Elimination games put pressure on everybody

Nick Christensen

Friday, Aug. 6, 2004 | 9:54 a.m.

Double Elimination

First Round

Bishop Gorman 13, Las Vegas 3

Palo Verde 12, Cimarron 5

Reno 5, Durango 0

Basic 10, Centennial 1

Winners' Second Round

Monday

Palo Verde 14, Bishop Gorman 11

Tuesday

Basic 10, Reno 9

Losers' Second Round

Monday

Las Vegas 7, Cimarron 2

Tuesday

Durango 15, Centennial 13

Losers' Third Round

Las Vegas 16, Bishop Gorman 12

Durango 13, Reno 12

Semifinals

Durango 20, Basic 8

Las Vegas 18, Palo Verde 8

Elimination Games

Today

Basic vs. Durango, 5 p.m.

Palo Verde vs. Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

Championship Game

Saturday

Basic-Durango winner vs. Palo Verde-Las Vegas winner, 8 p.m.

More than seven hours after the first pitch Thursday at the Nevada State American Legion tournament, the four teams that went in were right back where they started.

Palo Verde and Basic both needed just a win to advance to Saturday's championship game, but both were soundly defeated by entries from the losers' bracket to force rematches tonight at Henderson's Lied Field, on the campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Durango came close to defeating Basic via the 10-run "Mercy Rule" twice Thursday but the Wolves hung on in the seventh and eighth innings before finally falling in a long ninth inning 20-8.

Las Vegas was able to put away Palo Verde 18-8 in the eighth inning early this morning, after the sprinklers came on during play just after midnight, and as the scoreboard only intermittently displayed the balls, strikes and score.

So as all four teams head into today's elimination games, the two teams with breathing room on Thursday now are looking for payback.

The blowout was a bit of a surprise to Durango coach Tom Appleyard. Both of this summer's American Legion regular-season games between Basic and Durango were close -- an 8-7 Durango win July 19, followed four days later by a 6-5 Basic victory.

"It's a little different game to everybody," Appleyard said. "They're not used to it, but it's nine innings here on out."

Relief pitching was a problem for both teams, primarily Basic, which went through reliever after reliever trying to find a pitcher that could stop the Trailblazers.

Basic coach Mike Kazek, frustrated after watching his second-seeded Wolves struggle, said he hoped the blowout would motivate his team to come out strong today. On the other side of the field, Appleyard said the big win was a mixed bag.

"Obviously it can give some confidence," he said. "But knowing Basic, I know how they can come back tomorrow. It works a little both ways."

Nearly four hours after the first game ended, Las Vegas coach Izzy DiMaria found himself in the same position, as his son and Wildcats assistant coach Gino DiMaria tried to keep the team loose for today's play.

The elder DiMaria, though, was more worried about fatigue on his players than what kind of mood Palo Verde would be in after losing by the 10-run rule.

"I'm a little nervous about it, because we were going late. We didn't start until 9:05," he said.

"But we have 11 kids energized to come out and play, guys that want to play. I'd rather have 11 guys who want to play than 17 guys" just going through the motions, he added.

It was the first time Las Vegas had beaten Palo Verde, after losing 13-3 July 23 and then falling 9-7 to the Panthers on July 27.

Having just watched Basic escape a loss by way of the 10-run rule twice in Thursday's 5 p.m. game, Palo Verde coach Mike Besser was also worried about fatigue. But he was more worried afterwards about his pitchers getting the ball over the plate, and playing strong defense in today's last chance, he said.