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Home > Archive > May 1, 2008

Two Months Down, One Week to Go
By Layne Roberts
Starting tomorrow, when the Snow Canyon Warriors visit the Dixie Flyers, three games will be played between the three St. George high school teams to determine which two teams will play in the postseason.
As of now, the order is Dixie, Pine View, and Snow Canyon, who have Region 9 4A (games solely against each other) records of 3-1, 2-2, and 1-3 respectively. However, there are still plenty of scenarios that could play out in the next week.
As complicated as the situation may become, there are some things we do know.
First, whoever the two 4A teams are that will represent Region 9 in the playoffs, they will host their first playoff game.
Second, a single loss by the Warriors would mean they would be eliminated from playoff contention, meaning Dixie and Pine View would both be in. It is possible the Warriors could lose a game and tie the Panthers in Region 9 4A games, at 2-4, but because the Panthers would own a 2-1 tiebreaker, they would advance and leave the Warriors, last year’s state champions, behind.
Third, one win by the Flyers and not only would they clinch a playoff spot, but they would also represent Region 9 as the number-one seed because they then would have four Region 9 4A victories and own the tiebreaker over the Panthers, the only team that can also talley four Region 9 4A victories.
The Flyers, who have positioned themselves to host their final two games, started off the season slowly. After losing to the Panthers in a March 15 pre-region game, the Flyers were suddenly 3-3, not how they would have liked to start given they were trying to rebound from a state chamionhsip loss to Snow Canyon.
“The guys have to gain expierince playing varsity baseball,” said Flyers head coach Jeff Messerly. “It is a step up. We still make young mistakes, but they hussle, fight, and compete. A month ago it did not look like that,” adding there is still business to take care of.
Dixie, though, has put it together when they needed to most, beating the Panthers twice and splitting 1-1 with Snow Canyon in region play.
“It’s fun to watch their confidence grow,” Messerly said over the phone on April 26. “They start to believe in their abilities and what it takes to get there, to get this opportunity, and to have them understand that.”
The other two coaches did not return messages by press time.
Perhaps just as important as being able to play their games at home is the fact that the Flyers play both of their remaining games in different weeks. This will enable them to use their pitchers any way they please because of inning restricitons. Snow Canyon also has this advantage although they have fewer days between their two remaining games.
The Panthers, on the other hand, do not have that advantage, as they will play their games next Tuesday (vs. Snow Canyon) and Friday (at Dixie).
The Panthers did not make it to the playoffs last year, and considering they have a region best 16-3 overall record makes everything even more compelling.
The Panthers just so happened to have lost the wrong games.
Two of the three Pine View losses came against Dixie, one each at home and away.
As good of a season as the Panthers have had, they will enter the playoffs on one of two conditions: One, they win one game and Dixie loses both of their games; or two, Snow Canyon loses once.
Snow Canyon, like Pine View, has had an excellent season, but also just lost at the wrong time.
The Warriors started the season 9-2 and appeared to be early favorites. But after splitting two games against the Flyers, the Warriors were swept by the Panthers, which put them into the win-or-else situation they are in now.
All scenarios considered, though, one other thing is for sure: The games, which have been scehduled for some time, happen to be scheduled in order of importance.
For example, if Dixie defeats Snow Canyon Friday night, Dixie and Pine View are both in, and the remaining games virtually become preparation for the playoffs.
If Snow Canyon wins, on the other hand, then Tuesday’s game at Pine view becomes a playoff game of sorts for both teams. If the Warriors win, they are in, and the Panthers would then have to beat Dixie on the road, next Friday, to earn a postseason spot. 
The three games deciding which two teams will play postseason take place: Friday, May 2, Snow Canyon @ Dixie; Tuesday, May 6, Snow Canyon @ Pine View; and Friday, May 9, Pine View @ Dixie.

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