Columnist Spencer Patterson: Meaningful games may be on horizon in baseball

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, April 18, 2002 | 9:16 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4085.

In the major leagues, teams play 30-40 spring training games to prepare for the 162 that count.

In Southern Nevada, on the other hand, high school baseball squads often play more than 30 games during the regular season, with just 8-10 of those counting toward their division standing and playoff qualification.

That's something Basic's Mike Kazek, president of the Southern Nevada baseball coaches association, would like to see change, possibly as soon as next season.

"It's such a long time from the beginning of the season to the end, when we actually start playing games that count," Kazek said.

"I always believe the good teams will rise to the top, but with only eight league games, if you get a kid with an injury or someone ineligible at the wrong time, it can really hurt you."

Later this spring, when he and his fellow coaches meet to make their all-league selections, Kazek will propose adding a third meeting between league combatants -- upping the total number of conference games to 12 in five-team divisions and 15 in six-team divisions.

Northern Nevada already features such a system in its two seven-team 4A divisions. Instead of three separate meetings, northern schools go head-to-head in one single game and one doubleheader, a schedule necessitated by that region's greater travel distances.

Kazek said the general concept has received support from area coaches, who will vote on whether to bring a plan to Larry McKay, athletic director for the Clark County School District.

Such a plan would also need backing from area softball coaches, because the two programs are bused to and from league games together.

"A couple weeks of preseason baseball is always good," Kazek said. "But you don't want to burn your kids out before you play those last eight games that matter."