Playing at Nevada, opportunities to compete against the nation’s elite are scarce.
Entering this weekend, only one Mountain West baseball team had an RPI in the top 100 (New Mexico). When Fresno State won it all 2008, it was a member of the WAC. So was Nevada, which went 4-4 against the Bulldogs that spring.
The Wolf Pack got a shot at a household name this weekend, playing at Clemson, which went into the series ranked No. 6 in the nation.
The Tigers have appeared in the College World Series 12 times and this year will be their 42nd NCAA Tournament berth. For perspective, Nevada has four NCAA Tournament berths to its credit, the last coming in 2000. Spanish Springs baseball coach Matt Ortiz was on that team and his numbers were outrageous. He batted .377 (third on team) with 15 home runs (second on team) and a team-high 76 RBIs in 57 games.
Reed alum Mark Nowaczewski took the ball in game two on Sunday and continued his dominant month. He won for the third time in four outings, as the Wolf Pack built a 7-2 lead and hung for a 7-5 victory.
Reed’s Mark Nowaczewski continues to throw well. He goes 7.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits and picks up W. https://t.co/S9eZAn55QW
— Nathan Shoup (@Trib_Shoup) May 7, 2017
Nowaczewski went 7.1 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and a walk. In his last four outings, the former Raider has compiled a 3.34 ERA over 32.1 innings with 17 strikeouts compared with seven walks.
The Wolf Pack has worked its way back into contention following a brutal start largely because of Nowaczewski’s emergence.
Saga surrounding Bishop Gorman football coach Kenny Sanchez redirects
In early April, Bishop Gorman football coach Kenny Sanchez was arrested on a warrant stemming from a domestic battery charge by his ex-girlfriend, who he has a child with.
She claimed he struck her in the face on Christmas Day and one week prior. Both alleged incidents came when the two met to drop off/pick up their son.
The Las Vegas private school power indefinitely suspended Sanchez, the brother of former Bishop Gorman head coach and current UNLV head coach, Tony Sanchez. He has led the Gaels to two straight national and state titles in undefeated fashion.
The story took an unfortunately familiar turn on Thursday. David Ferrara of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Brooke Stewart recanted her statement.
“Contrary to my report to the police, Kenny simply came over on Christmas (Day) to pick up (our son) and left without any physical altercation,” she said in an affidavit. “He never punched, pushed, scratched or grabbed me on Dec. 25, 2016, Dec. 17, 2016 or any other date.
“It is my desire that no further action is taken against Kenny Sanchez based upon my actions.”
According to Ferrara’s story, prosecutor Lisa Luzaich will not forfeit the case that’s set to go to trial on May 30 despite Stewart’s reversal.
Sanchez’s future at Bishop Gorman is certainly still in question as administration finds itself in a particularly difficult situation. Innocent or not, his reputation has already skewed. Internet mug shots are forever. But a much larger issue persists.
When false or later-redacted accusations like Stewart’s are made, it discredits those who seek help in dangerous or abusive relationships. The credibility of individuals in crisis takes a dive.
Ferrara quoted Liz Ortenburger, the executive director at Safe Nest, an organization with three counseling offices in Nevada that protects domestic violence victims.
“It is unfortunate if and when it’s a true domestic violence case,” she told Ferrara. “It’s also distressing as an organization for us to see people use domestic violence as a weapon against someone who has not abused them. We do feel that when people file false accusations, there needs to be a consequence to that.”
This case will wield no winners.
Reed boys dominate HDL meet
Regional qualifying was done differently this year.
Instead of the entire 4A North competing in one meet to determine who advances to regionals, the High Desert League and Sierra League competed separately at Carson on Saturday.
The Reed boys won the HDL title in dominating form. The Raiders finished with 199 points (the most of any for the four league champs), 87 points clear of the field (the largest margin of victory in the four meets). McQueen took second with 112 points.
Senior sprinter Bobby Widmar, the fastest in Nevada, had a predictably busy afternoon. He won the 100 meter and 200m, also taking third in the 400m.
In the 100m, Widmar shaved a pair of one hundredths off his state-best time of 10.65 seconds. His time of 10.63 was nearly .80 seconds clear of the second-place finisher. It’s also .23 seconds quicker than anyone else in Nevada this year.
The Spanish Springs boys finished in fourth out of six teams. On the girls side, Reed took third. Spanish Springs was fourth.
Carson will also host the two-day 4A North regional meet this weekend. Finals will be held on Saturday.
The Reed boys won last year’s regional title and went on to take fifth at state.
Nathan can be reached via email at nshoup@sparkstrib.com or nathan@lotusradio.com. His weekly column, ‘Shoup Shots,’ was named the best column in the state of Nevada (community division) by the Nevada Press Association. It runs in the hard copy of the Sparks Tribune every Tuesday morning. Nathan’s weekly radio show airs Fridays at noon on ESPN Radio 94.5 FM.
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