RANDOM THOUGHTS

[MIF04]

We bring you a special “Mother’s Day†edition of Random Thoughts as the season moves into the Regional Quarter Finals, after 5 of SE Texas’ 10 teams fell from the playoffs in the Area Round.

First, the good news:

Barbers Hill swept into the QF with 9-4 and 6-2 wins over the Lamar Consolidated Mustangs.  After falling behind 4-3 in game 1, the Eagles rallied to pull away with Jake Ponder’s 2 run HR the icing on the cake.  Ross Hales was his usual dominant self on the mound.  Game 2 saw the Hill fall behind early (2-0) but the bats woke up and Kendall Thamm cruised to a 6-2 win.  The Hill gets Bay City (who swept LCM) next.

Jasper rode Travis Reagan’s game 1 shutout as the Bulldogs opened their series with a 3-0 win over La Grange.  In Game 2, Jasper opened to a quick lead, withstood a Leopards’ rally, and emerged with a 6-3 win to sweep that series.  The 21-3A champs move on to tackle Bellville (who swept HJ) this week.

Bridge City needed all 3 games of their series with the Wharton Tigers to advance.  Jeff Stringer was dominant in game 1 as the Cards won 4-0.  Johnny Dishon’s HR broke that game open.  After dropping game 2, the Cards roared back to take game 3, 9-2.  Freshman Matt Hicks threw 6 1/3 innings of quality baseball AND hit a HR for BC.  Interesting note on Game 3:  both teams started a freshman on the mound.  The Cards move on to tackle Needville.

In 2A, the Woodville Eagles swept Mart by scores of 5-4 and 2-0.  Next up is district rival Hemphill in the QF.  Buna dropped game 1 on their series with Troup only to rally to take games 2 and 3 by scores of 4-1 and 3-2.  Tucker Muckleroy closed out the game 3 win for the Cougars.  Next up will be Nacogdoches Central Heights.

Now, the bad news:

West Brook stranded 18 runners over 2 games and were swept from the playoffs by the Pearland Oilers 10-9 and 6-4.  With staff ace Josiah Svoboda ill and unable to play, WB never found an answer for Pearland’s talented lineup.  While winning 21-5A for the 1st time in 12 years may provide some comfort, the most productive offense in school history will be left with the rest of the playoffs to ponder “what ifâ€.

LCM stumbled out of the blocks in their 1st playoff appearance of the year, watching a game 1 lead (3-0) evaporate as the Bay City Black Cats took a 7-3 win.  Things got worse in game 2 as a ‘rolled ankle’ on Game 2 starter turned a 4th inning 0-0 game into a 8-0 Bay City win.  The Bears no doubt overachieved by winning 22-4A but no one saw this coming.  Jake Rowell will live to fight another day (across the river at McNeese) and the Bears return a healthy lineup for ’08.

Huffman’s season struck midnight…only it took 3 days for that to happen as their 1 game playoff with Texas City was delayed, resumed and moved from Thurday to Friday to Saturday.  The Stings proved too much as the Falcons fell 4-0.  It was a superb run for Michael Listi and Company including big wins this year over BH and the playoff sweep over PNG. 

For Hardin-Jefferson, game 1 of their playoff series with Bellville must have seemed like getting a 2 x 4 across the head.  Cruising with a 7-0 lead, the Hawks watched as Bellville scored 9 in the 6th as they rallied past HJ 14-11.  With the wind out of their sails, the Hawks were easy pickings in game 2, falling 7-3.  It was an improbable run for HJ as they roared through the 2nd half of 21-3A, winning the playoff over Silsbee to earn that district’s 3rd slot.  A tough ending but a great season for the guys over at Sour Lake.

And, last (but not least) the High Island Cardinals watched their season end as they were swept away at the feet of Fayetteville.  Coach Hooker and company have a lot to reflect upon – the first playoff appearance in 8 years as well as the outright district title.  Congratulations on a season well-played to HI.

And, lastly…a personal note:

As I watched my son’s high school career come to an end this past week, I became most reflective.  He had a great run playing HS baseball here in SETexas and I have had a great time watching.  He has more baseball ahead of him but nothing, I suspect, matches playing for your HS team.  More than anything, as the lights went off and the press box closed for the last time in 2007, I drove away 1 last time thinking how proud I am of my kid.  I would imagine many dads have had that feeling…but mine happened on Friday evening.  So, taking personal license:  Thanks, Tim.  You done me proud.

Good luck to the remaining “fab 5†this week.

[BHFAN]

Your last paragraph was awesome!! Goodluck to your son after highschool!! I wil be in you shoes one day as my two are just starting their baseball career

[kkinetic]

Ditto to the last paragraph!  Mine happened yesterday.  I just hope as mine goes on to play at the next level he becomes as good of a leader as I feel he was on his HS team.  Hopefully all the ones going on will have some more great baseball memories.

[whiplash]

Nice post MIF04. I am going thru the same experience with a grandson. You probably will have that to look forward too. Bye the way, Its Tucker Muckleroy. Thats for the ink tho. Keep posting the good ones.

[warfan]

Very nice post.  Been their twice and with my "baby" a junior I am just sick thinking about next year.  And I'll tell you, HS sports are much more special than  college sports.  My advice is to enjoy your childs HS experience and do not push them to a point they don't enjoy it.  The intensity and competition in college is tough. 

[Guest coachhooker]

i remember my last game it was tough for me and my parents and all the other seniors

[geep06]

Oooo...yes, that last high school game was worse emotionally than high school graduation!  However, driving away after leaving that player at college was another tough, tough moment to handle.  Good luck to all you graduating senior baseball players!

[Guest Diva]

Well, proud papa, it sounds like you might have had something to do with him being such a great kid!

[EAGLE07]

Great stuff, MIF04. Mine is "just" a JR....but I know it's coming.

Best of luck to your son. I bet he will do just fine. You've given him a great head start on things. Chances are, Dad will be O.K. also.

[adminbaberuth]

Been a few years for me, and with 2, I had to adjust. I agree with a previous poster, high school was more enjoyable than college.

For me, the home runs, pitching wins or honors that they received were great, but to me it's nothing compared with any successes that they have accomplished as an adult, when the gloves and bats are in the attic.