2A State Tournament Preview

Every year, the right to play in Round Rock is special. But for the 2A teams that have earned the right to play on Dell Diamond, this one comes with bragging rights that extend beyond 2017. One team will be able to claim they are the only team in school history to win a baseball State Championship, the other 3 will be able to claim for at least a year, they are the only team in school history to qualify for the State Tournament. By default, they will be able to claim they are the best baseball team in the history of their school. Old men debate about this at the local coffee shops, this year, 4 teams will become a team that will be talked about for years to come.

Region I – Albany Lions
One thing I have learned over the years is that in Region I, if you ignore District 8 you are ignoring good teams. There seems to be something magic about that district. Albany finished the season 23-2-2 with a 9-1 district record. Albany returned 6 starters from last year’s Regional Finalist team. They will only lose Seniors Hunter Owen and Roman Fuentes so plenty of experience remains in 2018. Albany has never been to the State baseball tournament but the school is no stranger to success. They won State Football titles in 2009, 2014, 2015. This is the furthest in the baseball playoffs that Coach Fairchild has been as coach too. His greatest thrill has been to watch these young men improve and gain confidence each and every week. Building on each week is a key part to moving on. No doubt the rest of District 8 is beaming with pride that another team makes it to the State Tournament.

Albany will take on Muenster at Noon on Wednesday at Dell Diamond.

Region II – Muenster Hornets
Two years ago I saw this group play and knew they would be special. Heck, I am sure they knew they would be special. 8 starters return from an Area Finalist team in 2017 – 3 seniors, 4 juniors and sophomore. That’s enough returning starters to ensure 2018 could be special too. Blayne Jones, a Dallas Baptist commit, is the obvious standout. But Seniors Brennon Binder and Sawyer Sanders also had some All District Honors last year and Junior Clay Stevens was All State last year. Add in Stetson and Parker McGrew, Carson Cheaney and Carson Trubenbach and the mix of returning players was outstanding. This group of upperclassmen is no stranger to wining, they took the team to their deepest playoff run in 2015, making it to the Regional Semi-Finals. Muenster has never won a baseball state championship, but Muenster is the reigning State 2A Basketball Champions. They sit at 31-2 on the season and were undefeated in District play. The efforts of the team all season was the highlight for Coach Wheeler.

Muenster will take on Albany at noon on Wednesday at Dell Diamond.

Region III – Groveton Indians
Coming out of District 22, the Indians returned 6 starters from an Area Finalist team. Bookend by the senior leadership of Seniors Cody Fairchild and Chance Coker and Senior Pitcher Glenn Thornton and Junior Pitcher Haden Terry, the Indians dominated District 22 finishing 31-3 overall and 12-0 in district play. Groveton has never won a State Baseball Championship and the deepest playoff run was the Regional Quarterfinals in 2014. They have had some outstanding football success and hold 3 state football titles. Coach Williams stated his biggest thrill this year was knowing his team was the first in Groveton history to reach the State Tournament. Being undefeated in District play was certainly nice too. Groveton will face Dallardsville Big Sandy in the State Semi-Finals.

Groveton will take on Big Sandy at 9am on Wednesday at Dell Diamond.

Region IV – Dallardsville Big Sandy Wildcats
I had the chance to watch Big Sandy early on in 2017 and knew they would be one of the teams to beat coming out of Region IV. They didn’t come out of the gate ranked in the top 10, primarily due to only returning 4 starters from last year’s Regional Finalist Team. Those four were Senior Austin Hendrix, Jr Kyle Cox, Jr Cody Adams, and So Brian Duff. But add in Bryce and Brock Holmes who were ineligible last year due to moving and a strong JV program and you end up with a pitching staff that higher classifications would envy and a team that ended the season 33-2 and a District 25 Championship. Winning District 25 outright is tough when you share district play with the likes of Evadale. Coach Hooker felt winning district was a highlight of the year for him and his team. Big Sandy has never won a state championship and their deepest run was last year to the Regional Finals, losing to eventual State Champion Flatonia. It has been a long time for any State Championship in Big Sandy, the last for any sport was a basketball title in 1957. I wonder if Ms. Louise Lilley was there? If you don’t know Ms. Lilley, ask a Big Sandy fan.

Big Sandy will take on Groveton at 9am on Wednesday at Dell Diamond.