Coyote Hungry

Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005 | 10:19 a.m.

The impressive trophy from the 2003 national championship season resides behind a glass case up in Building C at the Community College of Southern Nevada, far from the baseball clubhouse.

That just might be where Coyotes coach Tim Chambers will want to stash every copy of the recent Baseball America that he can obtain.

Georgia coach David Perno rang Chambers, his close friend, the other day to reveal that the premier magazine of the amateur game ranked CCSN second among the country's junior colleges.

"Uh oh," Perno told Chambers, "the pressure's on you."

Last season, Chambers, his staff and every Coyote discovered what real pressure is all about during a season in which defending national champion CCSN did not advance past the Scenic West Athletic Conference tournament.

The 2005 season begins Friday, when the Coyote Baseball Slugout starts at Lied Field in Henderson.

"Neither the coaches nor the players were able to get their feet back on the ground last season, after the title year," Chambers said. "All that was talked about all year was that we were the defending national champions ... the defending national champions. It just kept coming out.

"We have to learn that that's the past and you have to move forward. Freshmen last year expected to get there and they didn't. They learned. We have to work harder."

Chambers said he was surprised when Perno called to inform him of that No. 2 preseason ranking. Then again, Chambers, who has a five-year record of 235-66, said last week that he had no idea who would start where for him this season.

Asked to name the ace of his pitching staff, he quickly said all 10 are equal -- excellent.

"I can't give you a starting lineup," Chambers said. "Usually, I know in the fall. But I'm clueless right now."

After a pair of intrasquad doubleheader scrimmages last weekend -- the yellow team won two Friday, blue took two Saturday -- Chambers said only a little bit of light has been shed on who will start where come Friday.

"Depth is causing havoc on me," he said. "And our pitching depth is crazy."

Expect an outstanding season from Shawn Olsen, a sophomore transfer from Salt Lake Community College whom BA tabbed as the No. 4 major league prospect in the junior college ranks.

The leading returnee on the pitching staff is Ryan Tabor, a Green Valley High product and 6-foot-3 lefty who went 5-3, with a 2.84 earned-run average, last season. Tabor has been drafted by the New York Yankees and will attend Tennessee next season.

Matt Wilson, a 6-4 righty from Palo Verde, redshirted last season with an injury. However, his experience during the national title season, when he went 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA, will be invaluable.

Mike Dunn, a utility player who was the 2003 Nevada player of the year at Cimarron-Memorial and will matriculate to Texas A&M next year, is the team's leading returning hitter. He hit .333 and swiped 12 bases in 13 attempts.

Chambers expects to receive some pop in his lineup from left-handed hitting outfielder Austin Hales, a Bonanza graduate who lands at CCSN after a stint at Lassen College in California.

Newcomer Bryce Massanari, who smacked a Nevada-record 215 hits while hitting .487 during his Bonanza career, should also challenge to catch or play first base.

Dunn, Tabor, Hales, pitcher Jesse Craig and versatile fielder Chris Siewert will serve as the CCSN captains this season.

"For us to get where we need to go, those sophomores need to be the leaders and take some of that burden off the freshmen," Chambers said. "I think our sophomores didn't do that last season, and freshmen were forced to carry the load.

"Last season taught us never to take for granted what we've accomplished. Also, that it doesn't really matter what you've done. Get to where we are as a program, and you'll be a target every day. And we should be prepared to defend that every day."