FIELDER’S CHOICES: Overcoming ‘Dog Days of April’
You might call it the Dog Days of April.
A point where some teams are surpassing 30 games and we’re still more than two weeks away from the postseason.
Just about everyone other than Bishop Gorman’s baseball team, winners of 26 straight by my count, has hit the wall at some point in the past couple of weeks.
But hey, at least we haven’t had any basketball/soccer-style forfeits — yet.
I’m back in an attempt to wake my peers from their post-spring break stupor. You turned out in droves to watch football and basketball, so why not baseball and softball?
Here are some big games to make it out to this week, along with my picks:
Monday, April 27
Baseball: Sierra Vista at Spring Valley, 3:30 p.m.; Rancho at Eldorado, 3:30 p.m.
Spring Valley still deserves mention along with other Southwest League heavyweights, but the Grizzlies might be slipping after losing three straight.
Rancho is dead-set on keeping its Northeast title hopes alive and will be all business against the Sundevils.
The picks: Sierra Vista by 4, Rancho by 2
Softball: Valley at Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m.
This could be Las Vegas’ last hope to win a Northeast title, and the Wildcats will be playing at home, so expect them to be ready.
This is a dandy that could go either way, but look for similar results as the last time the two teams met — a 2-1 Valley win in eight innings.
The pick: Valley by 1
Tuesday, April 28
Baseball: Cimarron-Memorial at Arbor View, 3:30 p.m.; Palo Verde at Centennial, 3:30 p.m.
At this point, Cimarron looks entrenched as the second-best team in Southern Nevada.
Question is, how big is the gap between Gorman and Cimarron? On April 10, the Gaels run-ruled the Spartans.
As far as Centennial, something tells me the Bulldogs will ride a hot streak into the postseason. They’ve won four straight and will be playing at home.
The picks: Cimarron by 3, Centennial by 1
Softball: Liberty at Foothill, 3:30 p.m.
These teams enter the week with identical overall and league winning percentages, but Foothill won the first meeting, 8-3 at Liberty on March 30.
The Patriots could be in for a long day against Foothill pitcher Shelbie Medrano. If she gets run support, it’s Falcons all the way.
The pick: Foothill by 2
Wednesday, April 29
Baseball: Sierra Vista vs. Bishop Gorman at College of Southern Nevada, 7 p.m.
The Mountain Lions came out flat in their first meeting, an 8-0 Gorman win at Sierra Vista on March 28, and should be charged up for this one.
However, Gorman is so good, does it really matter who the Gaels play?
The pick: Gorman by 6
Softball: Bonanza at Desert Oasis, 3:30 p.m.
The Bengals were 5-7 in the Southwest last season, and the Diamondbacks didn’t even exist.
But here these two Cinderella programs find themselves, a combined 16-4 in league and in second and third place.
However, if Desert Oasis loses to Durango on Monday, the Diamondbacks will have lost three of four heading into this showdown.
Keep an eye who has the momentum.
The pick: Bonanza by 1
Thursday, April 30
Baseball: Centennial at Cimarron-Memorial, 3:30 p.m.
The Spartans will be out to prove a point after an 8-7 loss at Centennial on April Fools’ Day.
They won’t be fooling around this time.
The pick: Cimarron by 4
Softball: Centennial at Cimarron-Memorial, 3:30 p.m.; Foothill at Silverado, 3:30 p.m.
As good a basketball player as Centennial senior Johnna Brown is, she’s an even better softball player, which says a lot.
Brown is batting .586. She and teammate Lindsay Konopelko have combined to swat 13 home runs.
Watching these two against Cimarron pitcher Carrie Sheehan is just about as good as it gets.
Silverado only got by Tech 1-0 on Friday.
The picks: Centennial by 2, Foothill by 4
Friday, May 1
Baseball: Las Vegas at Rancho, 3:30 p.m.
I’m so pumped for this game — and you should be, too — I refuse to list any other games.
Just be there. It’s basically the Northeast title game.
I’m so excited for this game I can’t think clearly as to who will win, so don’t take my word for it. See for yourself.
As strong as the Rams have looked, the Wildcats are on top until someone knocks them off.
The pick: Las Vegas by 1
Saturday, May 2
Baseball: Cimarron-Memorial at Las Vegas, 1 p.m.; Palo Verde at Spring Valley, 1 p.m.
A couple of nonleague games that carry intrigue but no weight as far as the postseason picture goes.
The picks: Cimarron by 2, Palo Verde by 3
Softball: Pahranagat Valley at Henderson International, noon
Henderson International isn’t playing for anything, but the Wolverines are developing into quite a story nonetheless.
They’re 17-2, and freshman pitcher Lee Harrison has hurled two no-hitters.
Meanwhile, the Panthers are 8-0 in the Class 1A Southern League.
It all adds up to a small-school blockbuster.
The pick: Henderson International by 3
