Green Valley irregulars turn up heat in Legion

With Green Valley's two aces in the minor leagues, another key starter in Florida and four of its eight everyday position players not on the roster, the six-time defending state champs weren't expected to be one of the leading contenders this summer.

Sure enough, the Gators limped out of the gate to a 6-4 overall record -- decent by most standards but certainly down for the area's perennial superpower.

But in recent weeks, Green Valley has served notice that it may have what it takes to make a serious run in the American Legion playoffs, and possibly in next year's 4A state tournament.

"When we started, there was no identity," assistant coach Menlo Greer said. "None of these players knew each other."

While most of the area Legion squads have a handful of graduated seniors on their rosters, the Gators boast just one: second baseman Mike Merrifield.

Making things even more difficult, for a variety of reasons ranging from injuries to summer vacations, the team is without the services of a group of underclassmen: outfielder Garrett Guzman, pitcher Anthony Scarpelli, designated hitter Mike Stratton and shortstop Kyle Reed.

But according to Greer, the players stopped worrying about who wasn't in the lineup and started playing as a unit, producing 11 wins in their last 14 games.

"The graduated seniors are finally passed out of their memory, and they realized they're the ones that have to do it," Greer said.

Forgetting about right-handers Mike Nannini and Joe Orloski (both are pitchng professionally) surely hasn't been easy. But the Gators' new pitching staff is making it a little less difficult.

Right-hander Ryan Myers (1-2, 3.60 ERA), a senior-to-be who missed last season for academic reasons, has been an effective No. 1 starter. Lefties Danny Tanner (1-0. 2.80) and John Slack (3-1, 2.88) -- soon-to-be seniors who combined for one inning last season -- also have been solid.

Most impressively, Ben Scheinbaum, the No. 1 starter on Green Valley's junior varsity team as a sophomore last year, has been a workhouse out of the bullpen. In 13 appearances, the southpaw has a 5-2 record and a 2.02 ERA.

Offensively, the Gators got a big boost when junior-to-be Ben Scheiss rejoined the team after a missing the first part of the season for personal reasons. Since coming back, the outfielder has hit .543 with 16 RBIs in just 11 games.

Tanner (.450, 24 RBIs), outfielder David Krynzel (.449, 31 RBIs) and first baseman Bill Schmitt (.357, 17 RBI) also have been red-hot at the plate.

* HOT BATS: Eldorado catcher Brent Tarbett had a huge day at the plate in his club's 15-11 win over Las Vegas on June 29. The graduated senior went 4-for-5 with eight RBIs, blasting a grand slam homer, a three-run shot and a run-scoring double. Sundevils third baseman Lance Johnson, another graduated senior, followed one of Tarbett's home runs with one of his own, marking the third game this season in which the duo has hit back-to-back homers. ... Silverado shortstop Ryan Ruiz contributed all seven RBIs in his squad's 7-2 victory over Cheyenne on Monday. The junior-to-be went 3-for-3 at the plate with a grand slam, two-run homer and RBI double.

* TIDBITS: Silverado right-hander Robbie Van, a junior-to-be who has missed most of the summer with an elbow injury, is expected to return to the mound when the team travels to Ogden, Utah for the Raptors' Pure Classic Invitational Tournament. Cimarron-Memorial and Bishop Gorman also will participate. ... Durango, which already has 48 games under its belt, continued its marathon road trip this week in the Dakotas. The Trailblazers, who finished third at a tournament in Rapid City, S.D. last week, play a pair of single games in North Dakota before participating in a week-long tourney in Dickinson, N.D. Durango will return home next Wednesday, just in time to host its Tuff-Lite Blazer Summer Classic, which runs July 16-19.

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