Bloomington, Shiner focusing on opponents
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Mike Forman, Advocate Sports Writer
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Bloomington coach Mike Whitehead has enough to worry about without trying to predict what might happen with the weather.
"I've got a lot of stroke," Whitehead said. "But not enough stroke to stop the weather."
Whitehead has been busy trying to figure out how the Bobcats can do something no other Class 2A team has done this season and do it twice.
Bloomington (22-8) dropped a 10-1 decision to top-ranked Rogers (31-2) in Game 1 of their best-of-three regional semifinal series in Columbus on Thursday night. The Bobcats must win twice when the series is scheduled to resume today at 4:30 p.m. in Columbus to advance to the regional final.
Shiner (25-2) is in a much more fortuitous position in its best-of-three Class 1A regional semifinal series against Brackettville (15-6). The top- ranked Comanches captured a 5-1 win in Game 1 on Wednesday night at the San Antonio ISD Complex and need to win one game to advance to the regional final when the series is scheduled to resume today at 4 p.m. at V.J. Keefe Stadium on the campus of St. Mary's University in San Antonio.
Whitehead and Shiner coach Daniel Boedeker are aware of the possible ramifications caused by the rain in Central and South Texas on Friday. The teams might have to find alternate sites for their games. If they are unable to play today, University Interscholastic League rules mandate the series revert back to Game 1, meaning Rogers and Shiner would advance. The UIL will grant a waiver to allow teams to finish a series on Monday if the series is deadlocked after two games.
"I don't want it to end that way," Whitehead said. "There's no way we played our best game. If we can play like we did against Navarro, people will get their money's worth."
Bloomington had only five hits in Game 1 and scored its lone run on solo home run by Sean Chapa, his 10th of the season.
"The kids were down but they were all right," Whitehead said of the Bobcats, who didn't practice on Friday. "They were like they normally are after a loss. They don't expect to lose. I think they were more disappointed than upset."
Rogers has not lost to a Class 2A team this season and the Eagles will have junior pitcher Taylor Jungmann, who has committed to the University of Texas, on the mound for Game 2.
"We're going back up there and see what we can do," Whitehead said. "I told the kids it's another ballgame, just have fun and go play."
Shiner was able to get in a normal practice Thursday but was forced into the gym by Friday's rain.
"I told the kids with graduation (Friday night) to just be smart," Boedeker said. "We could be calling them at 7:30 in the morning and be leaving in 30 minutes. We'll take care of it and make the best of whatever is thrown at us."
The Comanches spent a good portion of both practices working on their hitting. Shiner had seven hits in its Game 1 win over the Tigers but only three after the first inning.
"It's all about pitch selection," Boedeker said. "If they get a good pitch to hit, we want them to be aggressive. They have to be selective early in the count and once they get two strikes on them, then they have to open up their hitting zone."
Shiner is hoping to avoid a repeat of its area series against Normangee where it won Game 1 but lost Game 2 and had to come back and win Game 3.
"The kids seem focused," Boedeker said. "The pressure's on them (the Tigers) and we want to keep it that way."
NOTES: The Bloomington-Rogers winner will play either Trinity or Bishop in the regional final. Trinity and Bishop are scheduled to meet in a one-game playoff today at 7 p.m. at Weimar ...
The Shiner-Brackettville winner play the winner of the Thorndale-D'Hanis series in the regional final. Thorndale took a 7-0 win in Game 1. Game 2 and 3, if necessary, are scheduled for today at 4:30 p.m. at New Braunfels High.
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