Galena baseball wins zone title

RENO - Throughout this season's High Desert League divisional games, the McQueen Lancers had the Galena Grizzlies' number. But when it came down to laying claim to the Northern 4A Region Championship, it was the Grizzlies who cashed in when it counted most.

Behind Tony Thompson - who was strong from the mound and from the plate - and a sterling effort in relief from Jacob Anderson, the Grizzlies defeated the Lancers, 6-5, Saturday at Manogue High School, to win their first zone championship since 2001.

Galena, which defeated McQueen in a non-league game a couple weeks ago, and McQueen both advanced to next week's Class 4A state championships to be held at Peccole Park in Reno beginning Thursday.

"It's awesome," said Thompson, whose two-run homer to right-center field in the top of the fifth gave the Grizzlies a 5-3 lead. "We knew we could've done it (defeated McQueen during their league games), but we weren't clicking as a team.

"The fifth time we were playing for the zone championship and we knew we could get it done. It's awesome."

But it certainly didn't come easy for the Grizzlies, who had to rally from a 3-1 deficit with a four-run fifth and then narrowly escaped a comeback by the Lancers who had a two-run sixth.

Galena coach Gary McNamara said he was reluctant to pull Thompson after 5 1/3 innings, but he wanted him fresh for state.

"We were going to take him out at 75 (pitches) and we took him out at 74," McNamara said. "If it were the same situation (in the regular season) we'd be leaving Tony in it."

Thompson struck out four, while allowing five runs and seven hits. But he was also the victim of some errors and other plays out of his control.

After catcher Basim Azzam drove in third baseman J.D. Peters with a single to center to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, the Lancers were able to recover in the bottom of the frame.

Galena left fielder Ryan Howsley lost sight of Justin Surina's high flyball in the sun and Surina was able to leg out a triple as Howsley vainly tried to track it down.

Surina was able to score on the next play as Galena shortstop Pete Lazzari bobbled a grounder by Travis Reynolds, who reached base.

After hitting Brian Barnett with a pitch, Thompson was able to recover, getting Luke Feiler to hit into a double play before striking out Jared Murphy to end the inning.

Surina, who finished the day 2-for-4, hit a solo homer to right center in the third and Feiler scored on a throwing error after Kyle Stewart flew out to right in the fourth and the Lancers were up 3-1.

The Grizzlies rallied in the top of the fifth and after Matt Evans walked, Howsley drove him in to cut the lead to 3-2 with a double to right center.

"Ryan Howsley was playing with a torn (anterior cruciate ligament)," McNamara said of his gutsy freshman. "That was a big double there to make it 3-2 when we were down 3-1. He felt another pop on his way to second and we took him out. He's that tough to play through this and we had to take him out. That's as courageous as it gets."

Will Honjas started for the Lancers, going 5 innings and allowing five runs (three earned) while striking out eight. He was able to get Lazzari and center fielder Justin Norvick to fly out, but the Grizzlies weren't to be denied.

Galena tied it up on a Honjas wild pitch and after Peters singled to center, Thompson got his homer - estimated at 370 feet - to put the Grizzlies up 5-3.

"It was an outside fastball," Thompson said of the money pitch. "(Surina) got me the first two times up on that and I missed it. I knew that I was going to get another one. I just had to get my timing down and hit one better."

McNamara said he continues to be amazed by Thompson.

"Every time we get in a situation to do some damage, Tony Thompson comes up big," McNamara said. "He seems to play better and hit better with the pressure on his back. He has something special."

Reynolds relieved Honjas in the top of the sixth and surrendered only two hits and one run, but it turned out to be a crucial one.

Evans reached first on a throwing error and advanced to second on Scott Underwood's sacrifice bunt. Lazzari made his only hit of the day count, driving a single past short to give the Grizzlies what amounted to be the winning run.

Thompson gave up consecutive doubles to Feiler, Murphy and Stewart, who closed the gap to 6-5, but Anderson came on in relief and was able to get the Grizzlies out of the inning.

Anderson walked Brian Barrett with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but he struck out Feiler to end the threat and the game. He pitched 1 2/3 innings of hitless, shutout ball.

"Jacob pitched outstanding," McNamara said. "I noticed in warmups that his fastball was running a lot. Sometimes in championship games you get hitters' blowouts. That didn't happen. It was a great baseball game."

McNamara said the tough game and the tough brackets each team went through would benefit them in the state championships.

"The other two teams (from the south) are similar to us," he said. "It was good preparation for both (Galena and McQueen). We (Galena) are in good shape for next week."

Galena will enter the tournament with a record of 27-7. McQueen is 34-4. The Grizzlies and the Lancers, respectively, are seeking their first state championship.