Desert Oasis thinking playoffs in second year

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Only one team in Las Vegas Valley returns every single starter from last year’s team. Only one team in Las Vegas is eligible for the playoffs for first time.

It’s the same team. It’s Desert Oasis, who plans to parlay its team chemistry into a trip to the postseason.

“The sky is the limit,” coach Faron Seibel said. “We think we are going to be competitive in our league.”

In its first year last season, the Diamondbacks went a respectable 3-6. Combined with a winning record from its freshman team, Desert Oasis appears ready to take the next step in 2009.

The Diamondbacks will have to do it with a new coach. Seibel, hired as an assistant to Matt Jenkins, was promoted to head coach two months ago after Jenkins decided to move his family to North Carolina.

He left behind some considerable talent. Senior quarterback Brennen Stott passed for more than 1,100 yards last season and has the ability to tuck the ball and run, too.

Ronald Hunt, a 6-foot-2 178 pound senior, will start at running back. Defensively, senior defensive back Elijah Mitchell – a Division I recruit — and senior linebacker Zach Knudson will lead the Diamondbacks.

A year after entering its inaugural season with uncertainty, Desert Oasis is confident with its prospects for the season.

“You don’t lose any seniors, you don’t lose any players so we are pretty confident,” Seibel said. “We’re ready to see how it goes.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or at case.keefer@lasvegassun.com.