Zachary lifts Faith Lutheran

Shane Zachary gave up two runs in the third inning, then retired the final 13 Spring Creek batters in order Thursday to help host Faith Lutheran to a 10-2 victory in the first round of the Class 3A state baseball tournament.

The right-handed Zachary, 5-0 against Class 3A foes, allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked three in seven innings.

All three of his walks came in the third inning. After that, the Crusaders allowed one runner to reach base, on an error, and that runner was retired in a double play.

“He’s an outstanding presence on the mound,” Faith Lutheran coach Tony Girod said of Zachary. “He’s a battler, and ‘Bulldog’ is our nickname for him. He’s focused and concentrated every pitch.

“Shane and our catcher (James Anger) have been very good friends for a long time. … Our catcher calls the game, and they know what to do before they do it. They’ve got great chemistry and have always worked well together. I just sit here, watch and enjoy.”

Faith Lutheran, 19-1 against Class 3A teams, took a 6-0 lead in the first inning, when 10 batters came to the plate.

Tyler Iodence gave the Crusaders a 2-0 lead with a two-run single, and Chuck Buchanan made it 3-0 with an RBI single. Two runners scored from third base on wild pitches, and Alex Tracy added a run-scoring single.

The Crusaders made it 8-0 in the second on Terry Unruh’s sacrifice fly and Buchanan’s RBI double. They went up 9-2 in the fourth when Unruh drove in a run on a fielder’s choice and took a 10-2 lead in the sixth when Unruh tripled and scored on a wild pitch.

Buchanan went 3-for-4, Unruh 2-for-3 and Iodence 2-for-4 for the Crusaders.

Faith Lutheran next will play Dayton (25-4) at 3:30 p.m. today. Spring Creek will take on Pahrump Valley (15-17-2) at 1 p.m. today in the double-elimination tournament.

• Dayton 11, Pahrump Valley 9 — The Dust Devils took a 7-0 lead after four innings and held on to defeat the Trojans.

Dayton took an 11-7 lead into the seventh inning, but Pahrump Valley narrowed the margin to 11-9 on Jarret Holley’s two-run single.

Dust Devils reliever Ryan Shepherd then struck out the final Trojan, representing the tying run, to end the game.

Tom O’Brien went 3-for-4 for the Dust Devils.

Pahrump’s Iggy Wagner was 3-for-4 with a triple.