FIELDER’S CHOICES: After Gorman baseball, Reed softball win state titles, it’s so long, farewell for the summer

The thought is exhilarating and depressing at the same time.

The exhilarating: baseball and softball state championship games Saturday.

The depressing: the year in high school sports ends Saturday.

I first introduced myself to you in August, and our nine months together have been a joyride.

Despite the recurring nastiness of the comments, your passion toward high school sports in Southern Nevada has raised the bar.

But no choking up yet. Goodbyes can wait until graduation.

Without further “adieu,” here are my picks for the state championships:

BASEBALL

Class 4A: Bishop Gorman

I can’t win on this one.

If I pick Gorman, you’ll all point out that the Gaels just lost to Cimarron-Memorial in the Sunset Region title game.

If I pick some other team, you’ll point out I’m overlooking a team that has won three straight state titles, an American Legion World Series, has five Division I signees, blah, blah, blah ...

But as my colleague Eric pointed out, Cimarron may have “poked the bear.”

And a Sunset title isn’t exactly a highlight on Gorman’s resume, anyway.

Remember, the Gaels lost to Palo Verde last postseason before running away with state.

Cimarron and Douglas will be tough, but I’ll look like a real doofus if I pick someone other than Gorman.

Somewhere, Buster Douglas, the 2007 New York Giants and the 1991 Duke Blue Devils (sorry, Rebel Nation) are rooting against Gorman.

Class 3A: Virgin Valley

The Bulldogs won this season’s 3A Southern League regular-season title and last year’s 3A state title.

Spring Creek and Faith Lutheran are quality teams, but the Bulldogs get the nod until either team can knock them off.

Class 2A: Needles (Calif.)

How about The Meadows not only breaking through to state, but knocking off Needles to win the league tournament?

As impressive as those blue-jersey Mustangs have been, I’ll take the other blue-jersey Mustangs from across the border.

I seem to remember a certain Needles boys basketball team that bounced back from a league tourney final loss to win state. Many of those same guys play baseball.

Class 1A: Carlin

Apologies to Lake Mead and Indian Springs, but when you play to a 20-19 score in your region championship game, you might have a problem with pitching and defense.

In three region tournament games, Indian Springs allowed 33 runs and Lake Mead 29.

Gimme the Railroaders, who ran the table in the 1A Northern League and outscored teams 33-13 in the league tournament.

SOFTBALL

Class 4A: Reed

You know how much I love Shadow Ridge, which has all the tools to prove me wrong here.

But while the Mustangs were 13-1 in the best league in the city, they were only 13-9 outside it.

Reed (34-5) will bring a talent-rich roster highlighted by pitcher Chelsea Cohen, who has signed with Arkansas.

Northern Nevada has won 14 of the past 15 large-school state titles. The only team in that stretch from our neck of the woods to do it was Centennial in 2004.

Class 3A: Boulder City

The Eagles will be partying like it’s 1999, the last time they flew to a state title.

Boulder City has simply come too far and is too hungry to let this chance slip.

But Fernley — which rambled to an 18-0 mark in the 3A Northern League — could be thinking the same thing of its chances.

Class 2A: Needles (Calif.)

Dude, look at that 2A Southern League tournament bracket. It reads, “Needles, 10-0; Needles, 2-0; Needles, 3-0.”

The two-time defending 2A state champion Mustangs will carry a nine-game winning streak to the state tournament.

Class 1A: Pahranagat Valley

Like Needles, Pahranagat Valley went 12-0 in its league, won the league tourney convincingly and looks poised to go for a third straight state crown.

But Carlin could give Pahranagat Valley trouble. The Railroaders were 10-0 in the 1A Northern League and swept three league tournament games, 40-5.