East Valley coach Jesse Benedetti, center, talks with pitcher Jordan Cameron and catcher Nick Woods during a March game.   GORDON KING/ Yakima Herald-Republic file

The heat is on for East Valley, Selah
 
Pitching the hot topic right up to game time

It's the one question baseball coaches who are fortunate enough to make it this far hear the most and the one they're most reluctant to answer.

Even, sometimes, with their own players.

"Who you going start in that first game, coach?," the inquiries come early and often during regional week. "Got it figured out yet?"

It's the nature of the state baseball playoffs that first-round and quarterfinal games are played not only on the same day but, for some depending on the draw, back to back.

And so after 34 years of state playoffs, the debate marches on still. Throw your ace in the first round and give yourself the best chance of advancing, or save the ace for the quarterfinal game and go with your No. 2 kid in the opener?

"We usually don't tell pitchers who's going to go, but they know how we scout and what kind of matchups we're looking for. Most of the time they can figure it out," said Selah coach Mike Archer, whose program is making its 11th state appearance in 12 years on Saturday. "We put a lot of effort into scouting, but we're also not afraid to take a chance and roll the dice."

If the two local state-ranked teams in the Class 2A state tournament -- No. 2 Selah and No. 8 East Valley -- roll any dice on Saturday you won't need much gas, thankfully, to see it.

In a regional tripleheader at Davis High School, East Valley (17-6) will open against Spokane's West Valley (17-4) at 10 a.m. and Selah (20-3) will follow at 1 p.m. against Clarkston (15-7). The winners square off at 4 and the prize for that survivor is a spot in the final four next week at Yakima County Stadium.

Archer's decision on who to hand the ball to first comes down to two juniors who have both pitched on the big stage. Justin Windsor knows Clarkston, having thrown a complete game against the Bantams in last year's quarterfinals, and Jake Fife pitched five shutout innings in the '07 state semifinals.

"We have a deep staff with more than one quality guy, and we have a lot of faith in them," said Archer, who will, nonetheless, be without the services of ineligible Derek Welton. "Clarkston has eight guys back and a legit 6-5 pitcher (Cary Conklin). You have to go right after it and have your best game. It's not a matter of saving anything, it's a matter of seeing what you have to deal with and finding the best matchup."

Clarkston started the season 4-6 and followed with 11 straight wins prior to losing the Great Northern district final to West Valley, 9-1. Conklin, who missed his entire basketball season with a torn Achilles tendon, pitched and won in the district semiifnals.

Everybody around these parts would love to see Selah and East Valley duke it out at 4 p.m., especially after Saturday's entertaining duel that saw the Vikings prevail 9-8 in the CWAC district final.

But the Red Devils face a formidable foe in West Valley, which will likely send out ace Andy Vennum, a four-year starting lefty who is headed to Montana State-Billings. Outfielder Bryan Peterson has signed with Washington State and is rated third on Baseball Northwest's list of Washington's top seniors.

East Valley has its own standout on that list -- No. 8 Kevin Komstadius, who may be coach Jesse Benedetti's pick to oppose West Valley.

"Kevin and Jordan Cameron are both lefties and West Valley has so many left-handed bats," Benedetti said. "They look like a pretty good team, but I feel confident because of how tough our league was. Three of our four (CWAC) losses were by one run so our kids know how to battle and that's what a regional day takes."

Benedetti also likes how the budding rivalry with Selah has helped his kids raise their confidence. The Vikings won two of three against EV with a run differential of 18-15.

"Saturday's game had a great playoff atmosphere," he said. "We'd love to have another one of those Saturday."

East Valley may have, on paper, the tougher opener but Benedetti likes the 10 a.m. start with a forecasted high in the mid-90s.

"I wouldn't mind getting out of that heat while the other team has to play back to back," he said. "But it all comes down to winning that first game. As much as we'd like to play Selah again, we have to deal with West Valley first."

For Archer, heat matters not.

"Whatever game we're in I'm going to find an advantage for it," he said. "When you win a 1 o'clock game I like coming off that high rather than sit around for hours."

When it comes to preparation for the state playoffs, nobody can match the experience of the Selah coaching staff, which has all the answers.

Except one. Who you starting, Arch?

"Come out at see," he said.

Indeed, it should be worth the ticket and the sunscreen.