Durango brings home World Series Legion title

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 12, 1998 | 9:08 a.m.

Southern California claimed the 1998 College Baseball World Series crown, but the Trojans weren't the only club to accept a trophy in Omaha, Neb. last week.

While their Division I counterparts battled on nearby fields, the Durango Trailblazers captured the College World Series American Legion Baseball Tournament title, going 5-0 at the 20-team event.

The way the Trailblazers (21-3, 14-1 league) have been playing so far this summer, their victory in Nebraska should have come as little surprise to anyone. Before dropping a doubleheader to St. George (Utah) on Wednesday, Durango had put together a 19-game winning streak.

"The pitching's been the key for us," Durango Legion coach Tom Appleyard said. "They've thrown strikes and kept us in ballgames."

Indeed, the club's starting rotation of graduated senior Scott Yahraus (3-1), seniors-to-be J.T. Sherman (3-0) and Richard Kilby (4-0) and juniors-to-be E.J. Shanks (3-0) and Nate Bumstead (3-0) have been so dominant that the Blazers haven't really missed injured starter Chris Bannister (ankle).

Durango hasn't been too shoddy at the plate, either, with graduated seniors Matt McCurdy (.443, 5 HR, 24 RBI), Jack Newark (.453, 22 RBI) and soon-to-be junior Chris Kelly (.403, 4 HR, 27 RBI) putting up some gaudy offensive numbers.

Local fans who want to catch a glimpse of the red-hot Trailblazers will have to wait until next month. Durango leaves Tuesday for a tour that will take it to tournaments in Pueblo, Colo, and Rapid City, S.D., before it resumes league play July 20.

"We play five or six tournaments a summer," Appleyard said. "It exposes kids to colleges and it makes them tougher for key situations down the road."

Skyhawks lead pack

Despite Durango's quick start, the Trailblazers aren't leading the local Legion standings. That honor belongs to Silverado, which opened the season with an 8-5 win over Durango and hasn't lost a league game this year.

The Skyhawks (8-1 overall, 7-0 league) have done it without one of their top pitchers -- right-hander Robbie Van. The junior-to-be, who was expected to be the team's No. 1 or No. 2 starter this summer, has missed the last three weeks with an elbow injury.

In his stead, Joe Carque, James Wickman and incoming freshman Ken Clayton have performed well as starters. Senior-to-be James Vita has sparkled out of the bullpen, saving three games and winning another.

"If we can keep the rest of the pitchers healthy, that's the key," Skyhawks' Legion coach Art Besser said.

Offense hasn't been much of a problem for Silverado, with six players batting over .400: Ryan Ruiz (.650), James Wickman (.500), Tommy Rojas (.476), Vincent Valiente (.467), Mike Eshragh (.444) and Brandon Perry (.409).

Silverado and Bishop Gorman will head to Prescott, Ariz., next week for the 16-team Prescott Invitational, which will feature clubs from five states.

* WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: Oklahoma senior-to-be Michael Johnson (Rancho '95) has been selected to participate on a Big 12 all-star men's basketball team that will tour Europe in August. Joining Johnson (the Sooners' starting point guard) on the team will be such notables as Kansas center Eric Chenowith and Texas center Chris Mihm ... Purdue's Ike Olekaibe (Cimarron-Memorial '96) recently placed third in the triple jump at the Big Ten track and field outdoor championships, posting a personal best of 51-09.75

* PREP TIDBITS: Bishop Gorman pitcher/outfielder Jason Van Meetren and Galena pitcher Kourtney Davis have been named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Nevada High School Baseball and Softball Players of the Year. Van Meetren, a senior, batted .545 with nine homers and 47 RBI and went 9-1 with a 1.88 ERA on the mound, helping the Gaels to a state tournament appearance. Davis, a junior, went 27-7 with a remarkable 0.27 ERA, striking out 357 batters in 230 innings. Her Grizzlies finished third in the state in Class 4A. ... Two local squads -- the Bishop Gorman boys and Basic girls -- have accepted invitations to play in the second annual Premier-GMC Energy Classic Invitational Basketball Tournament in Gillette, Wyo., in December.

* MARK YOUR CALENDAR: The Cincinnati Reds will hold their annual tryout camp this Saturday at 8 a.m. at Durango High School. Legion players much bring written permission from their coach to participate, and players under 21 years of age must bring a written release from a parent or legal guardian accepting legal liability. ... NBC commentator Bill Walton and NBA players Gary Payton, Michael Cage and Jaron Jackson are slated to take part in the Bank of America Jammin' Hoops Camp June 15-17 at Rancho High School. For more information about registering for the free camp, call (503) 284-4581. ... Fans are invited to attend the upcoming "Top Guns" high school baseball showcase, an event that will bring the top 120 underclassmen from 24 states together for four days at UNLV's Wilson Stadium June 15-18. A $25 admission fee will give fans a chance to see 18 games. For more information, call (208) 762-1100.