Newcomers leading Silverado American Legion team

Spencer Patterson

Friday, July 14, 2000 | 11:13 a.m.

When Art Besser looks out at his Silverado Hawks American Legion baseball squad, it doesn't look much like the team that captured the 4A state title just two months ago.

Gone are the school's graduated senior stalwarts, names that have been synonymous with Silverado baseball for the past four years: Ryan Ruiz, James and Joe Wickman, Robbie Van and Jeremy West.

Even catcher Tommy Rojas, who played with the Hawks for about a month this summer, has exited the scene to prepare for his upcoming season at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"Those kids won last year's Legion (state) tournament and they won the 4A high school tournament, so they had reasons not to play," Besser said.

Graduated senior second baseman Mike Eshragh aside, this summer's Silverado squad is largely an inexperienced group of underclassmen. And that means the mission has been quite different this year for Besser and his coaching staff.

"The whole situation is a very different thing than it's been the last few years," Besser said. "In the past, those kids came in knowing the ropes already. This is the first time in four years that we're starting with a new group of faces."

Despite those varsity newcomers, Besser's squad has a solid 24-11 overall record. The Hawks are 10-5 in league action, good enough for sixth place in the cramped conference standings.

Last week, Silverado put together its strongest run of the summer, outscoring four out-of-state opponents by a combined 46-4 total en route to winning the title at the Cowboy Classic in Twin Falls, Idaho. Although the tournament featured a nine-inning format, the Hawks used just four pitchers in the event.

Three varsity holdovers -- right-handers Dan Murray and Kenny Clayton and southpaw Tyler Coon -- have led the way on the mound, with lefty James Downing rounding out the rotation.

Murray, one of the few remaining starters from the 2000 title team, has also been a strong presence in center field and at the plate, moving from the No. 9 spot to the leadoff hole. Shortstop Mike Welter and third baseman Mike Meusy are promising newcomers, and leftfielder Danny Esquer has impressed Besser with his work ethic.

"We hope what they do this summer can carry over to intramurals and the high school season," Besser said. "They're starting to figure it out."

* TIDBITS: The summer's top performers will get together for All-Star Night at Durango High Sunday, July 23. Coaches will select their representatives this Sunday for the bases running derby, hot hands relay and home run derby, along with the nine-inning East vs. West contest. Festivities are slated to begin at 4 p.m., with the game scheduled for 7 p.m. ...

Host Durango captured the Blazer Invitational with a 9-1 victory over Merced (Calif.) on Monday behind a complete game from Jeff Jacobsen. The Trailblazers finished the event a perfect 7-0. ...

Silverado and Palo Verde leave Saturday for the Raptors Invitational, a wood bat tournament in Ogden, Utah.

Standings