(
The streaking Bengals (14-12) bested Las Vegas (24-5) ace Brian Harper, who is signed to play at Division-I Cal State-Northridge in the fall, with 10 hits in a heated battle that felt like a playoff game more than a non-league match-up. Las Vegas was ranked No. 2 in the city, according to the Las Vegas Review -Journal, and has already clinched their divisional title with a perfect record in Northeast Divisional play.
Nick Bryant drove in the tying and go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth and David Pettis added an insurance run on a perfectly executed hit-and-run in the bottom of the sixth. Shreve closed the door in the top of the seventh to give Bonanza the victory. Bryant finished 2-for-3 while Philip Navarro added a pair of hits, one of which was a double.
Jordan Hanley doubled in the Bengals' first run in the bottom of the second after Las Vegas took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a Bryce Harper single to center.
Bonanza returns to action Thursday afternoon is the final non-league game of the regular season, traveling to Shadow Ridge for an afternoon ballgame. The Bengals return to action in Southwest Divisional play Monday when they take on nationally-ranked Bishop Gorman at Bonanza.
EXTRA INNINGS – The Southwest Division was idle Wednesday, but returns to action Thursday night as Spring Valley travels to Durango in a game with multiple playoff implications. With Spring Valley in third place with a 5-4 record, the Bengals (4-4) and Durango (4-4) are vying for the final playoff spot.
A win by Spring Valley would give Bonanza a half-game lead over Durango heading into the final week of the season, making next Wednesday night's battle between the Bengals and the Trailblazers a virtual play-in game for the final postseason spot. A win by Durango Thursday would put the three teams into a virtual three-way tie heading into the final week of the season.
Bonanza plays host to Gorman Monday afternoon before traveling to Durango Wednesday and then Western Thursday to close out the season. Durango finishes with Clark on Monday, Bonanza on Wednesday and then Bishop Gorman Thursday while Spring Valley hits the road to tackle second place Sierra Vista Monday and then Western on Wednesday.
The playoffs open May 6 with site locations yet to be determined.
