State Legion wide open

Adam Candee

Friday, Aug. 1, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

LEGION GLANCE

When local American Legion baseball teams take over UNLV's Wilson Stadium for a week beginning Saturday, just one thing will be certain: nothing.

That is the consensus of area coaches heading into the eight-team, double-elimination Nevada American Legion Baseball State Tournament. More so than in past years, the feeling is that the state's only berth to the western regional can be grabbed by anyone in the field.

"It's pretty wide open going into the state tournament," Centennial coach Charlie Cerrone said. "Whoever is hitting their stride is going to have the edge."

No team broke away from the pack during the recently completed regular season, which stretched from May 27 through Wednesday evening. Sierra Vista (22-5) will enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed after posting the best regular season mark, with Palo Verde (19-9) earning the No. 2 seed over No. 3 Las Vegas (19-9) by way of a victory in the completion of a suspended game between the teams Wednesday.

Fourth seed Silverado (17-11) will take on fifth seed Green Valley (17-11) to open the tournament Saturday at 5 p.m. Centennial is the sixth seed and Cheyenne claims the seventh spot.

There will be two games per night at UNLV leading up to the championship contest Saturday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. Only that winner makes it to regional.

While everyone respects the seasons put together by the top three teams, there is still a sense of vulnerability about them. No team really ran away from the pack this year, and it is anyone's guess who is poised to do so in the playoffs. For example, No. 8 seed Basic ripped Palo Verde, 17-6, in five innings Tuesday night.

"Sierra Vista and Palo Verde have had tremendous years, but they've also had their share of losses," Basic coach Mike Kazek said.