Durango, Reno meet in rematch of 2000 brawl

Spencer Patterson

Monday, May 14, 2001 | 10:47 a.m.

NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Tournaments

First-Round Matchups

BASEBALL

Thursday

At Lied Field

Galena (26-9) vs. Foothill (20-15), 9 a.m.

Bishop Gorman (26-9) vs. Basic (26-11), noon

At Burkholder Field

Green Valley (23-6) vs. Wooster (23-11), 9 a.m.

Reno (28-8) vs. Durango (24-10), noon

SOFTBALL

Wednesday

At West Flamingo Park

Reed (33-5) vs. Green Valley (15-14), 1 p.m.

Durango (31-2) vs. Eldorado (21-10), 1 p.m.

Silverado (36-2) vs. Reno (26-11), 3 p.m.

Wooster (35-6) vs. Centennial (31-4), 3 p.m.

The matchup jumps right off the bracket page, even for the most casual high school baseball fan: Durango vs. Reno.

One year after their dugout-clearing incident -- ruled a double-forfeit -- prematurely ended the 2000 4A State Tournament, the Trailblazers and Huskies will square off again Thursday in round one.

"I guess the baseball gods work in strange ways," Blazers coach Mike Gomez said. "It's kind of ironic that's a first-round matchup, and with the new format, we could see each other two or three times."

Expanding from four to eight teams, this year's three-day tournament will feature the same format as the College World Series, with two four-team brackets playing at two Henderson sites, Burkholder Field and CCSN's Lied Field.

Sunrise Region champion Green Valley (23-6) will get things started against Wooster (23-11) at Burkholder Thursday at 9 a.m., followed by the anticipated rematch between Durango (24-10) and Reno (28-8) at noon. Losers will play at 3 p.m., with the winners going head-to-head at 6 p.m.

"Obviously, it won't be too hard to be emotional for the game," Gomez said. "But we just need to come out and play baseball. It's not a wrestling match or a football game where you can go out and play physical.

"We definitely don't want the game to get out of hand. That won't serve any purpose for either team."

At Lied, Northern Region champion Galena (26-9) will take on Foothill (20-15) at 9 a.m. The Falcons earned the Sunrise's third and final berth with a 12-11 come-from-behind win over defending state champion Silverado Saturday.

"Our kids are very happy to be here," Foothill coach Tim Crine said. "But I don't think they're ready to stop."

Lied's second first-rounder will feature a 12 p.m. matchup between Sunset champion Bishop Gorman (26-9) and Basic (26-11), ranked No. 1 in the Sun's final statewide poll.

"You might as well play the best right from the start, because you're going to have to play them sooner or later if you hope to win," Gaels coach Ken White said.

Wednesday marks the start of the three-day 4A State Softball Tournament at West Flamingo Park. Defending state champion Wooster (35-6) and Northern Region champion Reed (33-5) -- the only team in Nevada to beat the Colts during the past two seasons -- are the heavy favorites.

Region champions Silverado (36-2) and Durango (31-2), along with Centennial (31-4), Eldorado (21-10) and Green Valley (15-14) will represent Southern Nevada, with Reno (26-11) rounding out the field.

Also this week, four teams -- Chaparral, Basic, Western and Durango -- will battle it out for the 4A State Boys Volleyball title, beginning Tuesday at Chaparral High School.

The 1A-4A State Track Meet will run from Thursday through Saturday at Foothill High School. Northern Nevada will play host to the 4A Boys Golf Championships Wednesday and Thursday and the State Swimming and Diving Meet Friday and Saturday.