Local squads are in the hunt

Although their home state has sent only four teams to the American Legion World Series in 73 years, Nevadans have good reason to believe one of their own could be headed there for the second summer in a row.

Two local squads will be among the field of eight when the Western Regional Tournament begins Thursday at UNLV's Wilson Stadium. And based on their credentials, each would seem to have a legitimate shot to earn a trip to Middletown, Conn., next week.

Matchups

Thursday's pairings in the American Legion Western Regional Tournament at UNLV's Wilson Stadium:

Greeley, Colo. (65-13) vs. Las Cruces, N.M. (30-4), 9:35 a.m.

Tucson, Ariz. (33-17) vs. Kalani, Hawaii (14-7), follows Game 1

Chatsworth, Calif. (38-5) vs. Durango (63-20), 5:05 p.m.

Orem, Utah (23-3) vs. Silverado (50-7), follows Game 3

The first, Silverado (50-7), has flexed its muscles throughout the summer season, losing just once en route to the area's regular season title and then capping that accomplishment with a championship at last week's Nevada State Tournament.

The other, Durango, is coming off its first-ever high school state title during the spring season and brings a more-than-respectable 63-20 summer record into the event.

Nevertheless, you won't find either team's head coach looking ahead to a potential World Series berth -- not with six of the Southwest's top Legion clubs in town to block their path.

"Anybody that gets this far in the region is always looking forward to the opportunity to play in the World Series," Durango coach Tom Appleyard said. "But this region is so tough, I don't think anybody is looking at that right now.

"It's going to take a quality team playing good baseball and getting all the breaks at this point."

But while he wasn't making predictions, Silverado coach Art Besser knows the odds favor a Nevada team matching the accomplishment of 1998's Bishop Gorman squad, which won the region to become the first local Series entry since 1993.

"We have two teams from Southern Nevada so obviously we have a better chance of sending somebody," Besser said. "That's one of the nice things about hosting the tournament."

Joining the two area teams will be a formidable group of out-of-towners: Greeley, Colo. (65-13), Las Cruces, N.M. (30-4), Arizona's Tucson Badgers (33-17), Hawaii's Kalani (14-7), Chatsworth Valley, Calif., (38-5) and Orem, Utah (23-3).

The entries from Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona are all-star teams. Hawaii's state champion draws from several area private schools and the squads from California and Utah are affiliated with one high school, as Durango and Silverado are.

For Durango, Thursday's opener against Chatsworth will mark the team's first contest in nine days. The Trailblazers were knocked out of the state tournament last Monday, but got a reprieve when Silverado captured the title -- the only scenario that could get Durango into the regional.

"There were so many good teams at state that we really didn't expect to be here, especially after we lost and Silverado lost its first game," Appleyard said. "I think all the kids see this as a second chance. We're just happy to get the opportunity to play again."

Silverado, meanwhile, comes into the event red-hot, winners of five in a row, including last Thursday's championship game against Gorman. The Skyhawks' bats were the primary story in the state tournament, producing a whopping 83 runs in six contests.

Silverado also got some good news when it learned that pitcher James Wickman -- who missed much of the state tournament with a sore elbow -- should be available this week. Left-hander Robbie Van is expected to be on the mound when the Skyhawks face Orem Thursday night, while Durango will likely go with right-hander J.T. Sherman in its opener.

According to Appleyard, how those two, and the rest of the two teams' pitching staffs, perform this week likely will decide whether a Nevada club does indeed make the World Series' field of eight.

"The key will be pitching," Appleyard said. "That's always the key, especially in nine-inning games. You have to get good pitching from the guys that got you here in the first place."

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