Rick Harig isn’t foolish enough to gloat or finally feel vindicated.
Earlier this decade, the Fairview coach found himself in front of a screamer – he was named the starter to deliver a double-elimination format to upper classes of Colorado schoolboy baseball.
It was interesting. Then Fairview athletic director Tom Smith insisted Harig qualify his vision by having him take charge of the state committee, then sell it to a typically skeptical group of Colorado coaches who usually resemble Garth of “Wayne’s World” fame (“We fear change!”).
“Everybody was giving me a hard time,” Harig said. “Some guys thought we would cut out half of our (Centennial League) teams that could win a state title or win some games.”
Of course, this was back when the Centennial was much stronger one through eight in its order. That has since changed a little, Harig said, “but I didn’t agree (it would harm stronger leagues). If you don’t finish in the top half of your league, you don’t deserve to keep playing, and that was my point.”
It was sharp. Having witnessed dozens of summer tournaments that didn’t solely rely on single elimination, Harig was certain adding a fresher frame would appeal to all involved with the game.
The plan hasn’t totally vanquished previous ways. While the top three classifications are cut in half instead of permitting advancement for nearly everyone, as in earlier years, teams continue with single elimination in districts to pare fields to eight teams. The two-loss change continues to test pitching staffs and keeps the series exclusive.
Ultimately, Harig said, “it’s your reward through districts, getting to double elimination,” as a mistake pitch or allowing a grounder to go through your legs doesn’t necessarily oust you from the most important rounds of the season.
Having been out of the prep game the previous three seasons, Harig, a Pittsburgh native with low-level professional experience who was on the Knights’ staff for 22 seasons, 14 as a head coach and including winning the 1993 big-school title, returned in 2007.
The irony is that this year’s club went 9-10 in the regular season, yet won two district games last weekend – notably against Highlands Ranch, the Continental League champion and No. 4 seed – to get its first taste of double-elimination play since it began in 2003. The Knights will begin Friday at All-City Field against defending Class 5A champion Columbine.
Of course, they have made the story even better. Fairview has a 6-foot-10 pitcher, Chris Mezger, one of three Coloradans – Fort Collins’ Garret Houts and Mountain Vista’s Danny Beck are the others – set to play next season for Southern California (how often does that happen?).
Plus, the Knights start four sophomores and a freshman.
The Class 5A field also contains at least one more Rocky Mountain (Andy Burns)-Fort Collins (Houts) matchup from the Front Range; the strength from Jefferson County, the best group in the state during the regular season with Arvada West (Lincoln Harmer) and Wheat Ridge (Adam Doyle) in addition to Columbine (C.J. Gillman); Air Academy (Ryan Salt), which has the best record in the field, 20-1; and Regis (Spencer Jackson), which few gave any chance of advancing.
As for 4A, the range involves traditional top teams such as Cherokee Trail (Bradshaw Perry), Thomas Jefferson (Brett Nathan), Niwot, Northridge (Mikel Huston) and Ralston Valley (Brian Chritz); others like Greeley West and Liberty who can get hot in a tournament that rewards it; and another, Mountain View, previously thought to be reloading, yet here despite being the 30th of 32 seeds.
And 3A liked what it saw the past four years in upper classes so much, it decided to have its own try. Midrange regulars this time of year such as Bishop Machebeuf, Eaton (Kyle Ottoson) and Faith Christian (David Fox) are joined by Bayfield, Erie, Lamar, Pagosa Springs and Valley.
“It’s good for everybody,” Harig said.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
