Legion teams attempt to pass ‘go’ at District

Spencer Patterson

Monday, July 29, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

Final Legion standings

East Division

West Division

x-clinched state tournament berth

Note: Bishop Gorman and Silverado will complete a suspended game today to determine seedings for the state tournament.

For one fortunate American Legion baseball team, this week's District Tournament will provide the ultimate "Get Out of Jail Free" card.

Though they didn't finish among Southern Nevada's top six during the regular season, the remaining 13 area squads receive one final chance to extend their season and keep state and regional hopes alive.

The District champion will join the area's six automatic qualifiers -- Centennial, Cimarron-Memorial, Palo Verde, Las Vegas, Bishop Gorman and Silverado -- along with Northern Nevada representative Reno at the State Tournament Aug. 3-10 at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

"The District Tournament isn't going to be easy for anybody," said Durango coach Tom Appleyard, whose team won last year's state tournament but will have to win the district title if it hopes to defend its trophy. "It's not double elimination, so you have to come out and play well from the start. There's no room for mistakes."

On Sunday, the field was whittled from 13 to seven, as six teams -- Valley, Mojave, Foothill, Chaparral, Coronado and Sierra Vista -- were ousted. Faith Lutheran, Eldorado and Western won their tournament openers to advance.

By virtue of their regular season finish, five teams in the District Tournament -- Durango (16-11), Green Valley (14-14), Basic (14-14), Cheyenne (14-14) and Bonanza (14-14) -- sat out day one and will begin play today.

Basic coach Mike Kazek said that could be a significant advantage.

"The way the format is set up, we have an advantage to play some teams that have already used up some pitching," Kazek said. "You have to win during the season to get to a point where you don't have to play as many games now."

In today's action, Cheyenne and Bonanza will square off at 5 p.m. at Durango and Basic will play at Faith Lutheran at 5 p.m. Durango will host Western at 8 p.m. and Green Valley will play Eldorado at 8 p.m. at Faith Lutheran.

Semifinals will be played Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Durango and Faith Lutheran, with the title game slated for Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Faith Lutheran.

The district champion will have three days off before beginning the State Tournament. That schedule worked well for Western in 2001, as the Warriors captured the district title, then advanced all the way to the state final before falling to Durango.

"Obviously, if you come out of the District Tournament you're feeling confident, and Western was successful with that last year," Appleyard said. "They were loose, and they got on a roll."