AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL: Devils dusted by foes

John Stevens is a realist. At the same time, he's not a quitter.

During Stevens' tenure in Pahrump, the baseball teams have been consistent winners. This year's American Legion team is taking its lumps. And yet, Stevens is not only determined to see it through, but at the same time, benefit from the experience.

The Dust Devils are off to an 0-5 start. They have had the five-inning 10-run rule invoked twice. And yet, there is hope for the future. Stevens, who is not part of that future since he recently finished his senior season, is quick to admit that the experience this year will make the team better for the future.

"As (coach) Rich (Lauver) said, we're building from the ground up," said Stevens, a catcher who graduated from Pahrump Valley High School last week as one of eight co-valedictorians. "I'm not as important as the freshmen, the sophomores, the juniors or the eighth-graders. I understand that."

Stevens underestimates his importance to the Dust Devils. After all, a player who will not be part of next year's team is willing to take his lumps and go through the program with the idea it will help him next year when he plays ball at Taft College in California.

"I'm getting stronger and conditioning myself better for college," said Stevens, who maintained a grade-point average above 4.0 during his entire high school career. "I'll stay with it. We're seeing better teams, playing better competition. We're seeing guys who throw hard.

"We had only one guy who threw over 80 (in the Southern League). B.J. Robison (of Virgin Valley) threw 87. We're seeing teams who have winning traditions at the highest level. This is going to be a good team next year. I expect a lot out of them."

Stevens has been playing baseball since he was 4. He has been catching since he was 9. While he played soccer, baseball has always been his favorite sport. And during three previous summers, he was part of a Legion team that played teams its own size and went 91-13 before moving up this summer to play the biggest Southern Nevada schools in the state.

"The idea is to find places for everyone to play," Stevens said. "We're working hard in the weight room so that we can hit the ball harder, can get stronger and are good enough to play at the next level. For me, I'm hoping to be seen by a few more people and at the same time get bigger, faster and stronger. This is one last dance with my boys."

The last dance promises to be the most difficult. But Stevens is determined to see it through until the end.

Warriors 26, Dust Devils 5

On June 8, the game followed a pattern that has become all too familiar. Western went down 1-2-3 in the first inning and Pahrump seized a 2-0 lead.

The Dust Devils got the runs without benefit of a hit, although their rally was started when Joey Monahan was hit by a pitch. After Stevens was safe on an error, a fly out and a fielder's choice in which Monahan was forced at third, Urbano Sanchez walked. Derick Holzer was safe on an error as two runs scored.

The Warriors batted around in scoring five runs in the second, opening the floodgates that didn't shut until the game was called. After scoring two runs in the third, Mark Radcliffe's grand slam highlighted an 11-run fourth and Western tacked on eight runs in the fifth.

Radcliffe, who just completed his sophomore year, slugged two home runs and drove in five runs as the Warriors earned their first win in three decisions. The record, however, is deceptive since Western's two losses were by a run each to Green Valley and Durango, the top two teams in the Nevada in Class 4A.

Meanwhile, Brent Kaucky continued to play long ball for the Dust Devils. The cleanup-hitting third baseman slammed his third homer of the summer, a two-run shot to left in the third inning to bring Pahrump within 7-4. Kaucky also laced an RBI single in the fourth.

Others who collected safeties for the Dust Devils were Kyle Schueger, Preston Dockter, Holzer, Matt and John Stevens.

Warriors 13, Dust Devils 12

In the second game on June 8, the Dust Devils came within one out of notching their first triumph.

Pahrump got off to a fast start, scoring three runs in the first and five in the second. Monahan and John Stevens walked in the first and Matt Stevens had a bunt single to load the bases. Kaucky had an RBI single and Dockter plated two runs with a double.

In the second, Justin Jones walked and Monahan and John Stevens singled. Matt Stevens walked to force in a run, the hot-hitting Kaucky had a two-run single and T.R. Plummer doubled in two runs as the Dust Devils gained an 8-1 lead.

Pahrump's lead was 9-3 in the fourth as Dockter's fielder's choice delivered a run. But the Warriors scored twice in the fifth and used a six-run sixth to gain an 11-9 lead. But the Dust Devils weren't through.

Jones, Monahan and John Stevens all singled, Matt Stevens again walked with the bases loaded, and Holzer also walked with the bases loaded. Plummer's fielder's choice capped the rally. Western won the game, scoring the winning run with two outs in the seventh.

Kaucky went 3-for-3 with three RBIs before leaving with an injury. Plummer, an eighth grader, also knocked in three runs. The Dust Devils banged out 12 hits for the game.

Bonanza visits Pahrump at 5 p.m. today. The Dust Devils are on the road Tuesday at Durango for an 8 p.m. game.