Prep baseball playoffs feature wide-open field

Spencer Patterson

Monday, May 3, 1999 | 11:22 a.m.

For the first time in seven years, the prep baseball playoffs begin this Wednesday without a clear-cut favorite in the Southern Zone Tournament's field of eight.

Although six-time defending 4A state champion Green Valley will be there, the Gators will be an underdog to win their opening game with Durango, to say nothing of earning one of the area's two coveted state berths.

"It's wide open," said Cimarron-Memorial coach Calvin Valvo, whose squad captured the Sunset Division regular season title with a 5-1 victory over Bishop Gorman Friday.

"Any of the eight teams could win it this year."

Valvo's club began the 1999 season as the popular choice to join the school's football, boys basketball and wrestling teams in this year's state winner's circle.

After some early-season struggles, the Spartans (18-7) appear to have righted themselves at the right time.

Staff ace Mike Esposito is considered Nevada's top pitcher, and the senior right-hander will throw Thursday's first-round game against Chaparral (18-8).

But Valvo knows that for Cimarron to advance, his team will need another pitcher to step up and give Esposito some help.

"The key thing is what team is going to have two pitchers on fire," Valvo said. "You figure you can win with your No. 1 on the mound, so it's a matter of what your No. 2 will do."

To win the Sunset title, the Spartans edged two of the area's other top contenders -- Durango (27-2) and Bishop Gorman (24-4) -- during the season's final week.

The Trailblazers have one of the state's deepest pitching staffs, with J.T. Sherman, Jared Bonnell, E.J. Shanks and Brent Johnson all capable starters and curveball specialist Eric Kilby a solid contributor out of the pen.

Gorman comes into the event after an 0-3 week that saw the Gaels fall to Cheyenne, Durango (in extra innings) and Cimarron in a four-day span.

Prior to those losses, Gorman had only one defeat and was ranked among the nation's top 20 by two publications.

Coach Tim Chambers did get some good news, however, when he learned that staff ace Nate Fouts will be ready to pitch in the playoffs despite a cut on a finger on his throwing hand. Fouts, Brandon Boesch and Ben Fox have been one of Southern Nevada's top pitching trios in 1999.

Cheyenne, the Sunset's fourth qualifier, comes into the tourney riding a seven-game winning streak. The Desert Shields have shown they cannot be taken lightly, as evidenced by wins over Cimarron and Gorman this season.

Although Silverado (16-5) rolled to the Sunrise Division title by a three-game margin, the team really turning heads on the east side of town is Basic.

Under first-year coach Mike Kazek, the Wolves (15-9) stunned their peers this spring, not only making the playoffs, but edging Chaparral (18-8) and Green Valley (16-9) for the division's No. 2 seed.

"Right now, they believe," Kazek said, referring to his players. "They believe in themselves and in what we're trying to do as a coaching staff. I think we're peaking at the right time."

The Wolves come into the tournament off lopsided wins over fellow playoff contenders Chaparral and Green Valley. Kazek's squad outscored the Cowboys and Gators by a combined 21-2 margin in those ballgames.

Basic also has a win over Silverado this season.

"We've proven we can beat the good teams on our side," Kazek said.

"Now, it's going to be up to the kids. And in the playoffs, you also need a little bit of luck."