WNCC baseball sweeps Southern Idaho

With two down in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless tie with the College of Southern Idaho, the Western Nevada Community College Wildcats needed a shot in the arm Friday.

But WNCC first baseman Tom Miller did them one better, short-circuiting a commanding performance by Golden Eagles pitcher Todd Privett by hitting a towering, game-winning shot over the left center wall.

The homer - an estimated 400-footer - was the first ever for a Wildcat at John L. Harvey Field, where WNCC took the first game of the twinbill, 5-1, and the nightcap, 1-0.

With the two victories, WNCC - now ranked No. 20 nationally by the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association - needs to win one of its two games against CSI today to win the Scenic West Athletic Conference regular season championship in its inaugural year.

"We really haven't done anything yet," said the 6-foot-2, 217-pound Miller, who also came up big in the opener with a first-inning, two-run double that gave the Wildcats a 2-0 lead and all of the offense it would need. "Tomorrow is big for us. We want to win the championship. We won't be happy unless we win it. We have a long way to go."

The Wildcats improved to 35-15 overall and 29-9 in the SWAC, while dropping the No. 14 Golden Eagles from second place to third, with a record of 36-16, 22-11.

Dixie State (Utah) stayed in the conference championship race and moved from third place into second with its sweep of Salt Lake Community College. Dixie State (33-11, 27-10) belted out SLCC 11-1 in five innings in the first game and rallied from a 1-0 third-inning deficit for a 6-2 win in the nightcap.

Privett went the distance for CSI, allowing only one earned run on two hits, while walking four and striking out seven.

"Privett was working me hard in and two times he struck me out with a fastball hard in," said Miller, who finished the day a combined 3-for-6 with 3 RBI. "I wasn't going to let him do it again. I got lucky and got hold of one."

WNCC catcher Taylor Meiras shook his head after the game and looked off in the distance before summarizing Miller's day.

"Oh gosh...Tom always comes up clutch," Meiras said. "He's just a gamer. He has some power and had a good pitch and hammered it."

WNCC coach D.J. Whittemore said he had a feeling something was going to happen in the dugout.

"I told a couple of guys on the bench that I had a hunch (Privett) would challenge him with a fastball and a 2-1 count," he said. "Tom put a great swing on it. He has tremendous power."

The Golden Eagles threatened to come back in the top of the seventh. WNCC closer Dan Grubbs walked A.J. Rucker to open the inning and advanced to third when center fielder Alex Hancock reached base on a sacrifice bunt, which popped out of diving third baseman Tyson Jaquez's glove.

CSI right fielder Ken Fuglerud ripped a liner well to the right of first base, but a flying Miller, looking like he'd been launched by an unseen spring, snapped the ball out of the air, saving a run and a possible big inning.

Then it was time for Meiras to step up for the Wildcats as he threw out Hancock, who was trying to steal second, for the second out.

"We knew they'd do it (steal) sometime so we wouldn't have a chance to turn a double play," said Meiras, of Spring Creek. "Dan's slider was great and I had a good pitch to throw on. Dan did a great job of holding the runner over there, too."

Grubbs took matters into his own hands from there and struck out Kyle Resser to end the game.

"I was trying to stay calm, but the pressure's always there," said Grubbs (3-0), who got the win and relieved starter Cole Rohrbough with one out in the sixth. "I was just trying to make my pitches. I knew my defense was behind me. Tom made a great play at first base for a game-saving play and Taylor threw a guy out for another game-saving play. I was a little nervous, but I had confidence in my stuff to get the job done."

Rohrbough went 5 1/3 innings of shutout ball, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out two. Grubbs allowed two hits in 1 1/3, walking two and striking out one.

"Cole threw well and hit his spots," Meiras said. "He threw his fastball real well and his slider kept them off balance. It was his best outing of the year."

Justin Garcia (7-4) picked up the win for the Wildcats in game one. He allowed only one run on four hits and struck out five. He also held Fuglerud, who entered the game with a .405 batting average, hitless in three at-bats, striking him out twice.

"Garcia has been getting better for the last three straight weeks," Whittemore said. "His breaking pitch has gone from almost unusable to a legit pitch in the last month. (Pitching) Coach Dennis Banks deserves a lot of credit. He's made some mechanical adjustments which has allowed Garcia to command the bottom half of the strike zone."

CSI scored its only run in the top of the second, when Resser doubled in Nik Gumeson to cut the lead to 2-1.

WNCC got two more runs in the bottom of the inning on a pair off squeeze bunts by shortstop Jerahmie Libke and second baseman Kyle Bondurant. Left fielder Pat Grennan hit an RBI-single in the third to round out the scoring.

Adam Urnberg (7-4) took the loss for CSI, lasting only two innings and giving up five earned runs on five hits. Tim Mealer pitched 4 scoreless innings in relief, surrendering three hits and striking out four.

Whittmore, who has kept his team focused and grounded throughout its amazing season, shrugged off the Wildcats' seemingly innate flair for the dramatic.

"I think you'll see a lot of drama every time when you beat a great ballclub like (the Golden Eagles) are," he said. "You don't see many runaways. Half of our games have been decided by one run or in extra frames. There are lots of close games. That's the product of great pitching and defense and timely hitting to match."

Asked about today's doubleheader, which begins at noon, Whittemore offered a familiar refrain.

"Our game plan is exactly the same - play hard, play smart, play together," he said. "Baseball players are creatures of habit. They don't like things changing."

The same could be said of WNCC fans, who have grown accustomed to the Wildcats' winning ways and flair for the dramatic.

NOTES: Miller leads the Wildcats with four homers and 31 RBI...Catcher Aaron Greer was out of the hospital and in good spirits in the press box Friday. Greer was hospitalized last week after blood clots were found in his legs and lungs. He said that he will be on blood-thinners for years, but that there is a small chance he can play again someday...If WNCC wins one of its games against CSI, it will host the SWAC Tournament at John L. Harvey Field May 10-13...Little Leaguers who wear a jersey or cap today will receive admission for $1. Admission for parents who accompany Little Leaguers is $3.