MIF04

I would think the top group of pitchers would include: Ehlert (LCM), Angelle (BC), Harwood (PNG), Serna (WB), Smith (NED) and Alvis (JAS). Beyond that, there is a large # of guys who would fit in the next group including (in no particular order): Dugas (LCM), Powell (PNG), Mire (PNG), Bunner (VID), Gardiner (OZ), Haymon (BC), Sparks (WOS), Ayers (WOS), Roebuck (HJ), Schooling (SIL), Reagan (JAS - when he gets healthy), Parsons (JAS), Riley (WDV) and Murphy (WB). I have not seen the Neal kid from HF pitch but I would think he would be a name worthy of mention as well.

This loss hurts Ozen badly...especially on same night as Vidor knocks off PNG....

Hey, big win for the Pirates and ensures that the battle for the last playoff spot in 20-4A will now turn into a mad scramble. Whew....

Believe it or not, I do not know exactly (except to say it is in the upper .400s). I haven't run all the season stats 'up to date' for WB.

Who pitched for Silsbee?

Details on West Brook vs. Sterling: STERLING 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 = 4 6 4 WEST BROOK 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 = 2 5 3 WP - Fuqua (7 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 8 K, 2 BB) LP - Serna ( 6 1/3 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 H, 10 K, 4 BB) Calvert 0-4 Lycan 1-3, BB, RE, 1 R Serna 0-3, BB Chaisson (CR) 1 R Falgout 1-3, RE Ferguson 2-3, 3B, 2 RBI Armstrong 1-3 Murphy 0-3 Schwarzlose 0-2 Wallace 0-1 Balfanz 0-3, RE Fuqua pitched very well, silencing West Brook on 5 hits. Sterling scored 2 runs in the 1st w/o hitting a ball out of the infield (3 walks, bunt single and 2 ground ball outs) and another on a 2-out overthrow of a ball back to the pitcher. Tough night, and tough loss, for Bruins at home.

Baytown Sterling defeats Beaumont West Brook 4-2 behind 5-hit pitching of LHP Jason Fuqua. Details to follow.

Sterling possesses 1 of the best pitching staffs in 22-5A with Dempsay, Fuqua and Cervenka. It looks like they will throw Fuqua on Tuesday (sr. LHP, 86-88 velocity) with Cervenka out of the pen (this is based on the fact that Dempsay threw a CG on Friday night). In any event, it should be a challenge for WB's hitters tonight. Expect WB to throw jr. LHP Mark Serna. Sterling's offense is very good at the top so it is essential for Serna to shut down the bottom of their order. Demsay and Cervenka (along with Lindsey) are Sterling's big bats.

Its Tim Ferguson from West Brook. There is a Thomas Ferguson from HJ.

I thought this had already been done under "Top Juniors"?

First, the soph pitcher from Ozen (Josh Gardiner) is one heckuva pitcher (whether he be soph or sr.). He also threw 4 shutout innings against West Brook at start of the season. What he may lack in top end velocity, he makes up by 'pitching' and keeping hitters off balance. There is no shame in PNG (or anyone else) not being able to hit Gardiner. Second, and with respect to PNG, I don't think Coach Stone is at the point of 'playing the youngsters'. He still is a prohibitive favorite to make the playoffs (even if it is as the 3rd place team) but he has the pitching to make a run through 3-game series. The staff of Harwood, Mire, Powell (if healthy) and McInnis is very good. Third, they simply are not hitting the baseball against anybody. And, fourth, they play terrible defense. They are weak up the middle and miss Buchanan's leadership (he did play during Spring Break but is out for an indefinite period thereafter). The youngsters are good -- the Carnahan kid has done wonderfully behine the dish for Buchanan and Harrington has been 'Mr. Utility' for the Indians. Do I still think this is a playoff team? Yes. Are they going to be as good as I thought? Maybe not...I would guess (and that's all it is) that the PNG problems are more 'off the field' than 'on the field'...time will tell.

I always thought in a run rule (or time limit), the starter was eligible for the game if he pitched more than 1/2 the game (i.e., 3 in a 5 inning game). If you pitched Harwood, got a 15-0 lead and pulled him after 2, then he didn't get the win. On the other hand, I defer to the rules rather than my 'understanding'.

