Legacy grabs 10 at state

     By Todd Dewey
     View staff writer
      Legacy Little League is certainly living up to its name, leaving a trail of 10 state championships for future teams to follow.
      The 7-year-old league dominated the recent Little League all-star state tournaments in Dayton and Elko, capturing four of a possible eight state titles.
      Legacy's baseball and softball all-star teams won five of six titles in District 2 -- defined as east of Interstate 15.
      "And, of those five, four of them won the state championship," league president Steve Schoonover said. "I might be biased, because I'm the league president, but I think we have the best organization in Southern Nevada, without question. It's the best Little League in Southern Nevada."
      Legacy teams that won state titles included the 9-10-year-old baseball and the 9-10-year-old softball team. The major (ages 11-12) and junior (13-14) softball teams also took home state titles, and more.
      The junior girls placed third at a division tournament in Mesa, Ariz., while the major girls won their division championship in Elko and, at press time, were competing in the Western Regional tourney in Seattle -- only a step away from the Little League World Series.
      "To see the girls do so well is just incredible," Schoonover said. "The last six years we've had girls softball and it hasn't been very big, but the last two years it's really grown. It's probably doubled in the past two to three years (to 280 players).
      "The growth and, especially, the talent level we've been getting in the league, from both boys and girls, has been incredible."
      The major division (11-12) boys didn't win state, but they did win their district championship, "which is a big accomplishment," Schoonover said.
      Legacy's 1994 major division boys team captured the first state title for the league, which, with 1,040 players, is one of the largest in the state.
      "I think we've got the best coaches out here and our kids play pretty much year-round baseball," Schoonover said. "The reason our 9-10-year-olds have won four of the last five state championships is because we have great coaches, our kids play year-round and we also allow our 10-year-olds to play in the major division with the 11- and 12-year-olds.
      "They face better competition all year so when they play in tournaments, they're ready for them. We also get great parental support."
      This year, the 9-10-year-old boys became the first Nevada team ever to fight through the losers bracket to win the state title.
      The team fell to Peccole, 5-1, in its opener, but bounced back to win four straight games en route to the championship. The boys beat Silverada (22-11), Washoe (9-2) and avenged their loss to Peccole, twice (6-5, 3-2).
      The team, which was composed of kids who also play for nationally ranked club teams, featured Stephen Manthei, Kyle Larimer, Cory Ginther, Bryce Heffinger, Joey Renna, Adam Koglin, Ryan McIntyre, Ricky Miller, Gino Campagna, Kyle Konicek, Tim Arthur, Christopher Campbell and David Kinan. The coaches were Gino Campagna and Dave Campbell.
      The 9-10-year-old girls state champs featured Alyssa Chapman, Kierstin Cunningham, Shannon Goble, Tracie Harmsma, Chelsea Kallas, Amelia Kennemer, Samantha McCosh, Amelia McIntosh, Karisa Rios, Shelby Scott, Rita Vinci and Jamie Jennings. The manager was Bob Harmsma.
      The junior girls state champions featured Alyssa Cady, Jill Camp, Jenna DiMartini, Hailey Donner, Maritza Espinoza, Jan Garis, Kim Gerbino, Ashlee Gradillas, Kelly Griego, Shannon Relph, Tanya Steinwald, Melissa Stump, Renee Templeton and Justine Waufle. The team was managed by Jeff Waufle and coached by Ron Cady and Bill Relph.