Reed, Wooster come to town with eyes on title

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, May 15, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

Just two weeks ago, it seemed a foregone conclusion that defending 4A State Softball champion Wooster would repeat with relative ease.

Ranked nationally, the Colts had an unbeaten streak against in-state opponents dating back nearly two seasons.

Then, suddenly, Wooster showed its vulnerability not once, or even twice, but a shocking three times. After losing a late regular season game to Reed, the Colts dropped two against the very same Raiders in last week's Northern Region Tournament.

So when this week's three-day 4A State Tournament kicks off Wednesday at West Flamingo Park, it's anybody's guess who will claim the 2001 title.

"I think things are more wide open than ever before," Silverado coach Chuck Pope said. "Reed did the south teams a favor, showing that Wooster's shiny veneer has cracked just a little bit."

Southern Nevada's five representatives in the eight-team event will not only be up against Wooster (35-6), Reed (33-5) and Reno (26-11), but also against a 17-year title streak by Northern Nevada's large schools.

"(My players) are aware of it, and a maybe little frustrated," Centennial coach Cyndi Parus said. "They know the north has won quite a few in a row, but the bottom line is it all comes down to who's playing the best ball this week."

Durango (31-2) comes in fresh off an unbeaten run through the Sunset Region Tournament, but the Trailblazers will be without senior pitcher Aja Sherman, who has been suspended from the squad for breaking team rules.

Sherman's absence means senior Tisha Salamino -- the Blazers' other all-Sunrise Region hurler -- will shoulder a heavy load in a tournament that could see a team play seven games in three days. Salamino's backup, sophomore Kristen Gilliland, has not pitched in a game this season.

"(Tisha) is more than ready. Very solid, very confident," Durango coach Sandy Morgan said. "It's been a distraction, but we talked today and I feel really good about where we are. We've definitely come together, no doubt about that."

The Blazers will open against Sunrise runner-up Eldorado (21-10), which features conference pitcher of the year Crystal Alspaugh. The Sundevils are making their second straight state tournament appearance.

Northern champion Reed will take on Green Valley (15-14), which rebounded from an 0-3 start this season to claim the Sunrise's third berth. The Gators, No. 3 seeds in last week's tournament, toppled No. 2 seeds Basic and Las Vegas along the way.

Centennial (31-4) will have the unenviable task of battling a Wooster team coming off a pair of losses in the northern playoffs. "We feel really confident in our game," Parus said. "We're not intimidated by anybody."

Silverado (36-2), making its eighth straight state appearance, has yet to lose to a team from Nevada. Even so, the Skyhawks' coach isn't making any bold predictions.

"As young a team as we are, anything from here is icing on the cake," Pope said. "If we continue to pitch and play defense the way we have, we'll be in every game. Whether we have enough offense remains to be seen."