Struggling Durango looks to bounce back

Spencer Patterson

Monday, April 15, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

The 2002 4A conference season was just hours old when news of a stunning upset rocked Southern Nevada's prep baseball scene last Thursday.

First-year Sierra Vista, playing its Southwest Division debut, had knocked off nationally ranked Durango, 12-9.

With that display of local parity serving as an unexpected backdrop, league play kicks into high gear this week, with most teams playing three division contests in the next five days.

For Durango (18-4), which opened the year 13-0 but has dropped three of its last five games, a three-game set against Bonanza, Clark and Bishop Gorman represents a chance to reclaim its invincibility.

But with four Blazer starters nursing injuries or academically ineligible, Durango coach Mike Gomez isn't sure what to expect.

"We haven't found our niche all year," Gomez said. "Early, when we were winning we weren't hitting, but our pitching kept us in it. Now, we've got our hitting closer to together but we're struggling with our pitching.

"We just haven't found our stride, and I don't know if we ever will."

One club that looks to be peaking at the right time is defending state champion Green Valley. The Gators (15-9) have won eight of their last 10 games, including key conference victories over Foothill and Coronado last week.

"We've been striving from the beginning of the year for consistency," Green Valley coach Nick Garritano said. "There's still a lot of baseball to be played in league, but fortunately we're off to a good start."

The Gators will square off against Silverado on Tuesday -- a likely showdown between left-handers Ryan Tabor and Tyler Coon -- before meeting up with Basic on Thursday, where Garritano's squad likely will see Wolves' ace Matt Elliott. Basic defeated the Skyhawks 5-3 in another critical Southeast Division heavyweight battle last Friday.

Top-ranked Centennial (21-4) opened league play with an 11-0 shutout of Cheyenne last Thursday, but should get more of a test later this week with back-to-back Northwest Division games against Palo Verde and Cimarron-Memorial on Thursday and Friday.

In the Northeast Division, Las Vegas looks like the team to beat after opening with wins over Eldorado and Chaparral, expected to be the Wildcats' top competition. Las Vegas plays Bishop Gorman in non-conference action today, before resuming league play with games against Valley, Rancho and Desert Pines later in the week.00