BC focused on Needville?

[KFDM COOP]

BC focused on Needville

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

BRIDGE CITY — While sitting around in the dugout Tuesday afternoon, several Bridge City Cardinals were just simply chatting about Carthage and its 27-0 record.

No real conversation was being stirred around, just small talk about how the team and what might happen.

Bridge City pitcher Phillip Meeks quickly put an end to the talk and told the team Carthage should not even be mentioned.

It is that kind of focus Bridge City Coach Billy Bryant has installed into the mind’s of his Cardinals.

The Cardinals (23-5-1) first have to deal with the Needville Bluejays beginning Thursday at 7 p.m. at Barbers Hill High School in the Class 3A Region III Regional Quarterfinals. Game 2 of the series will be at 7 p.m. Friday and Game 3, if necessary, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday with both tilts also at Barbers Hill High School.

The winner will face either Carthage or Taylor in the 3A Region III Semifinals.

But for now, the Cardinals are only worried about the Bluejays.

“I have tried to emphasize with these guys that even third place finishers have earned their way to this point,†Bryant said. “It will take a good team to beat everybody the rest of the way out. We have had to battle all year long. There is no way we are going to look ahead. I have told our team, if our minds are anywhere but on Needville, we are just asking for trouble.â€

Needville has had to deal with a lot more than just baseball over the recent weeks.

On April 23, a 16-year-old student at the campus set a fire that destroyed part of the school.

The blaze was started at about 4:30 a.m. on Apr. 23 and caused 21 deparments to respond to the scene.

The 10th-grader was charged with arson.

Besides maybe a little extra adrenaline, Bryant said the Bluejays are a well-rounded baseball which is similar to the Wharton Tigers who Bridge City just ousted in three games.

“There is no difference now behind a third place team and a first place team,†Bryant said. “That was true in our district and it is true in theirs. When you look at their scores, you can tell they can put some runs on the board and they have several guys who can pitch great games.â€

Needville, the third place finisher out of District 24-3A, first downed Navasota 6-3 and 5-3 in the bi-district round. In the area round, the Bluejays ousted the Tarkington Longhorns 11-4 and 5-2.

Bridge City has advanced by first taking out Splendora 6-0 and then thumping Wharton 4-0, 3-5 and 9-2.

“The main thing in high school baseball is to throw strikes,†Bryant said. “We have to maintain the intensity we showed against Wharton and just keep playing good baseball. It sounds simple and it really is.â€

Bryant has noticed the Cardinals are playing some of their baseball since the playoffs have started.

The defense has been sharp and the pitching staff has been peaking with ace Jeff Stringer hurling 33 batters in 14 2/3 innings of work.

“Our defense has been real good,†Bryant said. “We have also been able to move the ball around and we are making solid contact. Our pitching has also been very solid. It has been a total team success and that is what you hope for this time of year. Our district helped us get a taste of what the playoffs are like. We are starting to handle it better and better because each game is a pressure game.â€

[injun]

It didn't seem like it last night... Maybe that will wake them up and make them forget about all the people telling them this would be an easy round to get through, since they were the third place team in Wharton's district

[j_dog]

Bet BC is focused now.    So is Jasper.  ;D

[expos]

IS THERE ANY WEBSITES THAT WILL SHOW THE GAME LIVE???

[KFDM COOP]

www.kogt.com will broadcast.