Lindahl heeds coach’s input
Las Vegas High baseball coach Sam Thomas thought freshman outfielder Joel Lindahl was trying too hard to make things happen, so he reminded him to enjoy the game.
The advice worked. Lindahl’s two-run single in the eighth inning Tuesday gave the Wildcats a 4-3 home win over Silverado.
“He just told me to relax and just play my game,” Lindahl said of his sixth-period meeting with coach Thomas. “I just had fun today. It was a good day.”
Silverado had taken the lead on an RBI double by Nikolas Cortez in the top of the eighth, but Las Vegas (10-8, 4-6 Sunrise League) rallied with two outs in the bottom of the inning.
Oliver Haro-reyes singled, and Jose Martinez and Kevin Verduzco walked to load the bases. Lindahl then fouled off two two-strike pitches before lining a single to right field, and Martinez beat the throw to the plate with the winning run.
“I just tried to stay relaxed and just do what I do,” Lindahl said. “I know I’m a good hitter opposite field, so I tried to take the ball that way.”
The Wildcats had a chance to win the game in the seventh after Silverado (610-1, 4-5) walked the bases loaded with no outs. But
Daniel Jimenez left first on a called strike that he thought was ball four, and Lindahl was forced to leave second base to avoid having two runners on the base. Lindahl
was tagged out, and after a walk, Chris Cortez got Leonel Anaya to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“It’s what you always say, don’t assume anything,”