West Brook Baseball Article

[KFDM COOP]

www.southeasttexaslive.com

Do the Bruins have luck in a can?

Some things are simply a given in life - traffic on U.S. 69, hot summer nights in Texas, death, taxes and ballplayers with crazy superstitions.

If their recent streak is anywhere close to hot, baseball players are likely to do anything. They'll take a shaving-cream pie to the face during batting practice. They'll dye their hair purple to break a slump.

Or, against, all logic and wisdom, they'll stick with the same routine, even if a scientist could prove it's detrimental.

Take John Falgout. The Bruins' senior first baseman spray-paints his shoes white before every game, hoping the act will bring him good luck.

Today, he might need it.

The West Brook Bruins (12-3), historically no slouch when it comes to baseball, face a tall order at 6:30 p.m. today when Kingwood (10-2) comes to town for the teams' District 22-5A opener.

"So far our players have done a great job filling in spots and stepping up," said Jacob Walton, West Brook's first-year coach. "Every year, there's a different team, a different philosophy. So far, they've done well. Now we'll see how far we can go."

The district races begin today for most area baseball teams.

Rival schools in 20-4A also begin squaring off as Lumberton visits sixth-ranked LC-M; Nederland travels to Central; and Ozen plays host to No. 12 Port Neches-Groves. All three District 20-4A openers start at 7 p.m.

District 22-5A, meanwhile, promises to wear out Falgout's can of spray paint.

There are the Bruins, who sent Jay Bruce to the first round of last year's major league draft but will look much different offensively in 2006.

"Last year, with a guy on second and Jay Bruce up, we're not going to tell (Bruce) to move the runner over," Walton said. "We're going to tell him to swing like he knows how to swing. This year, it's going to be a little more of a small-ball mentality."

There's Humble, ranked 21st in the Texas coaches' statewide poll and the team that knocked West Brook out of the Class 5A playoffs.

And then there's Kingwood - ranked third in the state, the team that took home the Class 5A championship last summer.

Mark Serna (2-2), a veteran ballplayer for the Bruins, will take the mound against the Mustangs, who will likely counter with senior Mike Ojala.

Ojala, a right-hander, is one of two Kingwood players who have signed to play at Rice next season; the Mustangs' other signee is Doug Simmons, a first baseman/outfielder who hits from the left side.

The pair helped Kingwood deliver the Class 5A state championship last season, along with the No. 11 spot in Baseball America's nationwide poll.

The Bruins have picked up steam lately, having won five straight games en route to a tournament victory last weekend in Victoria.

But as Walton will tell you, West Brook just went from the frying pan to the skillet.

"It's great that we played good, and I think some of our younger players have really started to kind of figure things out and play a complete game," Walton said. "But honestly, those teams we beat in Victoria are not going to be as good as Kingwood and Humble. That's all there is to it."

West Brook lost five seniors from last year's squad.

There was a pair of accomplished pitchers in Brandon Castolenia and Brady Behrens, as well as their battery mate, catcher Pat Ford.

James Ewing, their star shortstop, is now starting (and thriving) at the University of Arkansas.

The Cincinnati Reds selected Bruce, of course, with the No. 12 overall pick in last year's draft.

By the way, their coach, Kevin McDonald, left to become an assistant at Clear Creek.

West Brook promoted Walton, a former assistant, to the top job.

"This is a different team - different players, different style of baseball," Walton said. "But if our guys can play like we're supposed to, I feel pretty comfortable."

[MIF04]

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.