Columnist Spencer Patterson: Can Reno break baseball poll jinx?

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, March 29, 2001 | 9:34 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers prep sports for the Sun. Reach him at 259-4085 or spencer@lasvegassun.com

Basic couldn't hang onto it. Neither could Galena. Now it's Reno High's turn to see if it can stay No. 1 in the Sun's statewide baseball poll for more than one week.

Since the start of the 2001 season, the poll's top spot has been a jinx more than an honor. The Wolves, ranked No. 38 nationally in the preseason by Baseball America, promptly dropped four of their first eight games, including three straight to Western, Durango and Palo Verde.

The Grizzlies, ranked No. 18 in the same Baseball America poll, inherited the Sun's No. 1 ranking. But on Saturday, the north's highly touted juggernaut was humiliated by Reed, with the Raiders sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 9-2 and 14-4.

With Southern Nevada's best taking turns knocking each off thus far, Reno becomes the second northern squad to take over the top spot in the poll. If the past two weeks are any indication, plan on the Huskies suddenly going into the tank sometime soon.

Anthony, 32, graduated from Western in 1987 before going on to play for the Rebels from 1987-91. Since then, he has played for several CFL teams, along with Tampa Bay of the NFL.

He spent last season as an assistant coach at Cheyenne.

"It was always a dream to coach at my alma mater," Anthony said. "When an opportunity presented itself, I thought it would be a good fit for me."

Anthony succeeds fellow Western alum Rich Stevens, who stepped down during the off-season.