Elko 15-4 in the first round and beat Washoe 11-7 in the semifinals.

That set up a showdown with defending state champion Paseo Verde. Mountain Ridge had no problems in dispatching Paseo Verde 11-1.

“The kids have just gotten better every game,” Quaney said. “They picked up their level of play every game.”

Quaney said his three pitchers have been key to the team’s run. Sam Pastroni, Larry Quaney III and Jeff Griffith are all top-notch hurlers in the 11-to-13 age group.

Pastroni, Quaney III and Griffith also serve as the team’s top three hitters in the lineup.

But the coach said the strength of Mountain Ridge is its depth. Most little league teams, he said, have three or four players who can hit for both power and average. All nine of Mountain Ridge’s starters are capable.

Catcher Trent Bixby has also emerged as one of the team’s standouts.

The team leaves for the San Bernardino regional, which ESPN is broadcasting, Wednesday and plays its first game Friday. Mountain Ridge will try to become the first Nevada team to ever play in Williamsport.

“I feel and pretty much everyone else feels we have top pitchers for Little League,” the coach said. “I think all the teams that get there can hit, but it comes down to utilizing your pitching.”

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