Bryce Harper

Clouds lifted lazily over the pine nut mountains as Old Glory floated in the breeze. The smell of peanuts and popcorn caught noses with delightful surprise as foot long hot dogs tempted resolves with their sizzle and pop. The sounds of John Fogerty’s Centerfield crackled through the speakers and soon Whitney Houston’s 1991 version of the Star Spangled Banner would bring players and spectators alike to a standing salute.

Western Nevada College’s highly regarded baseball team has lost its voice. Chris Graham, the longtime voice of the Wildcats, won’t return this season to broadcast WNC baseball games over the Internet.

The three-time Scenic West Athletic Conference Broadcaster of the Year has volunteered as the Wildcats’ play-by-play announcer for eight seasons. Now, a new job at the Nevada Legislature will not permit him the time to continue with his self-described passion.

It will be a youthful Western Nevada College baseball team that takes the field this spring in Carson City at John L. Harvey Field. With a roster that is 70 percent freshmen, the Wildcats will enter the 2015 season without the experience that has fostered regular success in the past.

The two-time defending Region 18 champions open their season on Jan. 30 against last season’s nemesis, South Mountain College of Arizona, which ended the Wildcats’ season only a few wins shy of another trip to the Junior College World Series.

Now that the MLB season has come to an end, the offseason begins. Here are my predictions for the awards:

First, it was saluting his opponent’s dugout as he circled third base after hitting a home run last year in a CSN uniform early in the season. Then, it was tossing his bat up 10 feet in the air as he hit a lazy fly-ball in the post-season tournament later in that season. Now, he's blowing kisses to the pitcher as he crosses home plate after a home run. My question is: When will the overpaid #1 draft pick of 2010 learn to just play the game?

The Western Nevada College baseball team pounded out nine hits and held 17-year-old phenom Bryce Harper to a 1-for-5 day and struck him out three times.
So that led to another win over College of Southern Nevada, right? Not even close. CSN showed why its arguably the best team in the nation -- and possibly the deepest -- by beating WNC 9-2 on Saturday in the championship round of the Scenic West Athletic Conference postseason tournament in Henderson.

The road warriors that are the Western Nevada College baseball team are finally coming home to their fans and their field.

College of Southern Nevada baseball coach Tim Chambers has never lacked for confidence and with arguably his most talented team ever, there's no surprise that Chambers has high expectations for h