Southwest home to baseball powers

So this is a No. 4 seed that needed to win a game last week to qualify for the playoffs?

Good grief. What in the world are they feeding these kids playing prep baseball in the Southwest Division?

In the NFL, it’s the AFC South. In the NHL, it’s the Pacific Division. In the NBA, it’s anyone running pick-and-roll west of the Mississippi. In the MLS, it’s … just kidding. If I actually knew the toughest division in professional soccer, my resignation letter would be delivered by noon today.

“Every time we have a division game, you have programs that just get after it,” Durango coach Sam Knapp said. “Kids who have played against each other all the way up from Little League, who are familiar with each other. Just quality schools and programs in the division.

“It’s tough.”

It’s like this: Durango on Tuesday opened the Class 4A playoffs by routing host Arbor View, 14-2. The Trailblazers had 17 hits and took apart pitcher Josh Arnold, among the city’s ERA leaders.

It was one-sided to the point it was over after three innings, but the Trailblazers kept hacking away to finish with an exclamation point of six runs in the seventh, amazing when you consider had it lost to Bonanza last week, Durango would have been planning for Legion ball.

The Southwest went 3-1 in first-round games, with mighty Bishop Gorman the lone loser. The same Gorman that won the last two state titles and spent time this season ranked No. 1 nationally, only to finish second to Sierra Vista in its division. The same Gorman that had won 15 straight playoff games dating to 2006 before losing to Palo Verde 2-1 on Tuesday.

The same Gorman that is greatly responsible for local baseball improving its depth of late and for the Southwest having built such a sturdy reputation.

Listen, the differences between private and public schools and how much larger a pool the former can draw from hasn’t changed. It’s too old a truth to debate fairness. Gorman will always get its share (and often much more) of the area’s best players who choose it over a neighborhood program.

It’s life. Competitive people find a way to deal with it and contend. People like Knapp. People like Palo Verde coach Paul Churchfield, whose Northwest team also knocked off Gorman in a first-round game two years ago. People like Sierra Vista coach Nate Selby.

But national recognition like the kind Gorman received this season shines a bright light on all of Las Vegas prep baseball and, in doing so, sets a standard for local programs to aspire. Say what you want about Gorman — others’ success is a direct result of the Gaels (and in a large part the Southwest) being so good.

“Beating (Gorman) is always the greatest feeling,” said Durango senior Aaron Kurcz, who pitched and hit the Trailblazers to victory Tuesday. “Playing them motivates you, knowing they have been ranked so high. You just want to take it to them because they pounce all over mistakes.”

You can be sure Durango players and coaches walked off Arbor View’s field thinking a date with Bishop Gorman awaited tonight. They should have. It was going to take the collective game of its players’ lives for a 17-16 Palo Verde team to beat a 33-2 Gorman side. Apparently, that’s exactly what the Panthers delivered. Major props to them.

So while Durango gets Palo Verde in a second-round game, one of two state semifinalists from last season (Gorman or Arbor View) will see its season end at the conclusion of a preceding losers’ bracket matchup. Talk about a pretty compelling example of newfound depth across the city.

“At this level and this point in a season, your top teams in each division are competitive,” said Arbor View coach Gary White after his Northwest team’s loss Tuesday. “But the (Southwest Division) is the best. Gorman. Sierra Vista. Durango. Spring Valley. Bonanza. They’re just really good. But the best thing about baseball is, we have tomorrow. I don’t know who we’re playing, but we just have to be ready.”

He discovered a few hours later who that opponent is. Bishop Gorman. First in the nation at one point this season. Second in the Southwest.

Pretty much says it all about which league rules prep baseball around here.

Durango is a No. 4 seed?

Good grief.

Ed Graney’s column is published Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.