Nevada
Desert Oasis baseball beats Liberty to secure 5A playoff spot
After getting shut out by Liberty on Tuesday, the Desert Oasis baseball team bounced back with an 11-4 victory Wednesday over the visiting Patriots.
With the win in the regular-season finale, the Diamondbacks secured the Desert League’s No. 2 seed in the 5A Southern Region playoffs, which start next week.
“All year, they’ve responded after we’ve lost games,” Desert Oasis coach Paul Buboltz said. “This is an experienced group of guys that are hungry, and they knew what was at stake today.”
The Diamondbacks (21-9-1, 6-4 Desert) didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard Wednesday. After Liberty (15-16, 5-5 Desert) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Desert Oasis came out swinging.
Senior third baseman Brody Griffith got it started by driving home sophomore second baseman Jayson Marquez to tie the game. Then junior left fielder Ryan Roshak launched a fastball over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer, giving the Diamondbacks a lead they didn’t relinquish.
“That early momentum meant everything for the team,” Roshak said. “It takes a lot of pressure off the guys.”
The Desert Oasis bats made life easier for senior pitcher Crue Smith. After getting into early trouble, Smith kept a potent Patriots lineup at bay for most of the afternoon. The right-hander yielded four runs — one earned — on five hits and two walks while striking out three in 5⅓ innings.
“I think this win will boost our confidence and give us more motivation going into the playoffs,” Smith said.
The Diamondbacks continued to tack on early runs — three in the second inning, off a bases-loaded walk to senior center fielder Aidan Smith and two more on a single from senior designated hitter Ashton Kidd — to go up 7-1.
Liberty crept back into the game, thanks to solid relief pitching from senior Cayden Rodgers-Ramirez. The Patriots added two runs in the sixth, off RBI singles from Rodgers-Ramirez and senior Austin Pepe, to get within 8-4. But the Diamondbacks answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Marquez went 2-for-4, driving in a run and scoring twice. Desert Oasis batters drew seven walks, including two each by senior catcher Landon O’Dell and freshman right fielder Sebastian Mansell.
Junior center fielder Nevan Chandler led Liberty’s offense, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Visitors at the Nevada National Security Site Museum got a lesson in Cold War history and Southern Nevada’s atomic past Saturday.
Retired test site worker Marcus Brown gave a presentation on Camp Desert Rock, the military installation located about four miles from the Mercury site, where the military conducted experiments to determine whether soldiers could operate in a nuclear environment.
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Brown said the series is part of regular talks the museum hosts every other week on topics including the USS Nevada, “Duck and Cover” and 1950s Las Vegas — all aimed at preserving the legacy of nuclear testing and its impact on the valley.
“Share the legacy and the history of the Nevada Test Site and the culture that it really kind of imparted to the Las Vegas community,” Brown said.
Brown’s history with the test site
Brown began his career at the Nevada Test Site in 1982 as a radiation health technician, supporting underground tests through 1992. He then moved into environmental remediation and later nuclear operations, continuing to work in the field until his retirement in 2023.
He now volunteers as a docent at the Nevada National Security Site Museum to share that history with new generations. Brown said the museum helps tell a story many locals never heard.
“Come and visit the museum. There’s a lot of culture and legacy and history here,” Brown said.
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LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A Southern Nevada nonprofit that provides meals, hygiene resources, and housing assistance is getting a boost of visibility from a local bank’s community recognition program.
Lexicon Bank recognized CARE Complex through its Community Spotlight Program during June, highlighting the organization’s work serving individuals and families experiencing economic hardship throughout Southern Nevada.
CARE Complex is located in Las Vegas’ Corridor of Hope and operates as a centralized hub of essential services. The nonprofit provides meals, hygiene resources, mail, and locker services, along with on-site support aimed at meeting immediate needs with dignity and consistency.
Founded by Michael Swecker, CARE Complex connects vulnerable individuals with services intended to address both urgent needs and long-term success.
The organization’s key programs include Community Table, which provides meals and monthly pre-packed grocery bags; Homeless to Home (H2H), which offers financial assistance for qualifying individuals and families facing eviction or housing instability; and Step Into Success, which supports participants as they work toward self-sufficiency and long-term stability.
The recognition follows Lexicon Bancorp’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held in May, which celebrated “A Year of Philanthropy” and highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting local nonprofits and strengthening the communities it serves.
Lexicon Bank’s monthly Community Spotlight Program features organizations working across Southern Nevada and encourages community members to learn more, volunteer, and support their missions.
More information about CARE Complex, its programs, and ways to get involved is available at www.carecomplex.org.
Las Vegas (Nev.) Arbor View quarterback Thaddeus Thatcher announced his commitment to Oregon State and broke down why he chose the Beavers.
After taking official visits to Oregon State, UNLV, UCF and Michigan, the talented signal caller announced for the Beavers moments ago.
“I’m very excited about my decision,” Thatcher said. “Coach Shep (Jamarcus Shephard) has assembled a really great staff and I’m really excited to work with coach (Mitch) Dahlen.
“Coach Dahlen has worked with so many draft picks and it’s really exciting to have the opportunity to be developed by someone like him.”
The potential to compete for early playing time was another big factor for Thatcher.
“They’re going to give me a chance to compete for a spot right away,” Thatcher said. “That’s something I was interested in and so I’m excited about the opportunity.
“My whole family gets along with the entire Oregon State staff and we really believe in Coach Shep. I really think he’s going to be able to get things back on track and I’m excited to be a part of that.”
We originally had a commit prediction in for Michigan with Thatcher and there was strong buzz he was close to committing following his unofficial visit back in early April.
Thatcher decided to take his official visits instead and the Beavers hosted him on May 29. Oregon State started to build momentum with Thatcher following the trip and the Beavs were able to hold off strong competition.
Thatcher is one of the region’s top dual-threat quarterbacks and two-sport athletes. He’s a talented basketball player as well but his fixture is on the grid-iron.
As a junior, Thatcher completed 168-240 passes (70%) for 2,625 yard and 29 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also rushed for 605 yards and seven more scores and will be a four-year starter for the Aggies, one of the top teams in the state.
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