New era looks promising for Gators

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 23, 2000 | 10:39 a.m.

For the first time in a long time, the Green Valley Gators took the field this week without a single player who experienced at least one of the team's six consecutive state titles from 1993-98.

With senior-to-be Garrett Guzman -- the last remaining holdover from the '98 squad -- in Arizona with an all-star squad, a young, relatively inexperienced Gators American Legion club is entered in Basic's 26-team Timet Wolves Tournament.

And if the results thus far are any indication, the future could be bright for the next era of Green Valley baseball. After posting an 8-5 win over St. Bernard (Calif.) on Wednesday, the Gators stayed unbeaten in the event with a 6-4 victory over Brighton (Utah) on Thursday at CCSN's Coyote Park.

"We've got a lot of different faces out here," said Green Valley Legion coach Ron Sufana. "We're teaching them how to win, to play the game and not their opponent.

"I think each day we'll get better and better. It will depend on how hard they want to work."

Despite playing without most of their graduated seniors or pitching ace Jake Dittler -- a senior-to-be who opted to play for a Connie Mack team in Ohio this summer -- the Gators are 6-4 in Legion play, 3-1 in conference.

One of Green Valley's graduated seniors, John Grose, played first base in Thursday's win over Brighton. The other, pitcher Brice Sells, warmed up in the bullpen but did not get into the game.

"The seniors are good role models for the younger kids," Sufana said. "They know what it takes to win."

Some of the young players the Gators will be counting on in 2001 were in Thursday's lineup, including outfielder Eugene Edwards, a junior-to-be who could man the leadoff spot for next year's club. Edwards reached base in three of his four plate appearances, doubling, scoring a run and stealing a base.

Right-handed pitcher Paul Vignola, a sophomore on last year's junior varsity squad, tossed five strong innings against the Bengals (4-4) before tiring in the sixth. Senior-to-be Gabe Gordon was solid in relief duty, striking out a pair of batters and surrendering just one hit.

The event, which started on Wednesday, concludes Saturday with four "playoff" contests at Durango beginning at 11 a.m. The tournament championship is slated for 8 p.m.

The eight-team tournament features squads from Colorado, California, Utah and Idaho, along with the host Trailblazers, Bulldogs and Skyhawks.

Cimarron-Memorial took third place at last week's 16-team Prescott Invitational in Prescott, Ariz., going 3-1 at the event. Silverado finished 3-2, while Cheyenne went 2-3. The Skyhawks defeated the Desert Shields in a loser's bracket contest. ...

League-leading Durango had a tough time in Pueblo, Colo., last week, going 1-5 at the Tony Andenucio Memorial Tournament. The Blazers lost three one-run contests. ...

Las Vegas, Cheyenne and Cimarron-Memorial will travel to the Fourth of July Hot Shot Invitational in Mesa, Ariz., June 29-July 4...