Gorman hopes tough slate pays dividends

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:52 a.m.

It isn't often that the road to a title gets easier as a team gets closer to the finish line.

But after battling through extremely competitive state and regional tournaments, that just may be the case for Bishop Gorman as it prepares to play in its first American Legion World Series.

Of course, you won't catch Knights coach Tim Chambers saying those words. He knows full well what each of the seven other remaining clubs went through to emerge as a regional champion.

But he does acknowledge that his team's grueling season against top-notch competition can only help in the upcoming Series, which begins Friday at Cashman Field.

"In my opinion, some of the best baseball in the country is played right here in Las Vegas," Chambers said. "In my opinion, there are several teams here like Durango, Cimarron, Silverado and Green Valley, that didn't qualify for a regional, that could probably beat any team in the country."

The Knights (49-13) open their three-day pool play schedule against California club Danville (56-10) Friday at 8 p.m. And while the opponent will be an unfamiliar one, Gorman recently defeated Ontario, which beat Danville last month for the California state title.

Right-hander Nate Fouts, who picked up the victory in the Gaels' Region 8 championship win over Taylorsville (Utah) in relief on Monday, will start game one.

After that, Chambers will have an unusually deep staff to choose from -- a group which gets even better with the return of right-hander Brandon Boesch, the team's No. 3 starter during the spring season.

Boesch, who hasn't pitched in the postseason, finally has recovered from a series of nagging back injuries. At practice Wednesday, he threw in the bullpen for the first time since the last week of the regular season.

"We're the healthiest we've been all year," said Chambers, who will likely use Boesch as a long reliever. "We have a whole bunch of arms, so we won't have to stick with any guy too long."

The Knights should also get a big boost from local fans, many of whom cheer for other area squads during the season but are ready to back Las Vegas' first World Series entry since 1993.

"We're very well liked among our baseball peers in this town and in the community," Chambers said. "I think we're going to get a whole bunch of people out there."

With their cheering section behind them, the Knights will try to do something they haven't done very often in the playoffs: Take an early lead and make it stick. In eight of its 10 postseason wins, Gorman has had to rally.

one the other hand, one recent tendency the Knights would love to see continue is their string of 18 consecutive innings without an error. In both the state and regional tournaments, Gorman has played error-free baseball in its semifinal and final games.

According to Chambers, that's one half of a potentially winning combination for his team.

"We have to continue playing defense and pitching well," he said. "If we do, I honestly believe we can win it."