Now the Matchup

We got what we wanted.  We’re in the regional semifinals.  Our reward is to face top ranked Holliday.  We have tremendous respect for that team and that program.  Respect, but not fear.  To get any further we’re going to have to beat the team the pollsters say is the best team in the state (the same pollsters thought Hawley was the #3 team and they lost their first playoff game – one and done).

Polls don’t matter now.  Teamwork.  Execution.  Committment.  These are a few of my favorite things to borrow a phrase from one of my wife’s favorite songs.  We have those.  I don’t know how much further we will go but I can tell you I believe whoever beats us is going to have to earn it.  At this point in the playoffs the bad teams are gone.

After today’s game the team went to eat and a goodly number of parents went with them.  Some of them there were talking about where we played next, when, how it worked and what was the best setup for our team as to playing 2 of 3 or a 1 game playoff, 2 on Thursday or 2 on Saturday, etc.  I told our coach I don’t care where or when we play – just that we play.  I will be there.  I am thrilled to be at this level with our team and like our chances to advance.  All you can ask for is to get to play the game and see who wins.  We have that chance.

It’s there for the taking.  May the best team win.

A Little Pub?

Well the newspaper didn’t even see fit to mention Justin’s name after he came on in relief in the second inning, pitched the rest of the way and got the win 15-6 against Slaton in game one of the regional quarterfinal series 5/22, so I guess I’ll at least post that he was indeed in the game. 

{I think I just satisfied all the rules of writing a lead-in to an article in that sentence, but then again I’m not a journalist so what do I know?}

Justin didn’t even have his best stuff and after having been home sick for a couple of days just three days prior to this game he gutted it out to help save the staff for the rest of the series.  He pitched 5.1 innings and though he got hit hard a few times he only gave up 1 earned run.  And for this, his name doesn’t even deserve to appear in the article.  Facinating, A-J, simply facinating.

Mustangs Win – Chancellor Does It Again

On a day when we were short two players, Jaron Robertson came through with a 7 inning complete game against Dimmitt to help the Mustangs advance into the Regional Quarterfinals.

The ‘Stangs will face district rival Slaton, who were led by Jace Chancellor to an area round win against Bushland 8-7 in 8 innings.  Chancellor did it again for Slaton, pitching an 8 inning complete game – his third complete game in four days.  Unbelievable.  Plus he hits the game tying HR in the seventh and gets the game winning RBI in the eighth.  Somebody check that dude for a cape and horn rimmed glasses.

Details of the regional quarterfinal matchup can be found on the Mustang Baseball Page.

Justin Won’t Be There…

Dang it!  We work so hard to get where we are, wait weeks to play with UIL postponements, etc, and the day our first playoff game arrives – Justin will not be there.  Woke up with the stomach virus this morning and is out.

I am so frustrated I could punch a hole in the wall.

JP Gave Up An Earned Run

I know, but hey, it is kind of news….given that by my records he had not given up an earned run since 3/24 in the first Roosevelt game.

Vernon got one on him, and wouldn’t you know it, it would be a HR that the batter was behind on but got enough of the ball on the barrel to put it over the right field fence.  Ah well.

UIL Flipped, Now Flops

Beaurocrats.  God love ‘em.

The UIL has now decided to alter it’s delayed baseball playoff schedule and begin them a week earlier on the weekend of 5/16.

Mustang fans heads up, that means our first playoff game is 5/19.  It’s still a one game playoff but it’s now the only one in the entire set that MUST be so.

Fillie fans, our first series is now 5/11 & 5/12 (next Monday and Tuesday) in Odessa!

See the Mustang Baseball page for practice baseball game info.

Swine Flu & MAJOR Shakeup in UIL Playoffs

The Swine flu outbreak has just had a pretty dramatic effect on all UIL competitions.

There will be NO UIL playoff activity of any kind between schools until May 11.  Of specific interest to the Mustangs, the baseball playoffs are now (IMHO) a shambles. Rather than shift everything, they compressed it big time with half the playoff matchups now REQUIRED to be a single game.  The region 1 playoff bracket is now adjusted with these new deadlines.

                                 Softball                        Baseball  
District Certification           April 28                        May 19  
Bi District Deadline             May 16  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  May 23  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  
Area Deadline                    May 19 (1 game only)            May 26 (1 game only)  
Regional Quarterfinal Deadline   May 23  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  May 30  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  
Regional Semifinal Deadline      May 26 (1 game only)            June 2 (1 game only)  
Regional Final Deadline          May 30  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  June 6  (1 game or 2 out of 3)  
State Tournament                 June 4-6                        June 10-13

The Comebacker 2

A few weeks ago I wrote about a line drive comebacker that nearly took out Justin during our game with Slaton. What is it with our Slaton games?

Tonight in the 7th inning of a game at Slaton the Slaton pitcher had a comebacker of his own, but this one was a low liner he could not get a glove on and it hit him flush on the shin.  The sound of it hitting that shin was sickening.  He collapsed immediately and began to writhe in pain on the turf.  They eventually helped him off, but he could be out a while.  If nothing is broken it’s going to be one nasty bone bruise.

A brutal time for their team to have that happen as well because this is their #1 catcher and their #2 pitcher.  They open the playoffs against Sonora next week.  Ouch.

District Champs

With Saturday’s 10-3 win over Idalou the Shallowater Mustangs are district champs for district 3-AA.  We ended up resting a few guys who are dinged up.

There is one more game left in the regular season at Slaton Tuesday night, then a bye week in the playoffs during which I suspect we’ll play a practice game.  [Actually we may play two.]  Slaton pitched Jace Chancellor in a seven inning complete game against Littlefield so I don’t know who’ll we see Tuesday, him or his brother.  It would be nice to go avenge our only district loss and finish this season on the right note.

Congrats Mustangs.

One Huge Step Closer

Our Mustangs defeated Abernathy 7-4 Tuesday night in the district 3-2A showdown of 2009 to move one huge step closer to the district title.  We were without one of our three main pitchers so we really needed a good start from Casey.  He delivered, taking us into the sixth with only three runs allowed.  He then turned it over to Justin to close.  We got it done and now need to take care of business with Idalou and Slaton to seal this deal.

Odie and Justin Jones set the tone with back to back jacks in the first to put Dominguez in a 3-0 hole early, and let him know he would have to pitch from behind all night.  He’s a fine pitcher, but not overpowering.  We took that early lead and never relinquished it, just the way you want to do it.

I’m personally pleased that JP got to pitch in the clutch against these guys.  Due to the weather postponement of the Abernathy/Idalou game last Saturday, Abernathy coaches were able to come scout our game against Roosevelt and saw what JP can do there.  Tonight they got to see it first hand.  Justin really wanted to be involved in this game and he got his wish.  It’s fun to see the teammates rally around him when he comes in.  I really think they believe in him and they’re kind of jacked up when he enters.  He feeds off that, too.  It’s good team comraderie and it’s paying off. 

It’s fun to have the fans in the stands turn to Lisa and me when he comes in and say the complimentary things they’re saying about how the game’s about to be over.  Justin’s ERA on the season is now 2.97 and in district games is 1.68.

Senior Day is Saturday at noon against Idalou.