However, No. 1-ranked Rogers might be the only one of the four that believes it needs to take the title trophy back home.
For an experienced Eagles squad that has won 65 games the last two years and hasn’t lost to a 2A team this season, leaving Dell Diamond this weekend with anything less than Rogers’ first state crown in any team sport simply won’t be good enough.
“Someone needs to get it done and this is one of the best chances we’ve had, so we know we have to win,” Rogers senior center fielder Marshall Coots said as the Eagles (34-2) prepared for their state semifinal against Blanco (27-8) at 1 p.m. today. “What I told the guys is, ‘If we don’t win it, it won’t be a good season.’”
Said senior pitcher/second baseman Alan Valenzuela: “It’d be good for someone in Rogers to finally be state champions.”
The Rogers-Blanco winner will battle the victor of today’s 10 a.m. semifinal between Hooks (28-8) and Pottsboro (27-7-2) in the championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday at Dell.
Last year, a junior-laden Rogers team reached the state tournament for the first time and lost 5-3 to eventual champion Brock in the semifinals, finishing 31-7-1.
The Eagles entered the 2007 season with almost every key contributor returning. In a preseason interview, fourth-year coach Craig Coheley was careful to point out that they didn’t have to win a state title to be considered a success - but he also made it clear that they were on a mission to make program and school history.
“Pressure comes when you’re asked to do something you’re not prepared to do,” Coheley said in January. “We’ve been preparing for this year since the day we lost at Dell Diamond. Our guys have been waiting for a chance like that.
“We’ll work as hard as we can, and we like our chances. We realize we have a great opportunity to have a great team.”
Now it’s early June, and Rogers certainly has shown it has a great team. After compiling their second consecutive 14-0 record in District 25-2A, the Eagles have outscored their playoff opponents 68-8 in sweeping four straight series to emerge again as Region IV champs.
Those factors could be enough for Rogers to intimidate Blanco and either potential final opponent, but Coheley says the Eagles are focused on playing strong all-around baseball rather than on how the other three teams view them.
“I hope we can (intimidate them), but we’re not banking on it,” he said. “All of that stuff looks good on paper, but the other teams want to finish first just as bad as we do. What I’m banking on is that we believe in our kids, and our kids believe they can do this.”
One dilemma Coheley has been dealing with is whether to use dominant junior right-hander Taylor Jungmann as Rogers’ starting pitcher today or save him for a state final that isn’t guaranteed.
If co-ace Valenzuela (10-0, 0.76 earned-run average, 116 strikeouts) hadn’t been lost to a broken ankle two weeks ago, Coheley would have been in an enviable situation while selecting between him and Jungmann for a semifinal starter.
But with Hill College signee Valenzuela out for the season, Coheley said the 6-6, Texas-committed Jungmann (12-0, 0.44 ERA, 136 strikeouts) almost certainly will be on the mound today against probable Blanco starter Jacob Noah (8-2).
“I think you’ve got to go with your ace in the semifinals, because you can’t play in the championship game if you don’t get there,” said Coheley, who also has senior right-handers Ricky Brenek (8-0, 0.67 ERA) and Chris Joshlin (2-1, 1.67) in his arsenal. “Anything can happen (in the first game), so you’ve got to get there.
“Everyone looks to Taylor with the game on the line,” he added. “He gives us a great chance to win.”
Jungmann’s only defeat in the last two seasons was the semifinal loss to 34-1 Brock a year ago. He struck out nine batters but walked five and allowed nine hits, including a two-run, go-ahead single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning.
Senior catcher Joshlin, who was picked to play for Coheley’s South team in next week’s Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A/2A/A All-Star Game, hit a solo home run in Rogers’ semifinal loss in 2006.
Coheley says the experience of that game should pay off for the Eagles this afternoon.
“I think we’ll not be near as nervous this year,” he said. “The guys have an idea about the stadium, playing in daylight and in front of the big crowd.”
Blanco’s Panthers, who went 7-1 in capturing the Region I title, present a trio of dangerous hitters in senior outfielder Ky McNett (.543), senior catcher Ryan Breeding (.505) and junior outfielder Ross McCormick (.432). Coheley scouted them last Saturday against Lubbock Roosevelt.
“They hit the ball well and score quite a few runs,” he said. “I do think our pitching can match up with them.”
Not that Rogers needed any extra motivation in its quest for a state championship, but Valenzuela’s untimely injury has supplied the Eagles with even more incentive to win.
“It really has,” said Coots, a Temple College signee. “We’ve got his number (7) on our hats, and we want to get this for him, our school and our town.”
Said Valenzuela: “It’s hard not being out there, but I’ll still be here for the team. We’re coming together to win a state championship.”
gwille@temple-telegram.com
