Red-hot Coyotes in West tourney
Shortly after the sun rises today, Tyler Lavigne will begin warming up for a College of Southern Nevada baseball team that hopes to continue its surprising hot streak.
The Coyotes, winners of 18 straight games, play two games today in the NJCAA Western District tournament at Coolidge, Ariz.
Lavigne, a sophomore right-hander from Centennial High School, starts for CSN (44-14) against host Central Arizona College (40-20) in the opening game at 9:30 a.m.
The Coyotes barely get a break before facing Trinidad State (Colo.) Junior College (35-26) at 12:30 p.m.
"We got kind of a bad draw," CSN coach Tim Chambers said. "We've got to face both teams' No. 1 pitchers. But we're not worried about that. We're just thinking about the next game, and that's all we've done during this winning streak.
"It's just phenomenal that we've been able to keep it going. We've accomplished a lot. I'm kind of in awe."
Central Arizona meets Trinidad State at 3:30 p.m. The top two remaining teams play at 2 p.m. Friday in the double-elimination format. If another game is necessary to decide the championship, it is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
Chambers said if all three teams go 1-1 today, a coin flip would decide the pairings for the finals. The teams losing the coin flip would play Friday, and the third team would advance to the championship.
The Western District winner goes to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The Coyotes went to Grand Junction and won the national championship in 2003.
Lavigne, 8-2 with a 1.09 ERA, won his start Friday to help CSN go 3-0 in the Region 18 tournament at Henderson.
The Coyotes' games in the Western District tournament can be heard through Web links at csn.edu and Network1sports.com.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
