The Texas High baseball team is pushing hard for a playoff spot. Even after a tough loss against the Lufkin Panthers, the Tigers still hold a solid chance at moving up to the next level. With determination and teamwork, this squad stands ready to fight for every game and prove their skills!
Every game leading up to the playoffs holds significant importance. Head coach John McClure shares insights and elaborates on the efforts required to secure a spot in the postseason.
“Right now, we are 9-5 in the district, with 2 district games left,” McClure said. “We will travel to Whitehouse on Tuesday and finish district against Nacogdoches, at home.”
The upcoming games, both at home and away, serve as vital opportunities to move ahead of Mt. Pleasant in the battle for a spot among the top four teams in the district.
“We are tied for 4th place with Mt. Pleasant,” McClure said. “So, our playoff chances will come down to the last 2 games.”
The Tigers’ final two games represent essential victories needed to lock in their playoff position. For the team to move forward, every player must commit fully and put forth maximum effort.
“It’s still not 100% official, or final, that we are in the playoffs,” McClure said. “But the great thing is we control our own destiny.”
Not depending on another team stands as an essential element of the game. Having confidence in one’s abilities and strategies plays a significant role in reaching success on the field.
“We don’t have to depend on anybody else,” McClure said. “Everything is still in our hands, which is a very good thing.”
Reflecting on the season, McClure recalled a particularly intense game that impacted the whole season.
“Probably one of the biggest and most memorable games, it was a loss, but we played White House for 12 innings,” McClure said. “The game was about a four-hour ball game.”
Despite the loss, the game showcased the team’s resilience and determination.
“We were down, I think four to nothing, and came back, and tied it up,” McClure said. “We had a couple of chances to win it in the later innings, but we did end up getting beat by White House that game.”
The season, through the ups and downs, filled itself with thrilling and unforgettable moments.
“We’ve also had four come-from-behind victories this year,” McClure said. “And they’ve all been exciting.”
These victories highlight the team’s ability to persevere under pressure, showing the spirit needed for the upcoming playoff push.
“We’ve been down six to nothing, we’ve been down five to nothing, and we’ve always found a way to come back and win those ball games,” McClure said. “So, overall, this year, there have been a lot of games that have been extremely exciting.”
This excitement stems from the remarkable comebacks the Tigers fought to achieve.
“I think, five of our seven district wins that we’ve had, before we won the last two, we’ve all had to come from behind,” McClure said. “So that’s kind of been an unusual year.”
Looking forward, the team’s focus remains on maintaining their momentum from the previous games. Senior outfielder Knox Pilgreen shares his thoughts on how he envisions the remainder of the season unfolding.
“If we want to make it to the playoffs again this year, we have to finish the end of the season how we started,” Pilgreen said. “We came out strong in the first round of district, so we need to approach the rest of our games with the same mindset.”
Their chances of making the playoffs, further bolstered by the performance of the teams ahead of them, remain high.
“All of the teams ranked above us have beat everyone else, so they are our ‘shoo-in,” Pilgreen said. “The team has a strong chance of making it to the playoffs.”
Missed opportunities come to mind for senior Jacob Yowell, who saw potential for a stronger position.
“There were a couple of games we had chances to win but couldn’t finish it out,” Yowell said. “If we could’ve, we would have sealed a playoff spot a while ago.”
Every team acquires certain players that help pave the way for success throughout the entire season. For the Tigers, these key players consist of the seniors.
“Most of our team is seniors,” Yowell said. “So, I would say we couldn’t win without them.”
