With New Mexico ranked No. 1 in the country and No. 10 Grayson County having cruised to the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference championship, the 47-6-1 Thunderbirds and the 41-11 Vikings probably should be considered co-favorites.
That said, TC’s Leopards (38-15) won’t exactly be flying under the radar when they begin the eight-team, double-elimination regional against Odessa (35-19) at 10 a.m. today at Lubbock Christian University’s Hays Field.
When you finish as the regional runner-up one year, win four straight games to capture the title a year later and make it back for a sixth straight season the year after that, people tend to notice.
And Temple is fine with not carrying the favorite’s tag. The Leopards simply want to duplicate their memorable run of a year ago in Abilene and make a return trip to Grand Junction, Colo.
“Obviously you have to look at New Mexico and Grayson as the favorites - they’ve both got everything,” said TC coach Craig McMurtry, whose team took second in the NTJCAC at 21-11, eight games back. “Grayson has a bunch of pitching, defensively they’re very solid and everybody swings the bat, and New Mexico is head and shoulders above their conference (Western Junior College Athletic Conference).
“But you still have to play the game. You never know what’s going to happen.”
TC sophomore starting pitcher Kane Holbrooks says one thing provides sufficient motivation for the Leopards.
“Getting a chance to go back to Colorado,” said Holbrooks, who beat Connors State (Okla.) for TC’s only World Series win. “The sophomores have talked to the younger guys about how unbelievable it is to play out there.”
Holbrooks realizes why his team isn’t favored to repeat as regional champion, but he certainly remembers what happened in 2006 and won’t underestimate the Leopards.
“Last year, we weren’t expected to win the regional but New Mexico went 0-2 and we got hot and won it,” he said. “This year, everyone has built up New Mexico and Grayson, and they’re supposed to dominate. We don’t have the best stats, but everyone plays hard and we’ve got a strong team.”
Last year, Temple entered the regional with a 2.77 earned-run average and a .319 batting average. This year, the Leopards again paced the NTJCAC in ERA at 3.14 and their average was a league-low .299, with only 27 home runs.
“When you compare us to our other teams, we have a lot of talent but not as much power, including last year,” McMurtry said. “We’ve kept ourselves in a lot of games with our pitching.”
With the regional shifting from McMurry’s pitcher-friendly Driggers Field in Abilene to LCU’s hitter-friendly Hays Field, Temple will have to adjust.
“It’s a different game out there,” McMurtry said. “In Abilene it was a pitcher’s park 80 percent of the time - like ours. Everyone I’ve talked to says it’s a hitter’s paradise in Lubbock. The ball flies and it’s conducive to high-scoring games. We’ll have to pitch really well.”
If that’s the case, TC is capable of doing the job.
The Leopards have four starters who have been both good and reliable all season: Holbrooks (6-3, 3.86 ERA), two fellow sophomore right-handers in Belton product Matt Dunn (6-2, 3.06) and Corey Frerichs (7-3, 3.76, team-best 82 strikeouts) and freshman left-hander Daniel Meadows (4-1, 3.31).
McMurtry said Dunn and Frerichs likely will start the Leopards’ first two games, with Meadows available in relief. Holbrooks probably would start the third game.
TC also possesses a pair of stalwarts in the bullpen: freshman Brandon Kimbrel (5-0, conference-best 0.68 ERA) from Cameron Yoe and sophomore closer Aaron Taylor (5-3, 2.85, five saves). Former Temple Wildcat Tristan Gaines (2.30, 30 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings) might also see relief action.
Temple’s offense isn’t as potent as it was last year, but it does present several steady performers.
Sophomore third baseman/shortstop and leadoff batter Lance Brown leads the Leopards with a .393 average, 91 total bases and 51 runs; sophomore infielder Drew Cross hits .345 with four homers and a team-high 15 doubles and 39 runs batted in; and freshman second baseman Nick Anders (.310, 28 RBI) has a team-best five homers.
Also, three sophomores who starred at Belton could play big roles. Right fielder Blake Holt (four homers) shined in postseason play last year, as did first baseman/designated hitter Jonathan Farrow, who’s back from a stress fracture in his leg. Catcher Brooks Kimmey has been on a hitting tear recently after struggling most of the year.
A major factor in whether Temple can contend for the regional crown again is the result of its first game. In their five previous trips, the Leopards lost their opener only once - in 2002.
Winning the first game the last four years allowed McMurtry to keep his staff fresh, especially last season when TC won four games in four days to take the title.
“It’s big in the tournament setting, because if you get into the losers bracket it’s a real uphill battle,” McMurtry said. “The team with the most pitching depth usually has the best chance.”
It’s practical to think that this year’s regional crown will go to New Mexico - the 2005 national champion - or Grayson, which won the 1999 and 2000 NJCAA titles.
But with the experience of last year’s World Series trip still fresh in their minds, the Leopards expect to have every shot to prevail again.
“We talk about that from the beginning of the fall - we’re here every year to make the playoffs and get out there and try to win the regional,” McMurtry said. “We’re a pretty relaxed team with a lot of confidence.
“Last year we had an opportunity to play in the World Series and it was a great experience to be in that setting. That doesn’t come along every year, so I would hope our guys are real hungry to get back there.”
gwille@temple-telegram.com