Ferguson (WB) was 5/8 with 5 R and 3 RBI in games vs. Kingwood and Spring. He also had 4 SB for the week.

Details on WEST BROOK 17 SPRING 8 West Brook 1 0 5 1 1 2 7 = 17 17 2 Spring 4 2 0 2 0 0 0 = 8 13 5 WP - Svoboda (5 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 0 BB) Murphy (2 IP, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 K, 1 BB) Calvert 1-4, HBP, 2 R, RBI Lycan 3-5, 2 RE, 3 R, 2 RBI (2B) Serna 3-4, BB, 3 R, 2 RBI (2B) Falgout 2-5, 1 R, 3 RBI (2 x 2B) Ferguson 2-4, SAC, 3 R, 3 RBI Armstrong 1-4, BB, 1 R Murphy 4-5, 1 R, 2 RBI Wallace 0-3, SAC, HBP Balfanz 1-1, 1 R Svoboda 0-2, BB Bruins now stand at 14-3-1 and 2-0 in District. Next week: 2 home games vs. Baytown Sterling (Tues.) and Spring Westfield (Fri.).

I think I said "IF" PNG was playing for 3rd place...it is always a game-by-game proposition, especially at the HS level. It was a big win for PNG...they needed the win. I look forward to the LCM game.

Indians scratch out what is probably a huge win for them -- especially if they're playing for 3rd place. Same old story for PNG -- not much hitting and a costly error but their pitching carries them through.

WEST BROOK 7 KINGWOOD 6 KW = 0 0 1 0 3 1 1 = 6 6 5 WB = 0 1 0 2 0 2 2 = 7 12 3 Bruins score twice with 2 outs in 7th to rally past Kingwood, 7-6. David Murphy picks up win in relief while Tim Ferguson and John Falgout each had 3 hits for Bruins. Todd Wallace had game-winning hit while Thad Lycan added 2 run single in bottom of 6th: Calvert 0-2, 2 SAC Lycan 1-4, 2 RBI Serna 0-3, BB Falgout 3-4, 1 R Ferguson 3-4, 2 R Armstrong 1-3, SAC, 1 R Murphy 2-3, BB, RE, 2 R, 1 RBI Wallace 1-4, RE, 1 RBI Balfanz 1-2, HBP, 1 R Heck of game. Huge win for West Brook against defending state champs (and a team that was state and nationally ranked).

Outstanding choice. Congrats to Clayton.

Although most teams are in action tonight, this game promises to provide SE Texas with 2 very good teams going 'head to head'. Kingood (defending 5A state champ and nationally ranked at start of season by Baseball America) is led by outstanding pitching -- Mike Ojala, (Rice signee) and John Touchton (UH signee and ranked nationally at #77 by Baseball America for Class of '06). Add to that mix another Rice signee (OF/1B Doug Simmons) and you have a really talented group (again!) for Kingwood. Kingwood will start 'ace' Ojala while West Brook will counter with their 'ace', jr. LHP Mark Serna. It is the first district game for both and 'spirits' should run high. NOTE: West Brook swept Kingwood last year.

Unreal. Who pitched for BC in game 2? Good grief....

Hard to tell. I don't think they've played a difficult schedule but that doesn't mean they are NOT good -- they are 12-0 after all. I just wish we could get a better read on them against some quality opponents.

Are all of those WOS kids juniors? I'd also add the Stringer kid (LHP) from BC to the 'usual list of suspects'. Where does Warner play for BC? I thought he was the catcher behind Casey Jackson? Maybe I was wrong about that???? The Treece kid is a good player for HJ, given that program and that district/level (3A). I don't recall him being a very big kid nor as throwing very hard at all -- although I haven't seen him since the summer and maybe that's changed !?!?

Well, you could start with the jrs. listed on the Preseason All Area team (in no particular order): Serna - WB Ferguson - WB Murphy - WB Riley - Woodville Armstrong - WB Dishon - BC Mosley - Ned Rowell - LCM Jones - Kelly Hearn - PNG Calhoun - Silsbee Schooling - Silsbee

Nederland and Sulphur.

I'd go this way: 1. Bridge City 2. HF 3. WOS/HJ (although I give the edge to WOS)