Northern Zone starts get shot at revenge

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 28, 1998 | 10:57 a.m.

After watching Green Valley defeat Carson to win the 4A state baseball title last weekend, the northern half of the state will have a chance for a little revenge this weekend.

The top juniors from the Southern Zone will travel to Reno for a three-game series with their counterparts from the north -- the first Nevada High School North/South Showcase Baseball Classic.

The event is expected to draw professional scouts, along with coaches from junior colleges and four-year universities.

The southern squad, which will be coached by Jon Polson and Mike Martin of the Las Vegas Baseball Academy, will feature some of the area's top returners, including Cimarron-Memorial pitcher Mike Esposito, Bishop Gorman outfielder Nick Didier and Durango outfielder James Burgess. The team's 18-man roster was selected by the area's high school coaches.

"It's a good way for the juniors to get a little exposure before their senior season," Polson said. "They've done a good job getting the word out up there."

Carson's Ron McNutt will serve as the head coach for the north squad, which features such local stars as Carson pitcher Darrell Rasner, the Northern Zone pitcher of the year.

The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday, with proceeds from the event going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Nevada.

Freshman phenom

Bishop Gorman graduate Matt Smith, who was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last week, received another honor when he was named to Collegiate Baseball newspaper's All-Freshman Team this week.

Smith, a 6-5 left-handed pitcher, finished the season with a 6-3 record, a team-best 3.61 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings.

Last Thursday, the former Gael lifted the Cowboys to a 13-4 win over Georgia Tech in the first round of the NCAA's Western Regional Tournament. Smith worked 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 batters and surrendering eight hits.

Despite the win, Smith's club failed to earn a spot in the College World Series, losing to Arizona State and Georgia Tech to end their season.

Little movement

Green Valley's baseball team remained No. 5 in this week's USA Today Top 25 poll, and chances of the Gators moving up are slim.

Of the four teams ranked ahead of Green Valley (which completed its season with a 33-2 record), No. 3 Tate (Fla.) and No. 4 Vestavia Hills (Ala.) are finished for the year, while No. 2 Clovis (Calif.) has only the California state championship game remaining.

No. 1 Toledo (Ohio) is the only team in the top five which has yet to begin its playoff schedule, but the top-ranked squad has yet to lose this season.

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