KFDM COOP Posted April 22, 2009 Report Posted April 22, 2009 Remember: These Bears can pitch Offensive LC-M squad also bolsters four quality hurlers Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader LITTLE CYPRESS — Going into the season and maybe even up to now, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears are known for their offense. And for good reason. The Bears are hitting .350 as a team with 25 homers and have scored 236 runs in LC-M’s 29 games. A little less obvious to some is the fact LC-M (19-10, 9-2) also has four pitchers who Coach Steve Griffith is comfortable in calling on at any moment. Tim Barry, Dallas Brown, Taylor Thompson and Shane Waddell are the first four pitchers in the rotation and have had success for the Bears in 2009. Brown is the veteran of the staff, being the go-to-guy for LC-M each of the past three seasons. Brown is carrying a 2.29 ERA with 35 strike outs in 33.2 innings of work. “Dallas faced the Brenham Cubs when he was in the ninth grade,†Griffith said. “That big-game atmosphere, Dallas is never intimidated. This is the third season he has been our go-to-guy and we could not be more comfortable with that.†Brown said he thrives in the moment and is proud his coaches look to him to be on the mound when the biggest teams are on the schedule. “I like it because it feels like an even greater challenge,†Brown said. “I love knowing my team is counting on me. It feels great to be the one to get the big guys out. I get nervous at the start but after the first inning I am usually able to settle down.†Brown said his favorite big moment came last year when the Bears faced elimination in Game 2 of the bi-district round against Huffman. The Bears won Game 2 and then took Game 3. Brown went all seven innings of Game 2 and struck out seven with six hits. “It was win or go home,†Brown said. “Adrenaline was pumping that game. I am ready for those games again in the playoffs.†When Brown is not on the hill, the Bears quickly move to Shane Waddell. Griffith said Waddell has several times come in throwing 86 to 87 mph. “When you throw that hard, you are going to get some guys out,†Griffith said. “People don’t hit the ball hard off him so when he does give up hits it seems to be little Texas-leaguers. Those two are definitely our 1-2 punch. Anytime they toe the rubber, we feel we can win the game. That is really all you can ask for in high school baseball and it is not always the case.†Waddell leads the team with 54 strike outs and is 6-3 on the season. He has only walked 14 batters in 39 innings. Waddell expressed relief the Bears clinched a playoff spot Tuesday and can now have a little fun while playing up until the playoffs come. “I’m satisfied with my season and our season as a team so far,†Waddell said. “It is nice to have a 1-2 punch with me and Dallas. We both like to be able to put our team in position to win.†Waddell also knows the Bears could not do be successful without the help of Barry and Thompson who a lot of times come in to relieve the two starters. “Both of those guys are capable of coming in and finishing out a game,†Waddell said. “I have nothing but confidence in Tim and Taylor.†Thompson has been quite a surprise for Griffith, in two ways. Thompson has shot up both the pitching rotation and batting order for the Bears in 2009. “Taylor is by far the most pleasant surprise of the year,†Griffith said. “Usually there are two surprises on a team, one on the mound and one at the plate. He is both. When we need a hit, I am always glad he is at the plate. When I need someone in the bullpen, I never hesitate to go get Taylor. His pitching mechanics and swing are both so sound and that is why he has been such a success.†Thompson has a 1.67 ERA with 30 strike outs in 29.1 innings of work. “I played in a summer league this past summer and I wanted to try to get into the line up here,†Thompson said. “I am glad all that work has started to pay off. It feels good to start to accomplish some things and to know the work I put in did not go to waste.†Now Thompson is ready to help in anyway he can when the playoffs start. “It has been a good season so far and now we are near the playoffs,†Thompson said. “I would love for us to make a good run in the postseason and improve on what we did last year.†Barry may have the fewest amount of innings by the four pitchers, he has worked 26.1 innings, but it is far from because Griffith is not confident in the senior. Barry went 6 1/3 innings Tuesday and gave up only one hit and no runs. “We started him Tuesday to fill the shoes of Dallas and he goes out there and throws a one hitter,†Griffith said. “He is doing a great job for us. Tim can come in at any point and throw strikes and he will always be around the plate. He had four or five strike outs on Tuesday and all the balls Livingston hit were playable for our defense.†Barry, who is usually known for his .483 batting average, said he has enjoyed his role as a relief pitcher this season. “Anytime I get to pitch is fun,†Barry said. “When the season started people said our pitching would be a major weakness and now it has become one of our strongest areas along with our defense. We were all working hard this summer and we knew how we threw. It was great to get our pitching going early in the year and now we all have confidence in each other.†Barry, just like the rest of the Bears, is now ready for a long playoff run. “We can only take games one at a time from here on out,†Barry said. “I hope we get on a roll here soon and take it from there. We are going to need every pitcher we have in the playoffs and every player on the team.†The Bears continue the District 20-4A schedule Friday when they visit Vidor.
KFDM COOP Posted April 22, 2009 Author Report Posted April 22, 2009 Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears’ pitchers (left to right) Tim Barry, Shane Waddell, Dallas Brown and Taylor Thompson have all been a big part in helping the Bears reach the playoffs out of District 20-4A. Gabriel Pruett/The Orange Leader
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