Can Bankers Make History? -- U.S. Bank Team Faces Big Odds In Regional Play

History is on the side of the Calfornians for the Connie Mack Pacific Northwest Regional baseball tournament, which opened yesterday at Bellevue's Bannerwood Park.

But the Edmonds-based U.S. Bank team hopes to make history.

In years past, current major-league players such as Darryl Strawberry (Los Angeles Dodgers), Eric Davis (Cincinnati Reds) and Steve Buechele (Texas Rangers) have all played for California entrants.

"No Washington team has gone to the Connie Mack World Series," said Mark Yoshino, pitching coach for the U.S. Bank team. "Beating the California teams is like beating Taiwan in the Little League World Series."

U.S. Bank, with a 45-7 record and winner of five of the six tournaments it has entered this season, had a bye in yesterday's first round. The Bankers were scheduled to play Berkovich of Oakland, Calif., today at 4:30 p.m.

Berkovich opened yesterday with an 8-2 victory over Bellevue-based Curtis. In other games, Arizona beat the Orange County, Calif., Cardinals 8-2, and Orange County eliminated Curtis 4-3.

SO WHO'S NO. 1?

-- After 52 baseball games, Howard Hagen and Mark Yoshino still haven't decided on U.S. Bank's No. 1 pitcher.

That indecision, or rather, the general quality of the team's pitching staff, could be the team's best sign for the Connie Mack Pacific Coast Regionals.

"We really don't have a No. 1 pitcher - a guy that can go out there and throw you a four-hitter every time out," said Yoshino, the team's pitching coach. "We've got a bunch of guys that go out and get the job done."

Right-hander Jason Huguenin, a Mariner High School graduate, was picked to start today's game, with Cascade senior-to-be Brandon Anderson ready in the bullpen if Huguenin gets into early trouble.

"I've got confidence in all those guys," said Hagen, team manager. "They've all pitched big games for us."

Casey Swingley, who will be a senior at Woodinville High School, has the team's freshest arm, coming off an injury rehabilitation to throw 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

"He'll probably start our second game no matter what," Yoshino said.

Two more pitchers have been otherwise occupied, but should be available this weekend, Yoshino said.

Trevor Cobb has not pitched since the middle of last month. Cobb, son of Cascade High School basketball coach Charlie Cobb and a team captain for the Bruins basketball squad this coming winter, had been attending a team basketball camp at Eastern Washington University until yesterday and before that traveled with a Washington all-star team.

Jay Schulz, a sophomore from Inglemoor High, has a summer job working at the Seattle Seahawks training camp and his availability is limited.

The Bankers' offense has been paced by Shorewood High graduate Randy Warner, who has belted a team-high nine home runs and driven in team-leading 38 runs batted in with a .382 batting average.

Darryl Masanda, who has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Bellevue Community College after helping Meadowdale to the Class AA state championship, is hitting .429, with seven home runs and 36 RBI.

Each team has a bye in the four-day tournament, but Yoshino said there is a stigma attatched to the first.

"The team that gets the first bye usually gets aced out," he said. "I guess history shows it like that."

WESCO CONNECTION

-- Curtis, the Bellevue-based host team for the Connie Mack Pacific Regional tournament, had a distinct Western Conference flavor.

Curtis was led by Oak Harbor standout John McAninch, who had a .475 batting average. Lynnwood's Brian Wisler, who will play for Washington State Universit next season, hit .385.

Everett's Jered Fowler anchors the infield at shortstop or catcher when he's not pitching, and Lake Stevens Keith Eidson was the team's winningest starting pitcher with a 9-2 record.

Curtis started the summer season with Lake Stevens' Mike Walkden, who was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

PITCHER SKIPS STATE

-- Marysville, which is scheduled to open the state American Legion tournament tonight in Yakima against the host Yakima Beetles, is without one of its starting pitchers, Scott Baklenko.

"Scott was selected to a very prestigous baseball camp at Stanford University and he has gone to that," Marysville manager Mike Hodgins said. "Jason Crain was also picked for the camp, but he's decided to go with his teammates to the state tournament."

Hodgins said only one out of each eight pitching applicants are accepted to the Stanford camp, and one out of each dozen position players are invited.

"I'm real proud of Jason for passing up that camp to support his teammates," he said. "And at the same time, I can't fault Scott for going."

SWITCH HITTER

-- Brent Smerud is used to being versatile.

He was a football and basketball standout at King's High School, but had to shift to Ballard High for the baseball season since the school does not offer that sport.

"That was OK. I know a lot of the guys at Ballard and it was good to play with them," he said.

With the North Seattle Senior American Legion baseball team, Smerud was tabbed as the team's shortstop and infield anchor.

"He's done a great job for us defensively," North Seattle Coach Steve Vane said. "But I got into a situation where we had six games in one week and I ran out of arms."

Vane said he asked the team if anyone could pitch, and several players nominated Smerud.

"I hadn't pitched since I was 13," Smerud said. "I felt pretty good, though."

Smerud proved to be so effective that he has become one of the team's relief pitchers. He came on during the district tournament in Marsville to shut out Everett and allow his teammates a chance to come back to earn the victory.

"I was real nervous against Everett," he said. "I wasn't sure I could hold their hitters down, but my teammates made some great plays behind me."

North Seattle was scheduled to open the American Legion state tournament this morning in Yakima against Lakeside Recovery Centers of Bellevue.