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Home > Archive > Apr 3, 2008

Dixie, Snow Canyon to Begin Key Games
By Layne Roberts
Last May, the Dixie Flyers claimed a 5-2 victory and a 1-0 series lead over the Snow Canyon Warriors in the 2007 4A baseball state championship.
The Flyers had just won their tenth consecutive game and needed just one more victory to clinch back-to-back titles. Their cross-town rivals had other plans, however.
With two excellent pitching performances by the Warriors the following day, the Flyers were held to just three runs in the two final and deciding games of the year, and Snow Canyon had earned the title of State Champions.
That was last year, and this year, the "important games," and the rematch, have just begun.
Friday night, the teams will meet up for the second of two meetings this week, with one more meeting scheduled at the end of the season.
Whatever the result of Tuesday's game, the implications of this game couldn't be bigger.
Not only will only two of the three 4A high schools (Dixie, Pine View, and Snow Canyon) make the state playoffs, perhaps more pressing, the team with the better Region 9 record (including the 3A schools, Canyon View, Cedar, and Hurricane) will host the third and final meeting between these teams on Friday, May 2.
Further emphasizing the game, the Pine View baseball team, currently ranked second in the state of the 4A schools and owning an 8-1 record (at press time), is characterized by both Dixie's Jeff Messerly and Snow Canyon's Reed Secrist as the team with the most experience.
Although it is early in the season and things don't often turn out as expected, considering the Panthers’ hot start and their reputation, the best way for either of these teams to make the playoffs may just be by defeating each other in the head-to-head matchups.
"For us, it is huge to get two (wins), because you are pretty set up even if you split next week (against Pine View). It is going to be huge," Snow Canyon head coach Reed Secrist said.
That is just one more incentive for the Warriors to play well against the Flyers; they play the Panthers twice next week as well.
In other words, the Warriors' hopes of repeating as champions or reaching the post-season will likely depend on how they play the next eight days.
True Snow Canyon owns the title of 2007 4A state champion, but this years’ team is certainly not the same '07 team.
"We had a senior-heavy team last year. We have a couple of guys who started last year (who returned this year). But we have some seniors who do not have varsity experience. But those guys know what it takes from last year," Secrist said.
Other than the Warriors changing players, they are also changing their style of play as well.
Last year, the team was more dependent on homeruns and big hits, while this year’s team offers more speed and deeper a deeper pitching staff.
"If you are not willing to change (your philosophy), you will not be successful. You have to tailor the game to the players you have this year," Secrist said.
As much change the team has seen, they have already proven this year they have what it takes to win, even if that means not being a hit-heavy team, which has generally been a focus of coach Secrist.
After the Warriors lost their first game and blew a 7-1 lead to Provo in the second game, they have done just that, proven they can win. Since that loss, the Warriors have won eight consecutive games, and are currently 8-2 (at press time).
After being in the last two state championship contests, the Flyers, like the Warriors, have seen their share of change as well.
"We are kind of like our 2005 or 2006 teams. We did not have a lot of varsity; our core had already graduated," Dixie Flyers baseball head coach Jeff Messerly said about his 2008 team.
Like the Warriors though, the Flyers are not concerned or phased with the changes.
"We are very excited about where we are. I think we are ahead of schedule. We are very encouraged with their progress, though a lot remains to be seen," Messerly said.
If there ever was a time to be ahead of schedule, the week before two of your most important games of the season may be it.
Though the Flyers do not play their 4A counterparts consecutively, as Snow Canyon does, a good start against their rivals would go a long way to help the team gauge where they are heading down the stretch.
The Flyers, like the Warriors, are also adjusting to scoring differently this season, relying less on the big hits. But, also similar to the Warriors, this change may not show in the standings, where the Flyers are 6-3 this year – actually a game better than their 5-4 start last season.
"We are a get-them-on, get-them-over, get-them-in type of team. Last year, we had a lot of power; now, we are more about quickness. Last year, we had 11 different players hit home runs; this year, we will probably have two or three," Messerly said.
The biggest key for the Flyers may be playing great defensive baseball, something the coaches have stressed for some time.
"If we have one or less in the errors column, we win," Messerly said of the team’s past.
"We have to not walk their batters; we can't give them anything. Their hitters are too good to let them get ahead in the count; we have to pitch strikes," Messerly said.
Both coaches acknowledged getting younger players used to varsity game speed can be a challenge, further highlighting the importance of good pitching and team defense.
“Our pitching was inconsistent, but it has been getting better as the kids are getting healthy. A lot of the kids can pitch; they just need more varsity experience,” Messerly said.
Another key for the Flyers will be using their team speed on the base paths, something Messerly said was the quickest he has ever had as a coach.
Yes, this is a rivalry game for sure but you may be hard pressed to find teams and coaches that have more respect and appreciation for each other on and off the field.
"If we could not win it, I am glad they did," Messerly said about last year’s state championship.
"After we won state the Dixie players and coaches came over and were giving us hugs. The kids were genuinely happy for their friends even though they were disappointed in the result," Secrist, who was once the coach of the Dixie freshmen team for one year, said.
Many of the players Secrist coached at Dixie were the same players that won state for the Flyers in 2006. Many were also the same group he defeated as a Warriors coach in the title game last year.
"They showed me their rings (after 2006), and I told them that I guess I will get mine next year (2007)," Secrist told his former players before last season.
This, though, is a new year, and one of the year's most compelling games will be at Snow Canyon High School Friday night, starting at 7p.m.

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