Area’s top softball players chosen

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 9:37 a.m.

After leading their teams into the playoffs this season, Bonanza's Chrystal Stevens, Bishop Gorman's Nikki Koval, Eldorado's Janelle Gervais and Green Valley's Nicole Truax were honored by area coaches who selected this year's all-zone and all-division squads.

Koval, a junior, and Truax, a senior, were named Pitchers of the Year in the Sunset and Sunrise Divisions, respectively.

Gervais, a sophomore shortstop, and Stevens, a junior center fielder, were selected as the Players of the Year for their divisions.

Bonanza's Cheryl Speer, who led her squad to the Sunset Division title and an undefeated league record, and Eldorado's Tom Freese, who helped the Sundevils to a third-place finish in a deep Sunrise Division, were named Coaches of the Year.

Five squads -- Silverado, Green Valley, Basic, Bonanza and Durango -- placed two members apiece on the 13-member all-zone team, which was selected without regard to position.

Dominant 3A golfer

Wednesday's Southern Zone 4A Golf Tournament featured one of the best fields in recent years. But one of the area's top prep golfers wasn't in attendance.

Boulder City's Travis McComb, who has shown he can compete with the best 4A has to offer, captured the 3A Southern Division Zone title last week.

McComb, who shot a 68 -- three strokes better than his closest opponent -- also received the zone's Player of the Year award after leading all 2A and 3A schools with an 18-hole average of 76.

During the season, the senior medaled against 4A competition in seven dual matches. And at the prestigious Pahrump Tournament in March, McComb emerged from a group that included players from local powerhouses Durango, Bonanza, Green Valley and Bishop Gorman to place second overall.

McComb will compete for the 3A state title next Thursday and Friday in a 36-hole tournament in Mesquite. The last two seasons, McComb has placed fourth at the event.

Ranking updates

Green Valley remains the nation's seventh-ranked prep baseball team, according to USA Today's weekly Top 25 poll. The Gators (28-2), who have been ranked in the top 10 for the past five weeks, remained No. 2 in the publication's Western regional rankings for the third consecutive week.

After entering the bi-weekly Baseball America Top 25 at No. 15 on April 19, Green Valley improved to No. 9 in this week's edition.

The Gators also closed out the season at the top of the Sun's weekly Top 10 -- the same position in which they started the season.

In softball, the Northern region placed six clubs in the final Top 10 poll, including the top three overall -- No. 1 Galena, No. 2 Wooster and No. 3 Douglas.

Notes

* ON THE AIR: Saturday's 4A Southern Zone baseball championship game will air live on KBAD 920-AM at 10 a.m. Prime Cable Channel 48 will carry the tape-delay telecast Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. with Tim Neverett and former World Series champion manager Dick Williams calling the action. The state championship game, played May 23 at 10 a.m., will air live from Reno on KBAD with Rob Buska and D.J. Allen behind the microphones. The softball state championship will be televised for the first time. It will be broadcast on tape-delay May 27 at 7:30 p.m. on Prime Cable Channel 48.

* BASKETBALL CAMP: Palo Verde High School will hold a basketball camp for boys and girls in grades 3-9. The event, scheduled June 8-11, will feature instruction from a staff led by Panthers' head boys basketball coach Phil Clarke. The cost is $100 and the registration deadline is May 29. For more information, call 254-4028 or 799-1450.

* CHEYENNE THINKING AID: Cheyenne High School, site of next weekend's Nevada state track and field meet, is asking for donations to help sponsor the event. The Desert Shields' track/cross country booster club welcomes $50 event sponsor contributions, along with the donation of goods or services. For more information, contact Len Zarndt at 799-4990 or 645-8806.

* SUBMISSIONS: Submissions or suggestions for the weekly prep notebook can be e-mailed to spencer@lasvegassun.com, faxed to 383-7264 or mailed to the Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View, Las Vegas, NV, 89107.