LAS VEGAS — The Nevada state American Legion champion broke open a one-run game with four runs in the eighth inning en route to a 7-4 victory over Helper, Utah's champion, in first-day action of the Western Regional Thursday at the College of Southern Nevada.
Helper trailed 3-2 heading into the fateful eighth, but Nevada scored its four runs on one hit and six Helper walks — two coming with the bases loaded.
"It put us in a hole," Helper coach Jeff Cisneros said. "If we could have gotten out of that inning without giving up any runs we would have won the game."
Carbon High junior-to-be Troy Grundy fired seven complete innings and fanned eight before being pulled after walking the bases loaded to start the eighth inning.
Helper committed four errors.
Helper played Hawaii Friday at 9 a.m.