Sierra Vista baseball has right attitude to dethrone four-time champion Bishop Gorman

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

The four-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman High baseball team has met its match.

The Gaels can be beat. They will be beat.

That's the mindset needed to dethrone the perennial powers heading into this week's Sunset Regional playoffs.

It's the way of thinking at Sierra Vista High, the Southwest Division rivals of the Gaels and the lone team capable of knocking the untouchables from their pedestal.

However, the players at Sierra Vista are too humble (or too schooled by their coach to be close-lipped) to proclaim they have a legitimate chance at ending Gorman's run.

Rather, they will point to a pair of one-run defeats to Gorman during league play as an indicator of the work they still have to do.

"We might not be as big as them, or as strong as them, but we play with our hearts every game," said Nick Kingham, Sierra Vista's senior pitching ace. "Anything can happen when you play your heart out."

But by no means is Sierra Vista (25-6) a pushover.

They have the talent (Kingham, for instance, will be a draft pick next month), experience and confidence to win the school's second state title in its nine-year existence.

Sierra Vista consistently is one of the valley's most respectable programs, winning the 2005 state championship and outplaying Gorman to capture the Southwest title from 2004-08.

But when it counts — in the playoffs — Gorman has been virtually flawless, capturing four straight high school and American Legion state crowns in becoming one of the nation's marquee programs. The regional begins Tuesday at Sierra Vista and concludes Saturday with the title game.

Most teams are defeated before the first pitch is thrown when facing Gorman. However, that's far from the case for Sierra Vista, which expects to win every game it plays — regardless of opponent.

It's a confidence that doesn't run away and hide when playing Gorman. It's the reason why a victory over the Gaels in the regional is a distinct possibility.

"We battled with them the whole game both times we played them," said Jake Hager, Sierra Vista's junior shortstop. "It shows that we are right there with them. They are beatable."

Talk with Sierra Vista coach Nate Selby, however, and he won't mention Gorman.

Selby is more concerned with beating first-round opponent Palo Verde on Tuesday. After all, Sierra Vista was lucky to escape with a 4-3 victory against Palo Verde earlier this year.

"The only way to play (Gorman) is to keep winning," Selby said. "We are taking one game at a time, and right now that game is against Palo Verde."

Selby deserves credit for putting his team in position to compete for a title. Just like his refusal to look ahead in the tournament bracket, his disciplined approach to the game is refreshing.

His team plays the game the right way, whether it's not overlooking an opponent or arriving early to practice to prepare the field.

Watch his team take infield or batting practice, and you will likely see the same structure. It's the type of organization that separates Sierra Vista from the opposition each year.

"We start the season every year truly thinking we can win the state championship," Selby said. "Obviously, we have only won once in nine year, but we expect to be there every year."

Going through Gorman makes the journey that much more memorable. To be the best, you have to beat the best, and Selby's players never have backed down against Gorman.

And, unlike other public-school coaches, you won't hear Selby complain about having to play the private-school giant Gaels.

"Gorman has brought a lot of positive attention to the city," he said. "Their coaches do a good job of preparing their kids. It's good to have a team as good as them in town to play against."