Clark, Western vie for spot in deep field

Spencer Patterson

Monday, May 7, 2001 | 10:27 a.m.

For anyone who couldn't wait until Tuesday for the prep playoffs to begin, Clark and Western will unofficially kick things off one day early with a baseball game to determine the postseason's final participant.

Deadlocked at the bottom of the Southwest Division standings and having split their previous two meetings, the Chargers and Warriors will meet today at 3:30 p.m. at Durango, with a spot in the upcoming eight-team Sunset Region Tournament at stake.

"If you get into the playoffs, it's like a whole new season," Clark coach Fred Spierer said. "And in baseball, once you get there anything can happen."

Whoever does advance will join a deep field that includes several teams capable of making a run at one of the Sunset's two state berths, most notably Northwest Division champion Palo Verde, Southwest champ Bishop Gorman and Durango, the 1999 state titlist and a state qualifier again a year ago. Cimarron-Memorial, Centennial and Bonanza also figure to contend.

Sunset teams will begin play Wednesday, with the tournament split into two brackets at two sites -- Durango and Basic High Schools. The four-day event will conclude Saturday at Durango with a title clash at 3 p.m.

Wednesday will also mark the start of the Sunrise Region's baseball tournament. Using the same four-day schedule, games will be played at CCSN's Lied Field and Henderson's Burkholder Field, with the final Saturday at Lied at 6 p.m. Three state berths will go to Sunrise teams, so the tourney will feature a third-place contest Saturday at 3 p.m.

Heading in, Southeast Division powers Green Valley, Basic and Silverado -- the defending 4A state champion -- look like the favorites, but Wolves coach Mike Kazek warns that wins can't be taken for granted this year.

"There are some teams with ugly-looking records in there, but when everybody starts 0-0 you can't slip up," Kazek said. "My feeling is that it's very important to jump out early. We're going after the first game."

Fans hoping to follow the Sunrise and Sunset softball events should have an easier time, with the two tournaments taking place side-by-side at the West Flamingo Softball Complex. Things get started on Wednesday and conclude with a pair of championship games Friday at 3 p.m.

As in baseball, three state softball berths will go to Sunrise teams, with only the Sunset's top two finishers advancing. That means Top 10 squads Centennial, Durango and Bonanza will have their work cut out for them, to say nothing of fellow Sunset hopefuls Cimarron-Memorial and Palo Verde.

Area softball power Silverado once again distanced itself from its Sunrise peers in 2001, bringing a stellar 32-2 record into the postseason. Eldorado, Las Vegas, Basic and Green Valley are expected to battle for the region's other two state bids.

Southern Nevada's top high school golfers will take to the course at brand new SilverStone Golf Club, with the Sunrise regional on Tuesday and the Sunset event on Wednesday. Palo Verde, Bonanza, Durango and Green Valley begin play as the local favorites to challenge for this year's 4A state title.

Chaparral High School will host this week's Sunrise and Sunset boys volleyball tournaments, which open Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Chaparral, Basic, Green Valley, Las Vegas, Bonanza, Durango and Centennial all figure to be in the mix.