Reno and Reed set for state baseball

Save for Wooster High's win in 2002, Southern Nevada has dominated the 4A state baseball tournament, winning six of the seven championships.

Four of those titles since 4A was started in 1997 belong to Green Valley, while Silverado and Durango have won once each.

Reno and Reed hope to put an end to the bleeding when this year's tournament starts today at Ron McNutt Field. Reed (26-10), the runner-up in the Northern Regional last week and High Desert League champion, plays Sunset Regional champ Cimarron-Memorial (27-7) at 3 p.m. Reno (33-5), the Sierra League and Northern Regional champion, takes on Sunrise champion Silverado (18-17) at 6 p.m.

Reno is no stranger to the state playoffs, this being the sixth straight time it has made state. The Huskies have never won a 4A title, but did win 3A titles in 1962, 1977, 1978 and 1984.

"Experience is a big part of playoff baseball," Reno coach Pete Savage said. "We have 12 seniors this year, and most of them played last year. Experience, though, isn't any good if you aren't playing your best. It doesn't mean a whole lot if you don't play well."

Savage, who has a 293-75 record in his 10 years at the helm, admits he doesn't know much about Silverado or Cimmaron-Memorial, but no doubt he's been burning up the phone lines trying to find out any little tidbit he can.

"It's not really (a problem)," he said. "They have the same situation facing them. You have to come out and play (well). Silverado is an experienced playoff team (2000 state winner) and Cimarron-Memorial has a deep, talented pitching staff."

The Huskies have a solid pitching staff led by left-handers Jeff Schoenbachler, Chris Rickey and Mike Leinert. John Wallace and Davis Banks would be the next likely choices to take the mound. Savage said he was undecided between Schoenbachler and Rickey in terms of an opening game starter.

Reno is led offensively by senior Drew Johnson, who is headed up the street to play for Gary Powers next year at Nevada. Johnson, who suffered a broken jaw earlier this year, hit a grandlsam to beat Reed in the finals last week. He was one of eight Huskies to make the all-Sierra first team.

Shortstop Steve Mays, the Sierra league Co-Player of the Year, has done a stellar job at shortstop and at the plate. Outfielder Proctor Hug, third baseman Jake Johnson and catcher Ryan Simpson also have enjoyed stellar seasons behind the plate.

Reed will start either Jake McGee, the High Desert Player of the Year, or Larry Benson against Cimarron-Memorial. Steve Hook is the Raiders' third starter and Brad Hurn is the team's top reliever. The quartet throws to all-league catcher Britt Hastings.

The Raiders are solid up the middle with seniors Mickey Lang at second and Ryan Hill at short, both of whom were all-league selections. Third baseman Garrett Silva and outfielder Neil Saiz also were first-team all-league selections and are solid two-way players.

The Raiders will have head coach Jon Foss back in the dugout this weekend. Foss missed last weekend to attend a wedding in Colorado.

Here's a capsule look at Silverado and Cimmaron Memorial.

Silverado: The Skyhawks, coached by Brian Whitaker, are led by shortstop Casey Coon, pitcher-infielder Chad Robinson (.301, 18 RBI; 33 strikeouts in 34 innings), Kyle Bostick (.418), pitcher-utility player Dan Morris (5-6, 2.35; .405) and pitcher-utility player Chris Gloria (5-3, 2.22; .314. Rance Roundy hit .318 for the Sunrise champions.

Coon broke his wrist earlier this year, but did homer in one of the Skyhawks' playoff wins.

Cimarron Memorial: The Spartans knocked off Centennial to win the Sunset title game last weekend.

Dustin Holland (8-0, 1.86), Justin Muir (6-2, 2.78) and Mark Willinsky (5-4, 65 strikeouts in 47 innings) form a solid starting rotation. Muir also hit five homers and drove in 19 runs.

Second baseman Jorge Esquivel pounded 11 homers and drove in an area-high 63 runs en route to a .613 average. Catcher Josh Felker (nine homers), shortstop Joel Reese (.500, 26 RBI), third baseman Brandon Trodick (.465) and Austin Lefevre (.444, three homers) complement Esquivel.

Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281.