C-M taking aim at area’s first title

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, Aug. 22, 2002 | 10:53 a.m.

Las Vegas' World Series history

The great Valley teams of the 1980s couldn't do it, nor could Green Valley's dynasty of the 1990s. And not even home field advantage could propel Bishop Gorman to the title in 1998.

Cimarron-Memorial's baseball team boarded a plane Wednesday with a chance to do what Nevada's four previous representatives could not: win the American Legion World Series championship.

The five-day, eight-team event gets under way Friday in Danville, Va. The Spartans (44-9) open play at 2 p.m. against Northwest Region champion Medford, Ore. (49-11).

"I know all those teams that went before us were classy, good teams, so to be in that group really is an honor," Spartans coach Kevin Kohler said.

"Right now, everybody is kind of excited to be going. We want to soak it all up. But when we get out there, we'll start looking around at the other teams, because we want to win it if we can."

Las Vegas has come close to bringing home the Series trophy, with area squads finishing second twice and third once.

After placing third in New Orleans in 1984, Valley returned to the Series in 1986 in Rapid City, S.D., where the Vikings lost to Jensen Beach (Fla.) 8-2 in the title game.

Seven years later, Green Valley reached the 1993 championship in Roseburg, Ore., falling 7-4 to Rapid City.

And at the 1998 event at Cashman Field, Gorman finished with a 1-2 record, bringing Nevada's overall World Series mark to 10-8.

"It's hard to get there and it's even harder to win it," Kohler said. "But (former Gorman coach Tim) Chambers told me it's still the highlight of his coaching career."

Though Kohler acknowledges his squad might not rank with the powerhouse Valley and Green Valley teams of the past, he also points out the Spartans' deep pitching staff could give them a legitimate chance to break through in Danville.

World Series schedule

American Division

Manchester, N.H. (25-12)

Monsey, N.Y. (58-12)

Dothan, Ala. (60-10)

West Point, Miss. (43-12)

National Division

Excelsior, Minn. (46-13)

Rapid City,S.D. (83-12)

Medford, Ore. (49-11)

Las Vegas (44-9)

All times PDT

Friday's games (pool play)

Manchester, N.H. vs. West Point, Miss., 8a.m. Excelsior, Minn. vs. Rapid City, S.D., 30 min. after conclusion Medford. Ore. vs. Las Vegas, 2 p.m. Dothan, Ala.vs. Monsey, N.Y., 30 min. after conclusion

Saturday's games (pool play) Excelsior, Minn. vs.Medford. Ore., 8 a.m. Dothan, Ala. vs. West Point, Miss., 30 min. after conclusion Manchester,N.H. vs. Monsey, N.Y., 5 p.m. Las Vegas vs.Rapid City, S.D., 30 min. after conclusion

Sunday's games (pool play)

Manchester, N.H. vs.Dothan, Ala., 8 a.m. Rapid City, S.D.vs. Medford. Ore., 30 min. after conclusion Excelsior, Minn. vs. Las Vegas, 2 p.m. West Point, Miss. vs. Monsey, N.Y., 30 min. after conclusion

Monday's semifinals American winner vs. National runner-up, 10 a.m. National winner vs. American runner-up, 4 p.m.

Tuesday championship

Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

Though fourth-round draft pick Steve Russell signed with the Braves earlier this summer, Cimarron still features five top pitchers in Matt Wagner (10-1), Jared Johnson (8-2, 5 saves), Paul Schmidt (8-1), Garrett Kohler (7-0) and Allan Woodward (5-0). Another quality arm, Matt Willinsky (3-1), will be available in the bullpen.

"From the (regional) box scores I looked at for the teams we'll play, it looks like everybody has at least one stud," Kohler said. "But they might not have a No. 3 or 4 that can shut somebody down like we do.

"We have three pool games in the World Series, and our biggest problem is if we don't advance, who won't get a chance to pitch."

Cimarron's pool play continues Saturday night against Central Plains champion Rapid City, S.D. (83-12) and Sunday versus Great Lakes victor Excelsior, Minn. (46-13).

The top two finishers from each pool will advance to Monday's semifinals, with the championship slated for Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Russell aside, Cimarron will be at full strength, the team's graduates having received clearance from their future college coaches to arrive at school one week later. Woodward, for example, will fly directly from Danville to Kansas State after the Series ends.

Catcher Robert Grana, who will attend Dixie College with Johnson next year, hit .636 (14-for-22) in the Spartans' five-game Western Regional sweep last week. Teammates Brandon Trodick (.588) and Wagner (.476) are also ranked among the regional hitting leaders. We want to soak it all up. But when we get out there, we'll start looking around at the other teams, because we want to win it if we can."