Time for business

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, May 3, 2000 | 9:58 a.m.

In the deepest recesses of his mind, Community College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers never imagined an inaugural regular season like the one his Coyotes recently completed.

Forty-six wins in 54 games. A No. 13 ranking in the latest NJCAA national poll. Two players on the All-Region I first team, with both eligible for potential All-America honors.

All that has come the Coyotes' way this year, along with interest from four-year colleges and professional teams looking to sign some of CCSN's top players.

But despite his program's success, Chambers admits that he won't be satisfied with the 2000 season unless his team plays to its capabilities Friday, when it gets its first taste of the postseason at the Region I Tournament in Glendale, Ariz.

"I think if we don't go down and win a game or two, it will be a huge disappointment for the coaches and for the kids," Chambers said. "I know I'll be tremendously disappointed."

The Coyotes will play two games on the first day of the event, taking on Arizona school South Mountain at 8:30 a.m. and host Glendale Community College at 11:30 a.m. The Nevadans will play South Mountain again Saturday at 11 a.m., with a second game later that day a possibility.

Should CCSN advance, the team will return to Arizona next week to play a three-game series against the winner of the bracket's other half, with the Region I champion advancing to play a three-game series against the Region 18 champion for the right to play in the Junior College World Series.

Though not a member of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, CCSN got into the playoffs by posting an above-.500 record -- something the Coyotes accomplished easily by winning 28 of their first 34 games.

After clinching their postseason berth on March 20, CCSN was even better down the stretch, closing out its campaign with 20 wins in its final 22 games, including a stretch of 14 consecutive victories.

"I feel like we have a chance to win it if our pitching does what it's done," Chambers said. "If we generate some emotion and intensity and get to the second day, then I think the advantage goes to our side with our pitching depth."

Indeed, a quick look at the CCSN stat sheet confirms the accomplishments of its pitching staff, with the club's four top starters combining for a 31-0 record.

One of those hurlers, freshman right-hander Ryan Myers, will likely take the mound for the Coyotes in Game 1 on Friday. The Green Valley graduate is coming off a regular season that saw him go 10-0 with a 3.45 ERA and strike out 62 batters in 75 2/3 innings.

Earlier this week, Myers and second baseman John DiBetta were named first-team All-Region I. Outfielder John Slack received second-team honors.

In Game 2, the Coyotes will probably turn to freshman right-hander Nate Fouts, a Bishop Gorman product. Fouts, who was enrolled at UNLV before a grade mixup stripped him of his Division I eligibility in the fall, has thrived at the junior college, posting an 8-0 record with a 4.27 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 59 innings.

"It's all worked out," Fouts said. "We're having fun, we've had success. I'm having a good ol' time out here."

Like his one-time Gaels coach, though, Fouts isn't heading to Arizona with thoughts of returning empty-handed.

"If we don't make it to the World Series I'll be disappointed," Fouts said. "I know how we can play, and I think we should win it. I know some people think we're a first-year fluke, but we won 46 games, and this is a really good all-around team."

Rounding out the Coyotes' starting staff are left-hander Richard Gilbert (7-0, 4.22) and right-hander Richard Kilby (6-0, 3.34). Gilbert, a sophomore from Montana, has drawn UNLV coaches to the ballpark to keep tabs on his progress, while Kilby -- closer for Durango's 1999 state championship team -- has adapted quickly to his starting role for CCSN.

The Coyotes' relievers have also been solid all season, with Las Vegas High grad Justin Moser (5-2, 2.65, 2 saves), California native Amad Stephens (5-2, 4.24) and Chaparral product Shane Clatterbuck (3-2, 3.86, 5 saves) teaming up to form a strong bullpen.

"This is my third year in junior college, and this is the best staff I've seen," said CCSN catcher Shawn West, a Green Valley graduate. "Most schools have their No. 1, 2 and 3. We have all the way up to 13 and they'll all do whatever is asked."

West also knows a thing or two about the teams his club will see this weekend, having played for Central Arizona before returning to his home state. Though the Coyotes posted an impressive 8-4 mark against Arizona schools this season, they have not played the two clubs they will face on Friday.

"The teams in Arizona hit the ball so well, but the schools with the best pitching usually play the best," West said. "The way we play, especially if our defense is on, three runs should beat them."

Getting those runs, according to Chambers, will be the key to CCSN's postseason success.

Though the club put up some spectacular offensive statistics this year -- a .370 team batting average, 489 RBIs and a .474 on-base percentage among them -- the Coyotes' coach warns that numbers can be deceiving.

"If you look at the stats we're a great hitting team, but we might go three or four games without seeing a top pitcher," Chambers said. "Then we run into a guy throwing 85 or 90 with a good changeup and curveball and he shuts us down.

"I think we can hit good pitching; we just haven't proved we can."

To motivate his hitters at Monday's practice, Chambers reminded them that they likely won't run into a pitcher of the caliber of Green Valley graduate Mike Nannini (now in the Astros' organization) or Mike Esposito (now at Arizona State) -- guys most of his local products faced often in high school.

"Every kid on this team has seen a pitcher better than anyone we'll see from here on," Chambers said. "So I don't think they'll be nervous. I think they expect to win."

Leading the attack for the Coyotes will be DiBetta, a 1999 Durango grad who made a seamless transition to the junior college level this year. First or second on the club in nearly every offensive category, the freshman hit .429 with 25 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 75 RBIs and 75 runs.

"The game at the college level is faster," DiBetta said. "You see quality pitchers consistently. But I was expecting to do pretty well, and I was fortunate enough to stay healthy and to have some quality players on the team with me."

Slack, a 1999 Green Valley graduate, has also been a model of consistency for the Coyotes, leading the team with a .446 batting average and chipping in 50 RBIs and 69 runs.

The team has also gotten solid production from Idaho product Joe Wagner, who leads CCSN with 11 homers while manning first base.

Chambers is quick to point out, through, that Friday's outcome could be determined by any player on his 25-man roster, and that every one of them will have to be ready.

"When we get down there, a sac bunt can be the difference," Chambers said. "We've got to bear down. A lot of these kids have played in big games. Green Valley has won state titles, Durango has won state titles, Gorman has played for state titles. So they know what it takes at this time of year."

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